David Ortiz will not be stepping to the plate anytime soon. The Red Sox designated hitter has tendon sheath damage in his left wrist, which was injured Sunday afternoon in an at-bat at Baltimore. Though Terry Francona told the media that surgery is unlikely, Ortiz was placed on the 15-day disabled list and will have his wrist immobilized for a month. If the wrist does not heal on its own, season-ending surgery could be required.
This is discouraging news for the Red Sox lineup. Even if Ortiz does return, chances are his wrist will not be at full strength again this season, and his power will be sapped. Regardless, at the least Boston will be without Big Papi's bat for about six weeks, so Francona and Theo Epstein must formulate a plan to fill the void.
Here are the options they can consider:
- Recall Brandon Moss. Fill the DH spot with Manny Ramirez and Sean Casey. When Casey is the DH, Ramirez will start in left field. When Ramirez is the DH, Moss will start in left field.
- Field a defensive-minded outfield with Jacoby Ellsbury in left, Coco Crisp in center and J.D. Drew in right. Manny Ramirez will serve as the DH. Brandon Moss will be recalled to fill the extra outfielder's spot.
- Acquire a left fielder and/or DH via trade. Cincinnati's Adam Dunn is a strong possibility.
I prefer a mix of options one and two. There is no doubt that Moss is Major League ready. Right now, he would outproduce Drew over the course of a season, I believe. Moss belongs with the Red Sox. The Red Sox can start the defensive-minded outfield on selected games, and sometimes play Moss in left (he is a solid but not spectacular outfielder) and Ramirez at DH.
Losing a player of Ortiz's caliber would be detrimental to most teams. Fortunately, the Red Sox are stocked with talented depth, and they can withstand this loss. The only way they can match Ortiz's power is by trading for Dunn, who consistently hits 40 home runs per season but also frequently strikes out. Before acquiring Dunn or someone else, Boston should give Moss a chance, and see if Ortiz is able to return from the wrist injury. If Ortiz eventually has season-ending surgery, then a trade is likely to happen by the July 31 deadline, unless the mix of options one and two generates results.
Not only is it important that Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew increase their production, but it is crucial that the bullpen plug its holes. Boston's starting rotation is a strength. Even without Ortiz, the lineup from top to bottom is capable of scoring loads of runs. Yet the Red Sox cannot afford to have their relievers give up runs on a daily basis.
Defense and pitching will help offset the loss of Ortiz. With the exception of Julio Lugo, every starter on the field has a reliable glove. The rotation is one of the best in baseball. It's the bullpen that will determine if the Red Sox thrive without Ortiz, or plummet in the standings.
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