The Boston Red Sox are looking to add a second baseman this offseason after having Justin Turner, Bobby Dalbec, Luis Urias, Christian Arroyo, Enmanuel Valdez, Connor Wong, Pablo Reyes, and Ceddanne Rafaela all play there in 2023. Turner and Arroyo are free agents, Urias was traded, Dalbec may play first; Wong is the starting catcher; Valdez, Reyes, and Rafaela are both still here, and Valdez is right now the expected everyday starting second baseman, and Rafaela will be in the outfield. Adding an outfielder and having Rafaela at second base is appealing, but they will be bringing in a second baseman, so who is available for them to bring in?
Second Base Options
Whit Merrifield
Merrifield could be a good fit as he could be the everyday second baseman but can also play the outfield if needed, although he has made it clear he wants to be a second baseman primarily. He is a three-time all-star, and in his career, he has slashed .284/.330/.420 with a .750 OPS; he has 247 doubles, 26 triples, 90 home runs, 470 RBI, 588 runs scored, 201 stolen bases, and 280 walks. In 2023 with Toronto, he slashed .272/.318/.382 with a .700 OPS; he had 27 doubles, 11 home runs, 67 RBI, 66 runs scored, 26 stolen bases, and 36 walks in 145 games. He has a career .984 fielding percentage at second base so he could be the top fit for the Red Sox.
Amed Rosario
Rosario is a free agent and has played for three teams. He has slashed .272/.308/.400 with a .708 OPS; he has 139 doubles, 43 triples, 60 home runs, 334 RBI, 420 runs scored, 96 stolen bases, and 152 walks. In 2023, he played in 142 games with Cleveland and the Dodgers, and he slashed .263/.305/.378 with a .683 OPS; he had 25 doubles, eight triples, six home runs, 58 RBI, 70 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, and 29 walks. Defensively at second base, he has only played in 36 games in his career, but he has a perfect fielding percentage.
Adam Frazier
Frazier is a free agent after spending his career with four different teams. In eight seasons, he has slashed .269/.331/.393 with a .766 OPS; he has 170 doubles, 27 triples, 56 home runs, 317 RBI, 433 runs scored, 52 stolen bases, and 260 walks. In 2023, he played with the Baltimore Orioles and slashed .240/.300/.396 with a .696 OPS; he had 21 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 60 RBI, 59 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, and 32 walks. In his career, he has played 691 games at second base and has a .984 fielding percentage.
Jonathan India
According to the Cincinnati Reds, India is available for trade. The Reds just added another infielder in Jeimer Candelario, giving them six infielders in total, so one, if not two, will have to be moved. India, in three seasons with the Reds, has slashed .255/.350/.419 with a .789 OPS; he has 73 doubles, four triples, 48 home runs, 171 RBI, 224 runs scored, 29 stolen bases, and 154 walks, and he was Rookie of the Year in 2021. In 2023, he played in 119 games and slashed .244/.338/.407 with a .746 OPS; he had 23 doubles, 17 home runs, 61 RBI, 78 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, and 52 walks. In 338 games, he has a .974 fielding percentage, and 2023 was the best fielding percentage of his career with a .977.
Jorge Polanco
Polanco has reportedly been made available for trade by Minnesota, where he has spent his first ten seasons, and he has slashed .269/.334/.446 with a .780 OPS; he has 181 doubles, 20 triples, 112 home runs, 447 RBI, 443 runs scored, 51 stolen bases, and 305 walks as well as being an all-star in 2019. In 2023, he only played in 80 games, slashing .255/.335/.454 with a .789 OPS, with 18 doubles, 14 home runs, 48 RBI, 38 runs scored, four stolen bases, and 36 walks.
Ha-Seong Kim
Kim is likely to be traded with San Diego, looking to clear some cap space, and has been linked to the Red Sox for some time. In three seasons with the Padres, he has slashed .245/.325/.383 with a .708 OPS; he has 64 doubles, five triples, 36 home runs, 153 RBI, 169 runs scored, 56 stolen bases, and 148 walks. In 2023, he slashed .260/.351/.398 with a .749 OPS; he scored 23 doubles, 17 home runs, 60 RBI, 84 runs, 38 stolen bases, and 75 walks. Kim defensively won a Gold Glove in 2023 and has a career field percentage of .992 at second base.
Wrap UP:
With all the names mentioned above, who would you like to see the Red Sox add to their lineup as they look to return to the postseason for the first time since 2021?
Kim