Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Red Sox are very lucky in one regard. They have a secret weapon coming off the bench that is extremely valuable in being able to give their regulars some time off or to be used as a defensive replacement. That weapon is Brock Holt, although it certainly seems as though he is no longer a secret.
Holt has played seven positions so far with Boston and it seems as though for every one of them, he is a natural. When you see him in the outfield, it is very easy to forget that he just started playing that position last year. He even has spent some time at first base and has been completely flawless over there.
Having someone who can play so many different positions is extremely useful because he can do what might normally take two or three players to do. If you didn’t have Holt, you might need another backup middle infielder or outfielder. Instead, John Farrell can use those roster spots to perhaps carry another pitcher or two. During the beginning of the season, when the starting pitching was so horrible, Boston needed fresh arms because their starting pitching could not make it out of the third or fourth inning.
Now other teams are starting to see the value in having a super-sub like Holt. Ben Zobrist of the Oakland Athletics is one that comes to mind; Josh Harrison of the Pittsburgh Pirates is another. Boston, for once, is starting a trend instead of being the last one to the party.
Holt was originally a throw-in with Joel Hanrahan when Boston made the trade with the Pirates. Now, it has become the Brock Holt trade.
Carter Roane is a Boston Red Sox writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter@CarterGRoane, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
