When discussing the need for a bat - assuming Avisail Garcia's recent improvement isn't sustainable, or Jerry Sands slumps - the discussion has mostly been around players outside the organization. And that's where the most talent is going to be found. But a trade may not be found that works. What then?

 

There's a left-handed hitting bat in AAA right now that most people don't know much about, who might actually be of some help in 2016. Not a star-ceiling player, but a contributor. You should get to know him.

 

Looks like he has a chance. A left handed platoon type guy who plays plus defense at 1B seems to be a roster fit for this team. The problem is, throwing him to the wolves in a pennant race would be tough. Especially considering you would have to expect a slow start. That kind of defeats the purpose.

The three worst hitters in the lineup right now are Navarro, Rollins and Jackson. Hayes can't play C or SS. He can't play CF either, but he could bump Garcia to RF and Eaton to CF, but even then you're giving up a ton of defense to get his bat in the lineup.

The three worst hitters in the lineup right now are Navarro, Rollins and Jackson. Hayes can't play C or SS. He can't play CF either, but he could bump Garcia to RF and Eaton to CF, but even then you're giving up a ton of defense to get his bat in the lineup.

Well obviously he's not going to be any help at catcher or shortstop. He can, by transit, help the OF. The slots he'd be targeted for are really just Garcia and Sands - and obviously neither are screaming problems at the moment. They could become ones though, and honestly I don't believe Garcia's turnaround yet. The team has 5 OF's right now.

 

Also, it's always good to know what players could help where if a need arises - that's more what this was intended for. If Garcia or Sands fall back again (which seems pretty likely), or there's an injury to certain players, or the team can't really pull off a trade for a more serious bat... Hayes is in the picture.

 

Would like to see Hayes move up in the order first before he gets called up. Right now he's still bring protected down there.

 

And if he is here, Abreu better not see a minute of 1B other than days off. If Avi keeps hitting like this though...

At the very least he's an option you'd like to see explored before the Sox are forced to acquire a LH bat.

2-4 with a dinger tonight

Would we be better off with Hayes and Shuck up with Sanchez and Sands down?

Would we be better off with Hayes and Shuck up with Sanchez and Sands down?

 

Hayes needs to play every day in AAA unless a spot opens up for him where he's gonna play 3+ games per week. Maybe time to give Coats a shot.

They're not going to sit a legit prospect up at the major league level...Coats or Hayes might make it to the big league roster before September, but the odds of it happening aren't high unless Avisail Garcia falls apart completely or there's a major injury.

 

Even then, it's more likely they'd play someone like Shuck or Sands while waiting for a better option to become available on the trade/waiver wire.