Arroyo ready to return
Red-hot Iglesias sticking at second base, but is ineligible for the postseason roster
Christian Arroyo will likely be the starting second baseman if the Red Sox reach the postseason.
But in order to reach the postseason, they’ll need Jose Iglesias to continue his impressive run in his first-ever big league opportunity at the position.
Iglesias, a shortstop by trade, was moved to second when Xander Bogaerts came back from the COVID-19 related injury list. There’s no question Iglesias is a better shortstop than Bogaerts, but it makes little sense to move Bogaerts around at this point.
Instead, Iglesias is looking like the best second baseman the Red Sox didn’t know they needed. The 31-year-old defensive wizard is hitting .382 with five extra-base hits and five RBI in 13 games with the Sox.
Arroyo was activated off the COVID-IL on Tuesday but looks like nothing more than a pinch-hitting option while Iglesias stays in the lineup. Manager Alex Cora wouldn’t say Iglesias is the starter, but it appears clear.
“We’re taking it day by day,” Cora said. “José is playing second today. If there’s a situation where we need Christian late in the game against a lefty, we’ll use that, but right now, José is doing an amazing job not only defensively but offensively.”
He’s ineligible for the postseason because he wasn’t in the organization before Sept. 1.
“We cannot look too ahead of what’s going on tonight,” Cora said. “That’s the way we see it. Obviously we’re in a good spot but it’s not comfortable, you know? We’ve got to keep playing good baseball. He’s been part of this the last few days. He’s done an amazing job.”
It’s fair to wonder why the Sox didn’t try to add a quality second baseman before Sept.
1.
Iglesias was a pending free agent on an Angels team that wasn’t going anywhere. They released him in early September and the Sox quickly snatched him up for nothing. But why couldn’t they add a player like that before the trade deadline?
Arroyo had been injured in mid-July. Kiké Hernandez was playing a lot of second base, but Jarren Duran was struggling in center field and Hernandez’s move back to center seemed inevitable.
dalbec on the bench
Second base isn’t the only position that continues to be fluid.
The first base/left field/ designated hitter rotation with four guys for three spots continue to be interesting to watch.
Bobby Dalbec was back on the bench Wednesday despite staying red hot at the plate and looking new and improved on defense at first base.
But Kyle Schwarber needs to play, too, and the Sox put him back in at first base against the Mets, with J.D. Martinez at DH and Alex Verdugo
in left field.
“For how good Bobby has swung the bat, there are certain matchups where we’ll protect him or we’ll stay away from it,” Cora said. “We do believe this is a good one for Hunter Renfroe, for Kyle, for Alex, and for Iglesias. So that’s where we go.
“Obviously we’ve got some good players now. We’ve got some good hitters, guys that even when they’re not swinging the bat well, they’re getting on base, in the case of Kyle, right? And he’s actually trending up. It’s a good problem to have. I think it gives us options late in games. We have a deeper bench, regardless of who is starting. We can be aggressive as far as pinch hitting.”
Duran in Worcester
Duran has returned from his stint on the COVID-IL and played in three games with Worcester, going 2-for-9 with a double.
Cora said it’s important for Duran to get at-bats in Triple-A right now. He struggled in the big leagues, hitting .215 with a .578 OPS, though the Sox might want him on the postseason roster because of his speed as a late-game pinch runner.
Danny Santana and Yairo Munoz have returned from quarantine but are still on the COVID list and battling other injuries. Jonathan Arauz has returned as well, though the Sox don’t need to activate him right now since they have Iglesias and Arroyo at second base.
“Danny just got back yesterday,” Cora said. “He’s been out for 10 days. Now his process to build up starts, too. He’s kind of like in the same situation as Christian, he hasn’t played much lately. We’ll see where it takes us...
“I’m glad that everybody is here, everybody is healthy, and hopefully we can turn the page. We’ve still got to do our stuff, protect each other, and take care of the group, but I’m relieved everyone is here now.”
Adam Ottavino hasn’t pitched in a week, but Cora said he’s benefited from the rest and the club is ready to use him when necessary.