FORT MYERS, Fla. — While Rafael Devers and Kiké Hernández compete in subsequent month’s World Baseball Classic, the Red Sox will take a more in-depth take a look at Bobby Dalbec.
The struggling infielder will spend a while at each place however second base.
Dalbec got here up within the group as a 3rd baseman, however moved to first to keep away from being blocked by Devers. After struggling by means of 2022, he’s now blocked by Triston Casas, too; the rookie is anticipated to be the on a regular basis first baseman, with veteran infielder Justin Turner backing him up.
Hernández initially signed on to be the on a regular basis second baseman in 2021, then spent the vast majority of his time in middle area, and signed a one-year extension final fall to proceed in middle earlier than Xander Bogaerts’ departure and Trevor Story’s UCL surgical procedure necessitated a transfer to shortstop.
Where does all of this depart Dalbec? The group has been making an attempt to determine the place he suits into the equation for the higher a part of the final 12 months. According to a supply inside the group, the Red Sox had been ready to commerce Dalbec early within the ’22 season, if Casas obtained off to a sizzling begin in Triple-A and regarded able to debut.
But when Casas sustained a high-ankle sprain in May and missed over a month of the minor-league season, and Dalbec struggled to the extent that it didn’t make sense to commerce him, the Red Sox needed to pivot. They tried to show outfielder Franchy Cordero into a primary baseman, and when that didn’t work, they acquired Eric Hosmer, a former Gold Glove first baseman, on the commerce deadline.
As Casas returned from his damage and it turned clear that he might be prepared for a September call-up, the Red Sox tried to show Dalbec second base. Ultimately, they optioned him to Triple-A to open a roster spot for Casas.
Now, Dalbec is slated to see time at shortstop, as an alternative, an fascinating experiment for a participant who ranked within the fifth percentile in arm power final 12 months.
Through his first three years taking part in no less than a part of the season within the majors, he’s made 233 appearances at first, 40 at third, 5 as DH, three at shortstop, and two at second. Last 12 months, he made three errors in 24 appearances (14 begins) at third, and two in 89 appearances (64 begins) at first.
Dalbec was a high prospect when he debuted with the Red Sox late within the 2020 season. He hit eight dwelling runs in 23 video games that first 12 months, but additionally struck out 39 occasions in 23 video games.
In 2021, he collected 21 doubles, 5 triples, and 26 dwelling runs in 133 video games, but additionally struck out 156 occasions and solely walked 28 occasions in his first full season.
Last 12 months, he regressed, placing collectively 9 doubles, two triples, and 12 dwelling runs whereas hanging out 118 occasions in 117 video games, however he pushed his stroll charge up from 6.2% the 12 months earlier than, to eight.2%. Cumulatively, although, Dalbec attracts walks at a below-average charge, and his 34.9% profession strikeout charge is over 10% increased than league common (22.9%). In 2022, his Ok% ranked within the 2nd percentile.
It’s tough to match Casas’ offensive numbers after solely 27 profession video games within the majors, however even in that quick span, his plate self-discipline improved dramatically. In his first 13 video games, he collected three hits (although two of them had been dwelling runs), struck out 12 occasions, and drew six walks; within the remaining 14 video games, he added 12 hits and 13 walks and solely struck out 11 occasions.
Maybe there’s nonetheless room for Dalbec someplace within the infield, however that’s solely a part of the puzzle.
Machado to decide out
Good factor the Red Sox locked Devers down after they did.
On Friday, Manny Machado formally confirmed that he plans to decide out of his Padres contract on the finish of the season, telling reporters, “There’s a lot of money out there.”
Ahead of the 2019 season, Machado turned the primary participant in MLB historical past to obtain a contract of $300 million or extra. But he was 26 then; the shortstop-turned-third-baseman can be 31 in July, so it is sensible that he’d wish to decide out and search a brand new long-term deal; he’d be a 36-year-old free agent if he opted into his 2024-28 participant choice.
This winter, shortstops Xander Bogaerts and Trea Turner every acquired 11-year contracts this winter that may take them into their 40s. Bogaerts turned 30 on Oct. 1, Turner can be 30 on June 30 of this 12 months.
If Machado opts out subsequent fall, he can safe a deal that cushions the decline that inevitably comes with age. And there’s a prolonged, profitable take care of his identify on it someplace, however there’s at all times a component of danger when leaving assured cash on the desk. This offseason already supplied one of the crucial stunning, Icarian storylines in free-agent historical past. Twice in December, Carlos Correa virtually turned the third shortstop to command a contract of a dozen or extra seasons, however the Giants and Mets each balked at his physicals, and backed out.
Machado can be over a 12 months older than Bogaerts and Turner had been after they acquired their affords, and Bogaerts’ Padres deal vastly exceeded projections, each in years and wage. Correa is simply 28, and ended up returning to the Twins on a six-year deal for over $100 million lower than the 2 National League groups had supplied.
The most intriguing side of this 2023 storyline is the ripple impact of Machado’s choice. Will the Padres make a play to maintain him? Will they pivot to making an attempt to increase Soto? Would they dare do each?
In latest years, the Padres have proven no hesitation in terms of spending and buying and selling to lastly construct that elusive first championship crew. They’ve dedicated over half a billion {dollars} to Bogaerts and Fernando Tatis Jr. over the subsequent 11-14 years, Joe Musgrove’s five-year, $100 million extension begins this season, and so they simply prolonged Yu Darvish by means of 2028 for $108 million.
But as Red Sox followers noticed in 2018-19, the invoice comes due ultimately. Spotrac estimates that the Padres are presently over $11 million above the Competitive Balance Threshold. If they continue to be over the restrict by means of the season, it is going to be their third consecutive 12 months of taxation, and the penalties develop steeper annually they don’t reset. They paid a 30% tax on their overage final 12 months, and would owe a 50% tax for this season; if the season ended as we speak, that’s a $6 million penalty. (The Red Sox exceeded the posh tax final season, however are on observe to reset it this 12 months by remaining comfortably below the $233 million threshold.)
Source: www.bostonherald.com