Position-by-position look at Red Sox roster: Second base

This is Part 3 in a series in which we'll examine the Red Sox roster by position. Each day, we'll focus on one spot around the diamond, examine the incumbent player(s), look at prospects in the system and comment on the state of the position within the organization in general.

TODAY: SECOND BASE

INCUMBENT: None.

No position on the Red Sox roster is more up in the air than second base. The Red Sox used eight different players at the position last year, with three players getting more than 40 appearances at second, but none playing more than 60 games.

The player with the most appearances at second last year



was Brock Holt (60), who is now a free agent and is hardly a certainty to return. Next up was Marco Hernandez (48), who was non-tendered Monday night before being re-signed Wednesday morning. Finally, there was Michael Chavis (43), who likely profiles as a candidate more at first base, where he also saw significant playing time.

Lingering in the distant background is Dustin Pedroia, seemingly intent on yet another comeback try, but whose availability can hardly be guaranteed, given that he's played just nine games — total — over the last two seasons. Once more, the Sox will have to consider Pedroia's contributions as a bonus and not something they can count on.

BACKUPS: Hernandez, Tzu-Wei Lin.
Hernandez experienced a dropoff over the final six weeks of the season, perhaps the result of having missed almost all of the previous two seasons as he underwent multiple surgeries. Hernandez needs to show a lot more — both at the plate and in the field — to be considered an everyday player. Lin is a talented defender who can also contribute at shortstop and center field, but his inability to hit big-league pitching (.706 career OPS) likely limits him to serve as a depth option.

PROSPECTS: C.J. Chatham, Cameron Cannon
Chatham was added to the 40-man roster for the first time last month. He's hit at nearly every minor league stop (.298 over four seasons), but he lacks pop (14 homers) and there are questions about his ability to adapt to second base. He was drafted as a shortstop and has played just 12 games at second, where his size (6-for-3) could prove a hindrance.

Cannon, too, was drafted as a shortstop, selected in the second round last June from Arizona. But most scouts believe he lacks the arm strength for short and would be best served by a move to second. He doesn't project to have a lot of power and, having just been drafted, will need several seasons more of development.

FREE AGENTS RED SOX COULD TARGET: Eric Sogard, Brad Miller, Brock Holt
Both Sogard and Miller were one-time Tampa Bay Rays, so they have a connection to new Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom. Sogard quietly had a good season splitting time between Toronto and Tampa Bay. Miller has bounced around a lot in the last few years, but is only three years removed from a 30-homer season with the Rays. Neither will command much salary, which is key for a Red Sox team looking carefully at its bottom line as it attempts to re-set its CBT rate.

A return engagement with Holt cannot be ruled out entirely, though he's likely seeking a multi-year commitment and some security, which the Sox might not be willing to offer.