Reunion With Former All-Star May Make Sense For Red Sox After Rough Injury News
The Boston Red Sox have had a roller coaster of a start to the 2023 season.
Boston won two of its three first series of the new campaign but also was swept disappointingly by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Red Sox's offense has been red-hot to open the season, but the pitching didn't follow suit right away but has since rebounded.
Although the Red Sox were able to complete a three-game sweep against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, the club got some potentially bad news. Outfielder Adam Duvall suffered a wrist injury towards the end of Sunday's contest and at this time, no timetable has been released about his return but the club didn't sound optimistic.
Duvall has been Boston's best hitter by far to open the 2023 season and one of the best in all of baseball. Through eight games the slugger is slashing .455/.514/1.030 to go along with a league-leading four home runs and 14 RBIs.
If Boston were to be without the services of Duvall for a long time, one move that would make sense would be for the club to trade for infielder José Iglesias. The former All-Star currently is in the Miami Marlins organization after failing to make the big league club out of spring training. If Duvall were to miss time, Boston could move Enrique Hernandez back to center field and open up the shortstop position.
Iglesias began his career with Boston and spent the first two and a half seasons of his career in town before being traded to the Detroit Tigers. After bouncing around a little bit, Iglesias returned to Boston in 2021. The slick infielder shined for the Colorado Rockies in 2022 slashing .292/.328/.380 to go along with three home runs and 47 RBIs in 118 games.
Rumors swirled all offseason that the Red Sox had an interest in bringing back Iglesias but a move never happened. At this point, it may make sense for the Red Sox to swing a trade. Although it has only been a small sample size, Hernandez has been shaky at shortstop for Boston so far this season and already has tallied five errors. If Boston will be without Duvall it could move Hernandez back to a position he is comfortable in. If the club were to complete a trade for Iglesias, he could fill the shortstop role solidly. The fact that Iglesias was unable to make Miami's big-league roster means that a trade likely wouldn't cost much.
Hopefully, Duvall doesn't miss any time but if he does, Boston should consider a trade.
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