Red Sox Enmanuel Valdez Making Noise

Lost in the noise that sent Christian Vazquez off to the Astros to win Another world Series ring at the deadline last year was what Chaim Bloom got in return. Wilyer Abreu and the reason for my writing and your reading today Enmanuel Valdez. Who is tearing up the Grapefruit League this spring.

Valdez, now 24, had been with the Astros since 2015 when Houston signed him out of the Dominican Republic. He’s bounced around up and down the Stros system since. Playing at both AA and AAA last season he saw action in 126 games in 2022. Slashing a .296/.376/.542 line. Belting 28 home runs and driving in 107. 7 of those round trips and 30 of his RBI came in the 40 games he played at Worcester after the Vazquez deal.

The slugging utility man ( he plays both second - third and the outfield ) may finally be in the right place at the right time. Boston is woefully thin up the middle this year. Kiké Hernandez, Christian Arroyo are penciled in as the starters at shortstop and second base, with the still recovering Adalberto Mondesi the only real depth behind the two. Arroyo and Mondesi have both seen more time than anyone would like on the DL over the years and the left handed ( always a plus) hitting Valdez could be a part of Alex Cora’s plans when the Red Sox head north in a few short weeks. A platoon of the Righty Arroyo and Lefty Valdez at this point anyway sounds exciting. Especially while the switch hitting Mondesi is still recovering from his ACL surgery.

I have beaten to death the need for more help up the middle this off season and while Jose Iglesias is still out there I've lost all hope on Chaim Bloom making another move at middle infield. Maybe this kid is the reason why.

As always you can follow/give me grief on Twitter @Tmurph207