Andruw Monasterio has spent this season doing the kind of work that keeps a team afloat, and now he’s facing the part of the job that isn’t nearly as glamorous: giving way when Trevor Story comes back.
For the Red Sox, that kind of transition is a sign of something useful. Monasterio has filled in across the diamond while Boston dealt with injuries, including the absence of Story, and he’s handled it without making a fuss. The bigger picture with this team, at least from the outside, is that the players seem locked into their roles and comfortable letting the front office and coaches sort out the lineup when everyone is healthy.
Monasterio made that clear when he talked about what comes next.
“I know what my role is,” Monasterio said, per the Globe. “At the beginning of the season, I played DH, first base, second base - I don’t have any issues with that. I know what my role is.
“And in spring training, [Story] was the shortstop of the team, so I don’t want to be mad or I don’t want to be upset if they make that decision. They are the front office, they are the coaches, they make the decision. They pay me to play, I play whatever they want.”
That’s a pretty steady message from a player who has earned his spot with production. In 87 games, Monasterio is hitting .261 with a 109 OPS+ and has put up a 1.4 bWAR. For a player asked to do a little bit of everything, he’s delivered exactly that.
And when Story is ready, Monasterio sounds prepared to slide back into whatever job Boston needs from him next.
In Other News...
Trevor Storys Return Just Made One Red Sox Roster Call Much Tougher
Trevor Story is expected to return from the injured list soon, and that alone changes the shape of the Red Sox roster in a hurry. A team that has spent plenty of time sorting through infield looks now has to make room for a regular at shortstop, which pushes a few other moving parts into sharper focus, especially on the bench and around second base.
Nick Sogard has helped make the decision more complicated by playing well enough lately to give Boston a real reason to keep him around, with his defense and on-base work standing out over Anthony Seigler. The Red Sox are also trying to sort out how to handle playing time for Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Jahmai Jones, which means Storys return is not just about who comes off the injured list, but about how the rest of the roster gets reshaped around him. [Read more 🡒]
Roman Anthony's Return Is About To Force A Red Sox Roster Call
Roman Anthony has started his minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Portland, and the Red Sox are already mapping out how he fits back in once he is ready to rejoin the big league club. Boston expects to use him at the top of the lineup as a leadoff hitter and as a designated hitter, which gives the team a clearer sense of his role even as the calendar on the rehab stint can run up to 20 days.
What makes the situation more complicated is the roster pressure around him. Trevor Storys return is also in the mix, and Boston has been juggling playing time for players such as Anthony Seigler and Mickey Gasper while trying to keep the roster balanced. Anthonys comeback figures to help the offense, but it also means the Red Sox will have to make a couple of uncomfortable choices before he is fully back in Boston. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Reunion In Boston May Be Missing One Familiar Name
Rafael Devers is set to make his first return to Boston since the trade that sent him to San Francisco 14 months ago, giving this weekends series a little extra edge for Red Sox fans still sorting through that deal. It is the kind of matchup that tends to drag old emotions back into the open, especially when a former franchise face comes back to Fenway with a new uniform and a familiar spotlight.
One piece of the reunion, though, may not arrive on schedule. Marcelo Mayer, another name tied to the trade and a player the Giants have been monitoring closely, is on a rehab assignment and could be held back until next week as San Francisco manages his forearm issue and decides how quickly to bring him into the mix. He has looked solid in Triple-A, but his major league track record has been uneven, and the Giants appear in no rush to force the timing. [Read more 🡒]