Red Sox Slugger Elects Free Agency After Polarizing Four-Year Stint In Boston

Boston will miss the versatile power-hitter assuming he does not return

Scott Neville | Oct 3, 2023

Red Sox Slugger Elects Free Agency After Polarizing Four-Year Stint In Boston /

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox reportedly are set to lose an important piece of their position player depth this winter.

One of the greatest weaknesses of the 2023 Red Sox was their lack of production at second base. Boston is now set to get worse at the position before it gets better.

"A couple transactions: Infielder Christian Arroyo and catcher Caleb Hamilton have elected free agency after being outrighted during the season," SoxProspects tweeted Tuesday.

Arroyo hit .241 with 19 extra-base hits including three home runs, 24 RBIs and a .638 OPS in 66 games this season.

While that level of production is replaceable -- he was a much more impactful player in years past. In his past two seasons, Arroyo hit .277 with 41 extra-base hits including 12 home runs, 61 RBIs and a .749 OPS (103 OPS+) in 144 games. He also played first base, second base, third base, shortstop and even logged 17 games in right field during that span.

Arroyo is a valuable player, both for his defensive versatility and ability to get hot with the bat a few times a year. He's one of the most injury-ridden players in Major League Baseball but when he is on the field, he typically makes an impact.

After a slew of infielders were shipped in and out Arroyo was forced to end his season with Triple-A Worcester. That would incline most players to test free agency.

However, as it stands now his path to playing time in Boston is clear. Second base is his primary position and the Red Sox have one of the weakest middle infield groups in the MLB after Trevor Story. Arroyo could very realistically beat out Luis Urías and Enmanuel Valdez for playing time, or at least a roster spot.

It would still make sense for Arroyo to return to Boston after testing free agency, though it sounds unlikely at this juncture.

More MLB: Red Sox Contemplating Moving Star Reliever Into Rotation Next Season

Published Oct 3, 2023

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu