Red Sox Rumors: Why Jose Iglesias is the answer at short stop
The Boston Red Sox needs a shortstop. After allowing Xander Bogaerts to leave in free agency the thought was that perhaps the former shortstop who played second base for Boston last season, Trevor Story might be the answer.
He isn’t. Story is out possibly for the season with arm surgery. There’s not too much surprise there as he had arm problems even before Boston acquired him as a free agent. Nice due diligence done there, Boston Red Sox.
As with other major or at least significant signings, the Red Sox persist in their skewed attitude of trying to sign as many injury-risk, free agents as possible, overpay them, and then try to field a team that may not finish in last place in the American League East.
Yet, the team still has an opportunity to sign a player with great Red Sox history (always a nice sidelight), who fit like a glove after coming on late in the 2021 Cinderella run to the ALCS, and who can hit and field very well, thank you. That player is shortstop Jose Iglesias.
The Boston Red Sox should run, not walk to sign Iglesias
Jose Iglesias is a good baseball player. He came into the major leagues with the Red Sox, was then traded, yet made a very nice (to say the least) cameo appearance and contribution to the great run to the ALCS in 2021.
Although he couldn’t participate in the playoffs (a real shame), he was terrific in his cameo. Iglesias hit .356 for the BoSox in 23 games. Last season in 118 games, he hit .292 for the Colorado Rockies. He’s a free agent.
If ever there was a match that makes perfect sense, it’s Iglesias to Boston, now. Yes, he’s a bit older at 33 years old but no less effective. A two or three-year reasonable money deal would be perfect as the Red Sox expect their top prospect, Marcello Mayer to be ready in a year or three.
With Story out for probably the whole season, if Boston really has any intention of possibly climbing out of the AL East cellar then the popular and proficient Iglesias would be a very rational, reasonable, and smart addition. Indeed, for this infield situation, he’d be the perfect signing.
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With all of the questionable moves the team has made over the past two off-seasons, it’s time for them to make a solid and very sensible one for a change. That is to sign Iglesias as soon as they can ink his name to a contract.
The Red Sox have flopped in two of the past three years. They are floundering now. The failure is systemic, not accidental.
Their personnel strategy is cockamamie and is doomed to consign the Sox to last place once more in 2023 and likely signal the beginning of yet another new baseball management regime at Fenway Park.
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The time to initiate a new strategy based on reality and not statistical analysis is now. The Boston Red Sox needs a shortstop. Jose Iglesias is a very good one who just happens to fit in Boston like a glove in Boston. (Not that the current baseball management thinks that is worth anything at all.)
Nevertheless, what’s to decide? Forget about the alternatives, just go out and sign the player. It may be your best move of the offseason.