Sox Considering Moving Pedroia to SS

[BoSox21]

Dustin Pedroia told ESPN's Peter Gammons Monday that the Red Sox have asked him if he would be open to playing shortstop next season.

 

"They've asked me if I think I could play shortstop," Pedroia said. "They've put it out there and I've told them I'm all for it. I can do it." He was an All-American shortstop during his time at Arizona State and takes ground balls from the position during the season. If he can pull off the switch, it would make life much easier for the Red Sox this offseason. The market for shortstops is thin, but second baseman Orlando Hudson is available as a free agent while Dan Uggla and Brandon Phillips can reportedly be had via trade.

 

Rotoworld

[BSN07]

I asked if this was fee sable a few weeks ago and didn't receive much support for the idea.

 

But if Pedroia could be moved to SS and the Sox can acquire a 2B like Phillips it might be an interesting option.

[riverside sluggers]

Id take Phillips or Uggla gladly. Pedroia is such the pro

[BSN07]

Uggla is a bit of a butcher at 2B. But Phillips is pretty good in the field IIRC

[Dipre]

To move Pedroia to SS, they'd need to find a very good 2B and upgrade at 3B as well.

[BoSox21]

My concern about Pedroia at short is his range and, to a lesser extent, his arm. I fear the amount of seeing eye singles to left if Lowell stays at third with Pedroia at short.

[BSN07]

To move Pedroia to SS' date=' they'd need to find a very good 2B and upgrade at 3B as well.[/quote']

 

Which there are plenty of options.

 

Uggla and Phillips have been said to be available. Hudson and Lopez aren't too bad for FA options.

 

And we all know there are a few good 3B available. I still think Lowell will be able to man the position for 110-120 games at least. giving Youk time at 3B and Martinez time at 1B.

[BSN07]

My concern about Pedroia at short is his range and' date=' to a lesser extent, his arm. I fear the amount of seeing eye singles to left if Lowell stays at third with Pedroia at short.[/quote']

 

This is a concern no doubt. But I bet he wouldn't be any worse the Tejada or any other FA option for that matter.

[riverside sluggers]

This is a concern no doubt. But I bet he wouldn't be any worse the Tejada or any other FA option for that matter.

 

Plus better than giving 3 years/$20 or more million and a top draft pick to get Scutaro

[jacksonianmarch]

Now thats an interesting proposition. Pedroia to SS absolutely requires an upgrade at 3b. Now, we saw Youkilis over at 3b and he did a good job, but a lot of his lack of 3b type range was masked by Gonzalez just tearing s*** up over at SS. And putting Lowell on that left side would be brutal. IMO, if Pedroia needs to go to SS to fill that hole, they would need a 2b with lateral range like Hudson and a 3b with lateral range like Beltre. You put an IF out there like..

 

1B- Youkilis

2B- Hudson

SS- Pedroia

3B- Beltre

 

and you will partially cover up the lack of range that Pedroia will exhibit for the position.

[a700hitter]

Uggla is a bit of a butcher at 2B. But Phillips is pretty good in the field IIRC

Uggla is not a "bit of a butcher." He carries a meat cleaver to the field.

[BSN07]

Now thats an interesting proposition. Pedroia to SS absolutely requires an upgrade at 3b. Now, we saw Youkilis over at 3b and he did a good job, but a lot of his lack of 3b type range was masked by Gonzalez just tearing s*** up over at SS. And putting Lowell on that left side would be brutal. IMO, if Pedroia needs to go to SS to fill that hole, they would need a 2b with lateral range like Hudson and a 3b with lateral range like Beltre. You put an IF out there like..

 

1B- Youkilis

2B- Hudson

SS- Pedroia

3B- Beltre

 

and you will partially cover up the lack of range that Pedroia will exhibit for the position.

 

Not a bad option for an IF. I would hope they would at least check in on Brandon Phillips though.

 

This could all be a smoke screen to help the Sox leverage in trade discussions.

[Dipre]

Beltre, IMHO, is a sleeper to have a monster year if taken out of Safeco.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Sign Beltre to complement it (for defensive purposes, obviously), and that's one f*** of a left side of the infield. I agree with Dipre that SAFECO killed Beltre and putting him in Fenway could spike his numbers.

