Tzu-Wei Lin: Red Sox Answer Long-Term Shortstop Problem

Tell me, who was that last starting shortstop who played for Boston for more than two consecutive years?

It was eight years ago that Nomar Garciaparra was traded away from the Red Sox, and ever since Boston hasn't had a stable player at the shortstop position.

The Sox have finally answered the call.

Not to put down Mike Aviles, who is having a fantastic year, but Red Sox fans have always known that Aviles was just a temporary solution.

Boston signed 18-year-old international free agent shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin of Taiwan for $2.05 million.

The shortstop is small, standing at only 5'8" and 155 pounds, but scouts say that he has real upside. He hits for good average, has good fielding and is speedy.

Could Lin be the long-term answer for the Red Sox at the shortstop position? The answer is that he definitely could be that guy.

But if he isn't, Boston has a backup plan... well three.

Heading on down to the farm, the Red Sox have three shortstops who are all considered to be top prospects: Jose Iglesias, Xander Bogaerts and Deven Marrero.

Sox fans have all heard of and seen Iglesias before. There has been talk about when he would be the permanent starting shortstop for Boston for a few years now and his fielding is said to be Gold Glove-worthy. His hitting could use some work, but he definitely could have a spot in the lineup in the future.

Xander Bogaerts is lesser known, but has had a couple of huge years in the minors. At 19 years old and from Aruba, Bogaerts is hitting .293 with 11 home runs and 45 RBI for the Salem Red Sox in 2012. He could be one of the more powerful hitting shortstops in baseball and he is said to have a strong work ethic along with all-star potential.

Lastly, we come to Boston's first-round pick from this year's draft, Deven Marrero of Arizona State University. Marrero is just 21 years old after playing three years of college ball and is said to be the steal of the draft. His fielding is supposed to be great with a plus arm and above-average range. His batting average in his time at ASU was above .300 as well.

Four youngsters, all under the age of 22, all playing the shortstop position, all a part of the Red Sox organization.

Boston fans have been waiting for the day that this team had a shortstop which they could love for more than a year or two at a time, and the Red Sox administration has made sure that Red Sox Nation will have their wishes come true.

So maybe Lin will end up being a bust and Iglesias could have a career-ending injury. Maybe Bogaerts will fall off when he moves higher up in the minor league system. This wouldn't be good at all, but there will always be another guy to back him up.

Boston has four young shortstops with incredible upside who will have to compete against each other to earn that top position in the majors. The Red Sox are determined to have their shortstop, and it won't be long before Sox fans are seeing a consistent, great shortstop playing between second and third at Fenway every day.