Jed Lowrie started his rehab assignment at Pawtucket yesterday. His return will bolster the Red Sox roster, but the team can afford if the versatile infielder takes his time. Nick Green's emergence as a quality everyday player has solidified what had been an unstable shortstop situation. Green has flashed a decent glove, showcased a cannon arm and delivered several multiple clutch hits this season. The journeyman major leaguer belted a walk-off home run that wrapped around the Pesky Pole yesterday to give the Red Sox a 6-5 win over the Marlins and a four-game lead in the American League East.
When the Sox signed Green as a minor league free agent in the off-season, little attention was given to the transaction. After all, entering 2009, the 30-year-old Green had played parts of five major league seasons with four teams (including the Yankees) and had hit above .240 only once (as a rookie with Atlanta in 2004, when he batted .273). Green didn't even play in the majors last year, when he spend the entire season at the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, and he saw only seven major league at-bats with the Mariners in 2007.
For the Red Sox, he has been everything but a middle-of-the-road utility infielder. Though Brad Penny and Takashi Saito have pitched well, and John Smoltz is poised to contribute, Green is easily the best free agent signing made by Theo Epstein last off-season. It will be interesting to see what the Sox do when Lowrie is ready to return from the disabled list. It is obvious that Julio Lugo will be designated for assignment, but will Lowrie reclaim the starting shortstop role, or will he serve as a super utility infielder? Interestingly, Lowrie and Green can proficiently play shortstop, second base and third base. Green can even play right field.
Ideally, Lowrie's wrist will be healed and he will start at shortstop. Lowrie was the organization's 2007 Minor League Offensive Player of the Year, and he has the potential to hit around .300 in the majors. He is a switch-hitter, and he proved last year that he has the range, hands and arm to play shortstop for the Red Sox. That said, it will be hard for Terry Francona to move Green to a utility role if he keeps delivering clutch hits and playing well in the field.
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