The Red Sox Have Clear Path to Play Franklin Arias, Trevor Story, and Curtis Mead originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Some Boston Red Sox fans are rightfully worried the team won't be able to keep Franklin Arias, Trevor Story, and Curtis Mead on the roster next season. While the Red Sox will certainly have decisions to make this offseason, there are many reasons to believe things can be just fine with those three guys around.
The Red Sox will likely have to get creative, but Boston's insider for The Athletic recently proposed one possibility.
One option would be to play Arias or Story at second or shortstop, Mead at third base, or even use one of them as a designated hitter.
“One scenario could entail shifting Mead to designated hitter with Arias and Story at either second or short. Mead broke out at the plate last season for the Washington Nationals with 17 homers and 17 doubles in 84 games.
“His season ended in late July in his first game following a trade to the Red Sox when a pitch hit and broke his wrist. Still, the Red Sox traded for him for his offensive potential, and a DH role for next season may be how they make the roster work. He could then slide back to second in 2028 with Arias at short,” Jen McCaffrey wrote.
Among the designated hitter options, it feels like Mead or Story would be that guy.
The reason is that bringing up Arias at just 21, as he turns 21 on Nov. 19, wouldn't be the wisest decision for the young man.
If the Red Sox are going to call him up, he needs to play every single day in the field.