In retrospect (hindsight) , Pearce's signing independent of the BP and Swihart situations was understandable . Moreland, while a tough guy playing with injuries has had weak splits in second halves (.853 pre A-S; .600 post A-s in '18) so a backup RH hitter, who should be hitting .250 with 3-4 HR's by now, was not a bad choice. The price was probably a little rich, but Pearce was the WS MVP ( not the basis for a big payday). Now he is truly in a deep slumps with a high K ratio (40%), no HR's and a.336 OPS. Not DD's fault, and there are still about 120 games to go.
The Sox have to pay him anyway and none of the IL list returnees are pressing the 1B position. You may say that if the 2Bmen (Pedey/Holt) return that Chavis becomes the pressure point to leave second base and go to first as the RH power hitter Pearce was supposed to be. Well if that's the case, come up with a phantom IL problem for Pearce so he can do a rehab at Portland and maybe find his swing again. Right now Steve Pearce is contributing nothing and the FO can't ignore it completely. I think the decision point becomes whether you want Chavis to get reps at 1B in Pawtucket or at 2B in MLB until one or another player drops out before Pearce does.