Red Sox Considering Upgrades On Left Side Of Infield

The Red Sox "have been open to exploring the market for potential contributors on the left side of the infield to help for the rest of 2013," writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com, who adds that the Sox are conducting their search despite possessing arguably more high-end third base and shortstop prospects than any team in baseball.

Between Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts and Garin Cecchini, that Sox have a plethora of talented infielders who could fill those spots long-term. That doesn't even include Jose Iglesias, whose overall production this season has been outstanding. Iglesias, however, has slumped of late, hitting just .205 without an extra base hit over his past 10 games. Given his minor league track record (.244/.296/.292 in 916 Triple-A plate appearances), it's fair to wonder whether or not he can sustain anything close to his current level of offensive output. Stephen Drew is also nearing a return, but his .233/.313/.409 batting line isn't what the Sox had hoped it would be.

Tim Dierkes recently examined the trade market for third basemen and the trade market for shortstops, and the cupboard is mostly bare in terms of short-term fixes. Michael Young could be a fit at third base if the team is looking strictly for help in 2013 (my own speculation), though his glove weighs down his trade value. Beyond that, most of the starters are controlled through at least the 2014 season. General manager Ben Cherington has already been active on the trade market recently, adding left-hander Matt Thornton in a trade with the White Sox.