Handling the Story Injury | Where do we go from here?

I would like an external addition - I just don't know how realistic it is to get one on April 10th. The White Sox have Paul Dejong and Nicky Lopez, the Cardinals have Brandon Crawford as their backup SS, as examples . If you wanted to target a CF and move Ceddanne to SS full-time the Mets have Harrison Bader. I hope Craig is working the phones and seeing who has a veteran shortshop with basic defensive competency - it's just unclear if we get one for the time being.

To be honest, to me it's less a question of whether you want Ceddanne in CF or SS, and more who you want getting playing time between Romy/Reyes/Hamilton/Abreu (with Rafaela going to SS as a result). I would be inclined towards Abreu, but he has not looked good so far.

As much I'm going to hate it, I think the best option might to mix it up and see who pans out between these all options (including mixing Ceddanne in at SS) - which is probably what they'll do. Like imagine if Romy Gonzalez - who was mashing in Worcester - has a flash in the pan season. You ride whoever is looking good for as long as you can until you can finally make a trade. 

The team already showed their hand. They will run with the "internal options".

The Marlins DFA'd Jacob Amaya after a terrible camp on April 2nd and traded him to the Astros for an unranked AA pitcher four days later.

MLB and Longenhagen have him as a 55/50 defender and 45 hitter with solid walk and K rates in AAA last year.

"Amaya is a quality defender at shortstop with smooth actions, quick and sure hands, a solid and accurate arm and a good internal clock. He has average speed but solid range and is working to enhance his first-step quickness so that he can cover more ground. He's also quite capable at second and third base."

"Amaya is a skills-over-tools infielder whose at-bat quality and viability at shortstop should enable him to play a utility infield role in the near future. ... His hands were uncharacteristically inconsistent at the end of 2022, but Amaya has historically been a plus hands and actions shortstop with average range and arm strength."

I would have loved that pickup.

Either they don't value him highly or they feel like we have enough fringe/AAAA middle-infield/utility depth.

It would be reckless to call up Mayer at this point... but just to ask the question, is his glove major league ready at short? Like in a fantasy land where we're in 1st place in July (which we won't), and all we need is a sure-handed shortshop, could he do it better than most of the guys they are sending out there right now?

I think the correct move is to trade for a veteran middle infielder (Ahmed, DeJong, B.Crawford, Wendle). They would help stabilize the infield defensively and offer some veteran leadership to the core of young players. Then when Mayer is ready to debut (2025ish) they won't be blocking his path. I have no idea what the trade cost would be at this point of the season but the Red Sox have enough system depth to find something that works. Even if they have to slightly overpay, its important to remember that the infield defense will impact the success/health of the pitching staff. Recently DFA'd Tony Kemp might also have some value although I think he has been more a 2Bman and a SS

My vote is external

Redsox.com injury news says Refsnyder will be starting tonight in AAA. Grissom will start his rehab assignment in AAA on Saturday. For folks who know more about rehab assignment durations how long until they're back with the MLB roster?

Edit: Max time on Minor League rehab assignment is 20 days. So worst case Ref is back April 30th and Grissom back May 4th. May the Force be strong and injuries stay away from the entire team.

I’m okay with rolling with Hamilton for a bit because the org seems high on him and his defense. It’s confusing because every time I see him he looks like the SP reports say he is - fringey at best. I’d like to give it some more time in MLB to decide though.

I don’t want to move Rafaela because they don’t have another player who is capable of playing centerfield.

I would not have huge leash for Reyes or Gonzalez, sure give them some time, but if they are still bad and the team is still competing in a month I’d like the team to replace them with someone who at least is a good defender.

I know he's hurt right now but I want to try and think outside the box a little bit. I'd make a run at Tommy Edman if the Cardinals would trade him for a reasonable price. With Story's newest injury and his injury history since his time in Boston I feel like it would be a good idea to not just look at rental stopgap types and perhaps a guy who can play SS that is controlled for this season and next.

Edman also has the ability to play the OF if Story is able to come back and re-take SS full time next year which is certainly possible. Or if Mayer is ready next year Edman can still be a really good utility guy. This injury to Story and the some other injuries they've had really illustrates how poor the depth was built for this season at least in my eyes. They need more viable bench pieces that can step in and keep the team going if/when injuries occur.

It’s also relevant that the worst team in the sport to date was like “ehhhhhh see ya” to the guy, would he really an upgrade over Romy?

One year stop gap would be best, those White Sox options are probably the best bet

This is a point that should not be under-appreciated. There is no reason to think Bello doesn't go six if they turned the double play in the sixth or he doesn't need to get an extra out in the fourth.