How to Solve the Pedey Predicament?

How should the Red Sox handle the likely 4-8 week absence of Pedey? Should they try to get by with the likes of Bill Hall and Eric Patterson at second, sacrificing a great deal on offense and some on defense as well? Would Jed Lowrie, who could possibly start rehabbing in Lowell next week, be an answer if he is healthy enough to play? Or, should the Sox give up some prospects to "rent" a major-league quality infielder like the D-Backs' Kelly Johnson and possibly flip him for relief help?

Let's look at the pros and cons for each option:

1. Hall/Patterson platoon

Pros: These guys are already on the roster, healthy, and ready to play.

Cons: Their bats come nowhere close to replacing Pedey's. With V-Mart out until the All-Star break, the Sox can ill afford to sacrifice offense at second as well. Hall's glove leaves something to be desired as well. I don't know much about Patterson's defense.

2. Paging Jed Lowrie

Pros: More upside than Hall/Patterson and no need to give up prospects in a trade

Cons: It's unknown when he'll actually be healthy enough to play. He's seeing a specialist this week to determine if it really is mono he's recovering from or whether it's something more serious. If he gets the all-clear from the doc and feels well this week, he starts rehabbing next week. If not, then it's another setback and an unknown timetable for his return.

3. Rent and Flip

Pros: The Sox get less of a drop-off in production from second base and they can flip the infielder at the trade deadline for some bullpen help. Perhaps in the time between the deadline and Pedey's return, Lowrie will be ready to fill in for a week or two.

Cons: The cost in prospects might be prohibitive for a rental and there are a lot of "moving parts". It's hard to predict what said infielder (i.e. Kelly Johnson) will net in terms of quality relievers.


As you can see, there's no easy solution. Then again, how do you replace a guy like Pedey? Dustin Pedroias don't grow on trees, after all. Whatever the Sox do, the team has to make the best of a bad situation. They've been resilient so far, but how far can they bend before they break?

LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!