Hernandez: Second look
Main candidate to replace Pedey
ORLANDO, Fla. — For the first time since 2006, someone other than Dustin Pedroia is going to be the Red Sox’ starting second baseman on Opening Day. And it seems Dave Dombrowski has a leading candidate in mind.
“We do like Marco Hernandez a lot,” Dombrowski said. “We think he’s a really good player. And all you have to do is come to the meetings to know that other organizations think he’s a good player, too.”
On the first day of baseball’s general managers meetings, the Red Sox president of baseball operations said he remains open to acquiring a short-term stopgap at second base, but he also went out of his way to tout 25-year-old Hernandez, who played a lot of third base before requiring shoulder surgery last season.
“Probably second base is his best position,” Dombrowski said. “He is healthy. He will be ready to go. He is going to be in Fort Myers also by the end of January. And we have some depth behind him when you start talking about (Brock) Holt and (Tzu-Wei) Lin and (Deven) Marrero. And you’re talking about a short time period. Could we look at that? I can’t preclude it, but I don’t think it’s a necessity.”
Hernandez has hit .284 in limited major league opportunities the past two seasons. He’s filled in at second base, third base and shortstop, but a fresh opportunity awaits while Pedroia recovers from offseason knee surgery that’s expected to cost him at least the first month of the season.
“If we ever added anybody there, they have to have flexibility because we do think Pedey will be back in May,” Domrowski said. “Of course, if you talk to Pedey, he’ll probably be ready for spring training in his own mind. But, really, in May.”
Left wanting
Adding offense is Dombrowski’s primary goal this offseason, but he’s also looking to strengthen the bullpen, particularly from the left side.
“I would say that’s one area that we’re open-minded to improving ourselves,” he said.
Robby Scott is the top returning bullpen lefty, and Dombrowski said he’s open to converting left-handed minor league starters Brian Johnson and Roenis Elias into bullpen options. Set-up men Tony Watson, Mike Minor and Jake McGee headline the free agent lefties this winter.
Adding rotation depth, Dombroski said, is less of a priority. Steven Wright’s recovery from knee surgery has gone as expected and he’s on track to be ready for Opening Day, with Eduardo Rodriguez expected to return from his own knee surgery shortly thereafter.
“I don’t think that’s a main priority for us this winter time, starting pitcher,” Dombrowski said. “Because I think we like our starting pitching. However, as the winter progresses, if somebody’s out there that makes sense to add, I wouldn’t say that we definitely would not do it, but I’m comfortable where we are.”
Dombrowski said reliever Tyler Thornburg’s recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery has been positive.
“I don’t know if you can 100 percent say, ‘OK, he’s going to be in your bullpen on Opening Day,’” Dombrowski said. “Not because somebody’s told me he can’t be, just because of the type of surgery he had.”
Bjornson in bullpen
The Red Sox officially completed their coaching staff by naming Craig Bjornson bullpen coach. Bjornson was the Astros bullpen coach the past four years, and he developed a strong relationship with new manager Alex Cora. Bjornson will replace Dana LeVangie, who moved from bullpen coach to pitching coach.
“Alex’s thought process, and I didn’t disagree with him, is that we have a new pitching coach so we wanted to put a veteran in the bullpen who has been there for a while,” Dombrowski said. “As long as Dana felt comfortable with him, (assistant pitching coach Brian Bannister) felt comfortable with him, we would go in that direction.”
Otani an option
Dombrowski said major league clubs are not allowed to openly discuss Japanese superstar Shohei Otani because he is not yet officially available. So, hypothetically, would the Red Sox be open to a player who wants to both hit and pitch in the big leagues?
“Well, geez, there’s a lot of guys who fit into that description, right?” he said, with a laugh. “Well, Babe Ruth did it, right? So, he was pretty good. I would say that it’s possible. … Now, most players aren’t that talented to continue to do it, but if you had somebody that was talented enough, why not? Like, I said, the Babe did it.”
Otani had a .942 OPS as a hitter and a 3.20 ERA as a pitcher in Japan this season. The 22-year-old is expected to look for an opportunity to do both in the majors.