LIFE REPRESENTS ART: March 2013

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

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JACKIE BRADLEY

RED SOX STARTING LEFT FIELDER

In some ways, given that the team doesn’t appear to have a pressing need for a right-handed pinch-hitter (of the everyday players, only center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and, presuming he’s on the team, Bradley are left-handed, and neither is limited to facing right-handers), and that Gomez is defensively limited to first base (he hasn’t been playing at third this spring), Sweeney would appear the better complement better capable of creating a well-rounded roster.

However, if the team adds both Bradley and Sweeney, it would require two 40-man roster spots. Carp would be cleared from the 40-man for one spot, but the need for a second could have implications for the battle for the seventh and last bullpen spot behind Joel Hanrahan, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara and Alfredo Aceves. While Clayton Mortensen, in a vacuum, appears more likely to remain on the roster than Daniel Bard, that’s not set in stone, particularly after Bard’s strong appearance (3 strikeouts, up to 97 mph, swing-and-miss slider and some good changeups) against the Phillies. And because Mortensen is out of options, while he’s performed well this spring and would seem to have value as a multi-innings reliever, the team could create a second 40-man spot by removing him from the roster (trying to outright him to the minors but, in the likely event he was claimed, either trading him or letting him get claimed) and carrying Bard on the big league roster.

Still, though Carp appears somewhat redundant, there are scenarios in which that would not be the case. For instance, even if the team carried Bradley, against some right-handed pitchers, if Victorino needed a day off, the team could play Bradley in right, Nava in left and have Carp serve as the left-handed DH. That idea might have appeal given the intrigue about Carp’s upside — he’s not far removed from a very promising 2011 season that was in line with an impressive minor league track record — and he’s both young (27) and inexpensive not just for 2013 but also for years to come, as he remains under team control for four more years.

If the team kept Carp and Bradley, then it would still need to create a 40-man spot. Conceivably, that could render Mortensen vulnerable, though he might be valuable enough that the team would consider removing another player with options who was scheduled to open the year in the minors from its 40-man roster.

If the team elected not to keep Bradley, then the team would likely open the year with a lineup that would feature Nava, Johnny Gomes and Carp splitting at-bats between left field and DH. The need for a strong outfield defensive option like Sweeney likely would increase, with Gomez representing (again) something of a dark horse. A 40-man spot for Sweeney likely would come at the expense of Mortensen or a minor leaguer.

So, the final determinations are left to be made. With Sweeney having an opt-out on March 28, however, the team will likely meet over the next couple of days to finalize its thoughts, with the intention of having the situation resolved during the week (rather than waiting until the final day of camp on Saturday to define the final 25-man roster).