Deven Marrero was promoted today. He’s right at the top of the list for this year’s most pleasant surprise minor leaguer, excelling in AA ball after a mediocre High A ball season last year (if anything, it’s usually the other way around). However, his improving stock as a potential starting big league SS will likely lead to some tough decisions for the Sox sooner than expected. Xander wants to play short; Farrell has also stated that X is a SS; but what about the superior defender Marrero at this crucial defensive position? Basically, you’ve got a quality starting SS who seems almost ready for Boston and the future franchise star who is expecting his SS position back.
Here are some potential options:
1. Xander is our future SS and Marrero very valuable trade fodder.
2. Xander is our future SS and Marrero is moved to another position. I can’t see much value in this as moving him to any other position would significantly diminish his value, plus we have a strong farm system already supplying young prospects at other positions.
3. Marrero is our future SS and Xander our third baseman, and Xander is okay with this. For this to happen, Xander will have to be convinced that 3B is better for him
4. Marrero is our future SS and Xander our third baseman, and Xander is pissed about this. I can’t see how this will turn out well . There is also the added complication that we have 2-3 decent young 3rd baseman in WMB, Cecchini and maybe Coyle who can enter the picture. What if WMB starts looking like Evan Longoria and/or Cecchini starts to hit for power and/or Coyle continues his great play?
5. Drew is resigned for next year. Highly unlikely I would think and given above, but he has been our SS for most of the last two years.
6. Trade Xander. We’d all hate to do this, but if Giancarlo Stanton or the right package somehow came along…
We had a similar complication at SS last year around the same time and I feel pretty much the same way again; that this is a good problem to have, but nonetheless, soon to be the elephant in the room for this organization.
Here are some potential options:
1. Xander is our future SS and Marrero very valuable trade fodder.
2. Xander is our future SS and Marrero is moved to another position. I can’t see much value in this as moving him to any other position would significantly diminish his value, plus we have a strong farm system already supplying young prospects at other positions.
3. Marrero is our future SS and Xander our third baseman, and Xander is okay with this. For this to happen, Xander will have to be convinced that 3B is better for him
4. Marrero is our future SS and Xander our third baseman, and Xander is pissed about this. I can’t see how this will turn out well . There is also the added complication that we have 2-3 decent young 3rd baseman in WMB, Cecchini and maybe Coyle who can enter the picture. What if WMB starts looking like Evan Longoria and/or Cecchini starts to hit for power and/or Coyle continues his great play?
5. Drew is resigned for next year. Highly unlikely I would think and given above, but he has been our SS for most of the last two years.
6. Trade Xander. We’d all hate to do this, but if Giancarlo Stanton or the right package somehow came along…
We had a similar complication at SS last year around the same time and I feel pretty much the same way again; that this is a good problem to have, but nonetheless, soon to be the elephant in the room for this organization.