The Boston Red Sox were hoping to improve on their last-place finishes in the American League East in recent years, but their strong start to the season may already be in jeopardy. Veteran shortstop Trevor Story has suffered a season-ending injury, fracturing his glenoid and requiring surgical repair. This is just the latest in a series of injuries that have plagued Story since 2019, making it difficult for him to deliver a return on the lucrative contract he signed in spring training 2022.
Without Story, manager Alex Cora will have to shuffle his infield lineup, possibly platooning various players to fill the gap. One option could be moving Ceddanne Rafaela, a young and promising player, from center field to second base. Rafaela recently signed a multi-million dollar contract extension, showing that the Red Sox are looking to lock up their young talent for the long term. This strategy mimics that of successful teams like the Atlanta Braves, who have seen success by investing in their young players.
Rafaela’s move to the infield opens up opportunities in the outfield, with players like Jarren Duran and Tyler O’Neill stepping up to fill the gaps left by departed players. The Red Sox have been facing challenges with injuries to key players, including pitcher Lucas Giolito, who is also out for the season with a torn UCL. Despite these setbacks, the team has managed to win seven of their first ten games of the season, showing resilience and depth in their roster.
Cora had been counting on Grissom to partner with Story in the infield, but now must reevaluate his strategy without both players available. Grissom, acquired from the Atlanta Braves in a trade for Chris Sale, has experience playing both second and shortstop but may not be considered a strong fielder. The Red Sox are hoping to find a balance between developing their young talent and fielding a competitive team in the tough AL East division.
The Red Sox have recently lost key players to free agency and trades, but are looking to maintain a strong core of young talent through contract extensions. Breslow, the team’s chief baseball officer, is exploring the possibility of extending contracts to players like Triston Casas, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, and Duran. These moves could solidify the team’s future while navigating the challenges of replacing injured players in the short term. Boston fans are hopeful that the team’s early success this season is a sign of things to come, despite the obstacles they have faced.
