Two-Time All-Star Free Agent Would Be Perfect Xander Bogaerts Replacement

Boston needs to bolster their middle infield

Scott Neville | Jan 5, 2023

Two-Time All-Star Free Agent Would Be Perfect Xander Bogaerts Replacement /

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox appear to be heading in the right direction after dealing out the largest contract in franchise history to superstar third baseman Rafael Devers, but there's still plenty of work to do.

Boston has yet to make an addition to their middle infield after the departure of Xander Bogaerts, but there's still one option sitting in free agency that would make a lot of sense.

Two-time All-Star Elvis Andrus would be a strong addition to the Red Sox's lineup for the 2023 season.

The 34-year-old hit .249 with 49 extra-base hits including 17 home runs, 58 RBIs and a .707 OPS in 149 games between the Oakland Athletics and Chicago White Sox last season.

Paired with being in the 84 percentile in Outs Above Average, Andrus would be a notable addition to the roster. With Trevor Story already slotted into the lineup (97th percentile in Outs Above Average last season) the Red Sox could have a premier middle infield duo.

Andrus brings pop in his bat, strong defense and will not only be affordable but on a short-term deal.

With Bogaerts gone, the Red Sox almost certainly will pivot to short-term solutions until top prospect Marcelo Mayer is ready for the big leagues.

Andrus would be a solid all-around talent to bolster a lineup filled with question marks. He would also allow Story to stay at second base next season.

It would make a lot of sense for Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom to target Andrus as a middle infield upgrade.

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Published Jan 5, 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