Jeremy Hermida To The Red Sox

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Boston's off season has begun. The Red Sox made the first move of any significance today. The Red Sox acquired Jeremy Hermida for minor league left-handed pitchers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez.

Jeremy Hermida was supposed to be a great outfielder for the Marlins. In the 2002 Entry Draft, Hermida was selected eleventh in the first round by the cost- efficient Marlins. So far, he has been a bust. Over 516 games, he has a .265 average with 57 home runs and 210 RBI. Not good for the supposed future star outfielder selected in the first round.

So what role will the Red Sox use Jeremy Hermida in? J.D. Drew is under contract for the next two seasons, and Hermida was used in right field primarily this season because of rookie sensation Chris Coghlan's dominance in left. But Hermida is best in left. Are the Red Sox preparing for the moment that they let Jason Bay go, if it happens?

If the Red Sox do keep Bay, Hermida will be the fourth, maybe fifth outfielder.  If he is fifth, Rocco Baldelli may be used over him. But Baldelli might be let go too. If both Bay and Baldelli are let go, Hermida will be starting in left. That is a huge downgrade from Bay, and Hermida is going from the least pressured filled city in the majors, to one of the most pressured filled city in the majors. And Hermida plays left field. Think of all of the people who have played left field at Fenway, in front of the Monster. Williams, Yaz, and Rice. That's only going up to the 90's, and those guys didn't have to deal with the Internet, or breaking news on SportsCenter every twenty minutes.Even if only Bay is let go, Hermida will be starting because Rocco cannot play every day due to his fatigue disorder.

The addition of Hermida only proves that the Red Sox need to keep Bay.

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