Boston Red Sox get needed infield depth with Brandon Phillips

Facing uncertainty over Dustin Pedroia, and with a desperate need for infield depth, the Boston Red Sox have inked a backup plan in Brandon Phillips.

For a team that has performed as well as the Boston Red Sox have this season, they have plenty of holes in their lineup. In particular, second base has been a black hole in Boston this year, with fan favorite Dustin Pedroia sidelined for all but three games this season. Eduardo Nunez, who has been a solid insurance policy in years past, has struggled this year as well, not looking anything like the player that was picked up at the trade deadline last year.

With the Red Sox locked in a fight with the Yankees for AL East supremacy, they cannot afford to have so many black holes in the lineup. Not only has second base been a disaster, but Boston has not gotten much production from catcher, third, or center. However, the Red Sox have looked to address that lack of production in the infield by signing Brandon Phillips to a minor league contract. Interestingly, Phillips will be heading to Pawtucket to play third as he gets back into shape.

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In theory, if Phillips proves to handle third reasonably well in the minors, he could be an upgrade to the Red Sox lineup. Even in a down 2017 campaign, he produced a respectable .285/.319/.416 batting line with 13 homers and 11 steals between the Braves and Angels. And, with the minor league contract, there is not a rush to bring Phillips up to the majors.

That designation that Phillips will play third in the minors is also an interesting distinction. If he was to play second, that could push Nunez over to third, or back into a utility role. Instead, the Red Sox may be looking at Phillips as a way to give the highly touted Rafael Devers time off, or to send him back to Pawtucket to reestablish himself.

It is also surprising that it took this long for Phillips to be signed. While there are quite a few teams participating in the race to the bottom, Phillips would still be a solid option. With a strong performance, he could well have been moved at the deadline, adding to a stockpile of younger talent. Instead, he will now make his way to Boston, where he could be a helpful piece in a pennant chase.

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The Boston Red Sox may have found that needed infield depth with Brandon Phillips. Even after a down season, he could prove to be an upgrade in the lineup once he is ready.