Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The defending champion Boston Red Sox have played poorly since winning the World Series last October. In classic Bostonian fashion, they have taken a hangover to the next level this season.
The Sox are looking to retool for a comeback late this season while examining the many needs that they must address during this offseason. They must develop a new plan for their outfield, which is currently overloaded. They need a closer in the bullpen. Koji Uehara has been playing poorly recently and soon becomes a free agent. Their starting rotation is in shambles. Boston has first base, second base, and shortstop held down by Mike Napoli, Dustin Pedroia, and Xander Bogaerts, in that order. Third base is the only infield spot that currently lacks a true starter.
Will Middlebrooks has played poorly and been dealing with injuries throughout the season. Middlebrooks has played in only 49 games this season and in those games, he owns a .188 average with only two home runs.
Brock Holt took over the hot corner when Middlebrooks took to the DL with a fractured finger on May 17. Holt flourished in his second stint in the majors on the season, hitting .288 with a .317 OBP in 59 at bats in May. Holt had a monster June as he hit .322 that month. He has since cooled off a tad and now owns a very respectable .281 average to accompany a .331 OBP and a .381 SLG. The Rice University product has also shown great versatility, playing every position save for pitcher and catcher this season.
Holt’s ability to play virtually any position has caused many to label him as a super-utility player. I would disagree. Holt is a good player and has a potential to be an All-Star, as he is in only his third season in the league. Holt deserves a starting spot next year, a spot he should retain throughout the season if he continues playing in the same fashion as this season.
We have not yet witnessed Holt pitching or catching. Assuming he cannot do either of those at the major league level, Holt could still play the other seven positions. The Sox outfield is currently booked up; there would be a surplus even if four outfielders were allowed to play in the game. First base, second base, and shortstop are taken by two past All-Stars (Napoli and Pedroia) and a soon to be All-Star (Bogaerts). That leaves the hot corner to Holt.
Holt’s true position is second base, but he has proven that he can play third base. He has made six errors this season at third base. If he has an offseason and a spring to learn the position, he would soon learn its ins and outs.
Making Holt a utility player, (even if it is a super-utility position) would still take his bat out of the lineup on some regularity. Holt has been a bright spot this season for the offense and it would hurt the Red Sox if he could not contribute on a daily basis. Middlebrooks is not ready mentally or physically right now to be a starting third baseman. Boston should spend their free-agency dollars on starting pitching, as that is a major area of concern.
Holt should be the starting third baseman for the Sox next season. He has earned it.
Joe Jacobs is a writer for RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @joe_p_jacobs or add him to your network on Google.
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