Red Sox Name Travis Shaw Starting 3B, Bench Pablo Sandoval

Entering this Spring Training, the Boston Red Sox had a position battle for their third baseman position, Pablo Sandoval, the 2012 World Series MVP who signed with the team prior to last season on a five year/$95 million contract, and Travis Shaw, a 25-year-old prospect who played in just 65 games last season, batting .274 with 13 home runs.

Red Sox Bench Sandoval For Travis Shaw

Many assumed the competition was a formality, regardless of how the spring went, Sandoval would the the one fielding the hot corner on Opening Day.  This made Red Sox manger John Farrell‘s announcement on Thursday even more surprising, Shaw will be the team’s starter at third base.

“I’ve had a chance to meet with both guys this morning, as I’ve met with them numerous times throughout the course of spring training. For right now, to start the season, we feel this is the best for our team to go with this alignment,” Farrell said.

Shaw has hit .339 in 59 at bats during Spring Training and has played 101 innings of errorless defense at both third (90 innings) and first base.  The 25 year old has also hit two home runs and has driven in 10 runs.

“I feel like I did what I needed to do this spring to put myself in the best position, and I’m looking forward to experiencing my first Opening Day,” Shaw told MLB.com.

Sandoval has only managed a .233 average in 43 at bats with two home runs and seven RBI, and has committed four errors in 84 innings.  The third baseman has come under fire for his weight gain and rapidly declining play on both offense and defense.  After batting .279 with 16 home runs in his final year with San Francisco, “The Panda” saw his average drop to .245 with just 10 home runs in 126 games.

His fielding also dramatically decreased in his first season in Beantown.  After having a .971 fielding percentage in 2014, Sandoval’s fielding percent dropped to .949 and he committed 15 errors, finishing 2015 with a -0.9 Defensive WAR rating, which was the same as his Offensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement).

Sandoval isn’t the only multi-million dollar problem the Red Sox have to deal with, Hanley Ramirez, also acquired in the 2014 offseason saw his batting average drop to .249 during his first season back with Boston (He was traded from Boston to the Miami (then Florida) Marlins prior to the 2006 season), after batting .283 with the Dodgers the previous season.

Ramirez signed a four year/$88 million dollar deal, but was a huge defensive liability.  The Red Sox moved Ramirez to left field after he had only played shortstop and third base in his career, the result was an appalling -2.5 Defensive WAR.  The Red Sox have announced Ramirez will be their first baseman for Opening Day.

Ramirez’ offensive numbers and play only barely resemble the young superstar he was on the Marlins, winning the National League Rookie of the Year in 2006, and averaging a .313 batting average, 25 home runs, 78 RBIs, and 39 stolen bases from 2006-10.  He hit .249, 19 home runs, 53 RBIs, and had just six stolen bases in 2015.

Boston also has the issue of Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, who they signed to seven year/$72 million deal in 2014.  The Cuban defector appeared in 80 games last season and only hit .253, with five home runs and 29 RBIs, with just six steals.  Castillo did not win a spot in the outfield rotation for Boston, who instead will use Mookie Betts in centerfield, Jackie Bradley Jr. in right field, and a platoon of Chris Young and Brock Holt in left field.

If Ramirez doesn’t improve his play this season, it might not be long before a combined $46.5 million is just sitting on the bench in the Red Sox dugout.