While Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine had championed 22-year-old shortstop Jose Iglesias, the time was just not right for the smooth-fielding Cuban to take over the big-league job, Valentine said Tuesday as the team optioned him to Triple-A Pawtucket.
| Boston Red Sox |
Iglesias hit .200/.286/.280 in nine games and 25 at-bats this spring, and Valentine said he saw Iglesias' confidence shaken by his offensive struggles. Iglesias' bat has been the question with the smooth-fielding Cuban. Iglesias' glove is not only big-league ready, but he would immediately be an elite-level shortstop in the big leagues and a contender for the Gold Glove as a rookie. Aviles, meanwhile, has the opposite problem, he should be an adequate addition to the team's lineup, but his defense can be described as adequate, at best.
Aviles is hitting .333/.333/.533 in 14 games and 45 at-bats this spring. The 31-year-old was traded to Boston last season at the deadline from Kansas City. A career .288/.318/.419 hitter, Aviles has played five different positions in his career -- and all five (shortstop, third base, second base, right field and left field) in his 38 games in Boston last season, but starting just two games at short. Once Aviles came over from Kansas City, he saw his numbers at the plate rise dramatically. In 53 games with the Royals, he hit .222/.261/.395 and then .317/.340/.436 in 107 plate appearances with the Red Sox.