[BSN07]

Beltre' date=' IMHO, is a sleeper to have a monster year if taken out of Safeco.[/quote']

 

I also expect Beltre to put up better #'s now that he is out of Safeco.

 

Whether it be in Philly, St. Louis or Boston.

 

Is 3/27M to little or too much to offer him?

[Dipre]

I also expect Beltre to put up better #'s now that he is out of Safeco.

 

Whether it be in Philly, St. Louis or Boston.

 

Is 3/27M to little or too much to offer him?

 

9 per?

 

Too much i think.

[BSN07]

9 per?

 

Too much i think.

 

Ok, so what are you thinking, 7-8? I mean this is Boras. And Beltre made 12M last season. And fangraphs has his value for 2009 at 10.7M. And 18.7M for 2008.

[SCM33]

Orlando Cabrera has already said he is looking to move to 2B next year, curiously just a few days before Pedey has said he will gladly move to SS......just saying.....

[BSN07]

Orlando Cabrera has already said he is looking to move to 2B next year' date=' curiously just a few days before Pedey has said he will gladly move to SS......just saying.....[/quote']

 

I think that was more to get the Dodgers involved. But it is something to consider.

[msubulldogs21]

I've always wanted the O-Dawg to play in Boston. Be awesome to have him at 2B.

[redsoxrules]

Orlando Cabrera has already said he is looking to move to 2B next year' date=' curiously just a few days before Pedey has said he will gladly move to SS......just saying.....[/quote']

 

O-cab blows,.... just saying

[Paradisecity]

O-cab blows' date='.... just saying[/quote']

 

Wasn't he supposedly attempting to wife-steal from the other players while he was here?

[a700hitter]

Wasn't he supposedly attempting to wife-steal from the other players while he was here?

That was a problem? Didn't their wives have the opportunity to say "no' to his advances?

[Dipre]

That was a problem? Didn't their wives have the opportunity to say "no' to his advances?

 

Maybe the way they said no to his advances was to tell their husbands to get the "Little guy telling them he wants to f*** them to STFU and stop that".

[Keeper]

Don't know if I like this move. Pedroia is one of the best second basemen in the game. Why ruin a good thing? Does he have the range and arm strength to play short?

 

If they do end up moving him, getting Beltre and Hudson/Phillips is a must. That way even if Pedroia is subpar at short, you've still got a good infield.

[ehaz]

"They've asked me if I think I could play shortstop," Pedroia told ESPN's Peter Gammons. "They've put it out there, and I've told them I'm all for it. I can do it. I can't wait for [Terry Francona] to call me and ask, 'Can you do it?' I can do it. I really want to do it."

 

Have to love Pedroia's quote on this. I honestly believe he could be an above average shortstop. He has a good arm, decent range and a great glove, plus he was great at the position in amateur levels. Finding a second baseman will be a lot easier, the market is loaded this offseason with them. Want power? Trade for Dan Uggla. Want defense? Sign Orlando Hudson.

 

Hudson

Polanco

Lopez

Phillips

Uggla

 

Are all available. The Red Sox have a couple near all-star caliber second basemen to pick from in that group.

[ehaz]

Don't know if I like this move. Pedroia is one of the best second basemen in the game. Why ruin a good thing? Does he have the range and arm strength to play short?

 

If they do end up moving him, getting Beltre and Hudson/Phillips is a must. That way even if Pedroia is subpar at short, you've still got a good infield.

When he played SS at Arizona, he was named Defensive Player of the year for his conference. SO he clearly was very good defensively at that position at one point. Pedroia was a shortstop in the minors, he was moved from shortstop to second base not because of his inability to play there, but because old friend Hanley Ramirez was blocking the position.

[msubulldogs21]

When he played SS at Arizona' date=' he was named Defensive Player of the year for his conference.[/quote']

 

I thought it was National Defensive POTY while at Arizona State. Regardless, he clearly knew what he was doing out there.

[BoSox21]

Amazing, 5 years later and people are still clamoring for the Sox to re-acquire Cabrera

[Gom]

I asked if this was fee sable a few weeks ago and didn't receive much support for the idea.

Oh God...do you mean feasible?

 

Please God...it hurts....