With Rafael Devers headed back to the DL, there isn’t a better time for the Red Sox to finally make the trade for Brian Dozier.
Over the last week or so, as the MLB trade deadline approaches, there have been a handful of reports linking the Boston Red Sox to Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier — especially considering the poor health problems of longtime Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
A trade between the two teams that would send Dozier to Boston has yet to come to fruition, but with the deadline just days away and third baseman Rafael Devers now headed back to the disabled list for the second time in just a matter of weeks, now is the time for the Red Sox to pounce on this opportunity.
The 21-year-old Devers suffered a strained left hamstring on Saturday when the Red Sox routed Dozier’s Twins 10-4 at Fenway Park. They have recalled infielder Tzu-Wei Lin, who has been going back and forth between the Red Sox and the minors all season, for the time being, but it’s hard to imagine he’s the permanent solution to the problem.
Should the Red Sox acquire Dozier, they could put him permanently at second base for the rest of the season and move current second baseman Eduardo Nunez to third base to fill in for the injured Devers. When Devers returns from the DL in a few weeks, they can then decide which guy they want to remain at third base for the remainder of the season and into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Boston would be getting a quality second baseman in Dozier. At 31 years old, he’s a guy who has been around for a while and would bring a seasoned veteran’s presence to the clubhouse. As a Gold Glove winner last year, Dozier would also shore up some defensive woes the Red Sox have had with Nunez at second base.
Though there are many Red Sox fans who believe they should remain loyal and hold out for the return of Pedroia, unfortunately, it’s time to move on. Pedroia was one of the best all-around players in baseball during his heyday, but he’ll be 35 next month; he’s long past his prime, and he’s on the disabled list more often than he’s off of it these days. When he does play, he’s nowhere near the player he used to be. As tough as it would be for Boston fans to part with the former MVP, it’s time the Red Sox start planning for life after Pedroia.
Dozier would be a nice fit with this Red Sox team, and the neat part of it is the Red Sox are playing the Twins again at Fenway Park on Sunday afternoon — if they get this trade taken care of soon, Dozier wouldn’t even have to travel anywhere.