Countdown to Sox Spring: Healthy Xander Bogaerts needs bounce-back season at SS

This is part of a new BSJ series, designed to get you ready for spring training. Each day, we'll take a look at a particular position and examine it from the major league level, evaluating depth at the position and looking ahead to some prospects in the minors.

TODAY: Shortstop

OVERVIEW: Xander Bogaerts is about to return for his fourth full season as the Red Sox’ starting shortstop, but he’s got some rebounding to do.  Bogaerts had his worst season last year since he became a regular, watching his home run total more than cut in half while his slugging percentage dipped precipitously. Undoubtedly, some of the struggles Bogaerts experienced at the plate were the result of being struck in the right hand in early July. He remained in the lineup for the rest of the way, but it was clear that the injury impacted his performance.

There is decent depth at the position, both in reserve and also in the minor league system. But for now, Bogaerts is the clear starter and it’s important to remember that he’s still just 25.

THE STARTER: Xander Bogaerts
CONTRACTUAL STATUS: Avoided arbitration, signed for $7.05 million for 2018.
ELIGIBLE FOR FREE AGENCY: After 2019 season.
NOTABLE 2017 STATS:  .343 OBP/.403 SLG/.746 OPS…Hit just one homer after being hit in the right hand on July 6. … Before that, had a .363 OBP and a .455 SLG with six homers and 41 RBI in first 80 games. … Did well as leadoff hitter, with a .406 OBP in that role.
ASSESSMENT: It would seem that Bogaerts would be in line for a bounce-back season. He deserves credit for playing through the injury, though in retrospect, it might have been more beneficial for him to take some time to recover. He’s a candidate to be helped by new hitting coach Tim Hyers, who has stressed the need for hitters to be more aggressive early in the count while also highlighting the need to drive the ball in the air more. In a perfect world, Bogaerts would show more extra-base power. He’s not a natural power hitter, but given his ability and strength, he should be capable of 18-20 homers per season. Defensively, some of the fielding metrics aren’t always kind to Bogaerts, but he’s at least league-average at the position.



THE BACKUP: Deven Marrero
CONTRACTUAL STATUS: Not eligible for arbitration, salary for 2018 TBD
ELIGIBLE FOR FREE AGENCY: After 2022 season
NOTABLE 2017 STATS: .259 OBP/.309 OBP/.568 OPS. … Hit lefties exceptionally well (.944 OPS). … Committed just three errors in 71 games.
ASSESSMENT: Marrero is a skilled and versatile defender, capable of helping out at third, short and second, but it’s clear by now that he’s not going to be much of an offensive contributor unless the Sox can avoid having him face right-handers. A solid bench player because of his glove – but not much more.



THE BACKUP: Tzu-Wei Lin.
CONTRACTUAL STATUS: Not eligible for arbitration, salary for 2018 TBD.
NOTABLE 2017 STATS: .369 OBP/.339 SLG/.709 OPS
ASSESSMENT: Lin performed pretty well for a player making the jump to the big leagues from Double-A after injuries struck the infield. He won’t turn 24 until next month and showed remarkable poise last season. He was also sure-handed, committing just one error in 46 chances. Likely won’t hit enough to become a big league regular (he has a .240 lifetime average in the minors), but his versatility could make him useful.



THE FUTURE: Chad De La Guerra
NOTABLE 2017 STATS:  .361 OBP/.437 SLG/.798
ASSESSMENT: De La Guerra split time between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland last year and performed well enough to be invited to the Arizona Fall League. He’s shown a little pop at the plate (nine homers between his two stops last year) and could be a useful role player in the future. But it’s worth noting that De La Guerra is already 25 and hasn’t played above Double-A yet.



THE FUTURE:  C.J. Chatham
NOTABLE 2017 STATS:  .381 OBP/.474 SLG/.855 OPS
ASSESSMENT: Chatham missed almost all of 2017 with a serious hamstring injury, limited to a handful of games. That’s a big setback in his pro development, but the Sox remain high on the shortstop, who was their second-round pick in 2016. Obviously, he has a long way to go, having not played higher than Low A ball.

Previous positional breakdowns:

Catcher
First base
Second base