Travis in limbo
1B prospect endures development issues
The last time Sam Travis was in the big leagues, he stuck around for two weeks, hit .471 in 17 at-bats and was demoted back to Triple A to get regular playing time again.
Now the young Red Sox first baseman has returned. He played one game, drove in the go-ahead run, then sat the next day.
In some ways, Travis is a perfect fit for these Red Sox. In other ways, he’s a waste of roster space and a waste of development opportunity. How long he sticks around this time might depend on how often manager
John Farrell is able to use him. “I recognize, too, (that there is a need for) making sure that Sam is not going a day a week,” Farrell said. “We’ve got to keep him involved.”
Now 23 years old in his second partial season with Pawtucket, Travis is the most advanced of the Red Sox top position prospects. Given Hanley Ramirez’ shoulder problems,
Mitch Moreland’s fractured big toe, and the desire for a right-handed alternative at first, the Red Sox have an obvious role for Travis.
The question is whether that role is worth it.
Carrying Travis as a platoon first baseman leaves room on the bench for a backup catcher, fourth outfielder and utility infielder. That’s the bare minimum depth for coverage at every position on the diamond, and if an infielder has a dayto-day injury — like Dustin Pedroia in Kansas City — it leaves no true backup at second, third and shortstop.
That’s a problem for a team that keeps running into nagging, day-today injuries.
That said, one of the Red Sox more pressing problems at the moment is Ramirez. He’s played first base only twice this season, and each time he’s missed the next three games because of soreness in and around his neck. He hasn’t been able to consistently provide a platoon partner for Moreland, who could use one because he’s playing through a broken toe.
The Red Sox are not scheduled to face any left-handed starters this weekend against the Angels, but they could see two next week against the Twins.
Is that enough to justify keeping Travis on the roster?
“We need another right-handed bat,” Farrell said. “That was what precipitated (the call-up), along with Mitch’s condition. What it means going forward, we’ll see how the lineups shake out.”
There is little doubt where Travis wants to be. He’s played his role to near perfection in the majors, doing his part to stick around if the Red Sox can make it work.
“It’s just a lot of fun to be around these guys and be able to compete with them every day,” Travis said.
All-Star decisions loom
According to FanGraphs, both Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts rank among the American League’s top six players in Wins Above Replacement. We’ll soon find out whether that’s enough to put them on the All-Star team.
In the latest fan voting update, Betts ranked sixth among outfielders and Bogaerts couldn’t even crack the top five among shortstops. So making
the starting lineup is likely out of the question.
Bogaerts leads AL shortstops in WAR, but not by much, and it’s a crowded field with Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, Didi Gregorius, Andrelton Simmons, Jean Segura and Elvis Andrus each having strong seasons.
Betts ranks sixth overall in WAR, there are three outfielders ahead of him ( Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Corey
Dickerson) and plenty of others with more gaudy offensive numbers.
“He’s our catalyst offensively,” Farrell said. “And I don’t want to take anything away from other guys but when you look at the numbers that he’s putting up, to do it in the leadoff spot, the extra base totals he’s put up, the defensive play, just a dynamic all-around player.”
The Red Sox are basically guaranteed to have two All-Stars on the pitching side with closer Craig Kimbrel and ace Chris Sale performing as well as anyone in baseball.
Holt inches closer
An attempt to ask Brock Holt for an update on his vertigo symptoms ended with Holt saying he had to rush into the cage for batting practice. That’s great news for the Red Sox.
Given their depleted infield depth, Holt’s versatility and experience would have been an ideal fit these past two months that he’s been out. Ideally, he will continue doing baseball drills this weekend with an eye toward a fresh rehab assignment relatively soon.
“His skillset and his versatility speaks clearly to fit on this team,” Farrell said. “And the player that he is, the competitor that he is. Hopefully that rehab assignment is getting closer because, I’ll be honest with you, we need him.”
E-Rod’s next step
Recovering from a right knee subluxation, starter Eduardo Rodriguez is scheduled for fielding drills today, live batting practice tomorrow and potentially a rehab assignment next week. The Red Sox feel he’s on or ahead of schedule three weeks after his injury.