Position-by-position look at Red Sox roster: Right field

This is Part 8 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: Right field

INCUMBENT: Mookie Betts
CONTRACT STATUS: Eligible for final year of salary arbitration, with a projected salary of $27.7 million.
THE SKINNY: Having set the bar impossibly high with a 2018 season in which he was named A.L. MVP and had one of the best seasons in franchise history, Betts almost certainly was going to see his numbers regress somewhat in 2019 — and they did. At times, he was hugely frustrated — especially in the first half — as he tinkered with his swing and bounced between the No. 2 and leadoff spot in the Red Sox lineup. But he rebounded nicely in the second half (.992 OPS) and still managed to post a 6.8 WAR, good for seventh in all of MLB. He also led the game in runs scored and was awarded both a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove. Most of the "counting stats'' — doubles, homers, and RBI — were almost identical to the previous season.
Even after a season in which he fell off somewhat,



Betts remains one of the half-dozen best players in the game and, having apparently given up on the idea of trading him this winter, the Sox will still get at least one more season out of him. There's great value to having a player of that caliber, in his prime, in your everyday lineup.

Looking ahead to 2020, it will be interesting to see how Betts deals with the potential distraction of his pending free agency. Will he place undue pressure on himself to perform up to his 2018 standard? Will the inevitable trade rumors bother him?

THE BACKUPS: Jackie Bradley Jr., J.D. Martinez

As noted with both the left field and center field positions, the Red Sox lack an actual, honest-to-goodness backup in right field. On days in which Betts gets a day off or is shifted to DH, the Sox can always swing Bradley over and know that the position will be covered more capably. That's less true when Martinez gets the occasional start there. Right field at Fenway is perhaps the most demanding outfield spot in the league and Martinez is a liability in terms of how much ground he can cover. For now, however, the Sox lack for other alternatives.

THE PROSPECTS: Gilberto Jimenez.

The Sox are shockingly thin on outfield prospects in general, and that's doubly true for right field, where teams generally prefer power bats and plus arms. Jimenez, who has the potential to develop into a five-tool outfielder, could one day fit this profile. But he's likely three or more years away from being ready to contribute at the big-league level. Someone like Jarren Duran could perhaps handle the defensive responsibilities soon, but as a slap hitter who relies largely on speed for his offensive contribution, wouldn't be the answer long-term.

OVERALL

For 2020, the Red Sox are well-covered at the position. But given the consensus that Betts will leave the organization — either via trade at the deadline, or next winter as a free agent — they're soon to have a gaping hole in right field, with no in-house alternatives currently in the pipeline or, at least, ready to make contributions in 2021.