The 2023 MLB offseason is in full swing, which means it’s time for free agency and awards to be given out. Today, Major League Baseball released the finalists for the 2023 Silver Slugger Award, and the Boston Red Sox had two players make the cut. First is a rookie in Triston Casas, who will be going up against Yandy Diaz from the Tampa Bay Rays, Nathaniel Lowe from the World Series Champion Texas Rangers, and Spencer Torkelson from the Detroit Tigers. The other finalist for the Red Sox is Third Baseman Rafael Devers; for the third consecutive year, he is a finalist. Devers is against Alex Bregman from the Houston Astros, Jose Ramirez from the Cleveland Guardians, and Isaac Parades from the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Finalists By The Numbers
Triston Casas
Casas, in his first full season, played in 132 games, and he slashed .263/.367/.490 with a .856 OPS; he had 21 doubles, two triples, 24 home runs, 65 RBI, 66 runs scored, and 70 walks. Where does he rank among the finalists?
- AVG: 2nd – Diaz .330 – Casas .263 – Lowe .262 – Torkelson .233
- OBP: 2nd – Diaz .410 – Casas .367 – Lowe .360 – Torkelson .313
- SLG: 2nd – Diaz .522 – Casas .490 – Tork .446 – Lowe .414
- OPS: 2nd – Diaz .932 – Casas .856 – Lowe .775 – Torkelson .758
- 2B: 4th – Lowe 38 – Diaz 35 – Torkelson 34 – Casas 21
- HR: 2nd – Torkelson 31 – Casas 24 – Diaz 22 – Lowe 17
- RBI: 4th – Torkelson 94 – Lowe 82 – Diaz 78 – Casas 65
- R: 4th – Diaz 95 – Lowe 89 – Torkelson 88 – Casas 66
Rafael Devers
Devers this season played in 153 games, and he slashed .271/.351/.500 with a .851 OPS; he had 34 doubles, 33 home runs, 100 RBI, 90 runs scored, five stolen bases, and 62 walks. Where does Devers rank among the other finalists at third base?
- AVG: 2nd – Ramirez .282 – Devers .271 – Bregman .262 – Parades .250
- OBP: 4th – Bregman .363 – Ramirez .356 – Parades .352 –Devers .351
- SLG: 1st – Devers .500 – Parades .488 – Ramirez .475 – Bregman .441
- OPS: 1st – Devers .851 – Parades .840 – Ramirez .831 – Bregman .804
- 2B: 2nd – Ramirez 36 – Devers 34 – Bregman 28 – Parades 24
- HR: 1st – Devers 33 – Parades 31 – Bregman 25 –Ramirez 24
- RBI: 1st – Devers 100 – Bregman 98 – Parades 98 – Ramirez 80
- R: 2nd – Bregman 103 – Devers 90 – Ramirez 87 – Parades 71
Wrap Up:
It was a down year for the Red Sox, who are looking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2021, when they advanced as far as the ALCS, but this year saw growth in Casas, who looked solid in his first full season and progressed as the season went along. Devers once again was near the top for offensive categories in the American League, so Red Sox fans, do you think either of these sluggers are deserving of taking home the Silver Slugger award for the 2023 season?
