The Red Sox are attempting to recover from a disastrous collapse in 2011. As such, they have employed the band-aid method, leaving the pieces that worked well in place and attempting to patch up the areas which did not work well. One area that was both a problem last season but has neither been patched up is right field.
1. Ryan Sweeney: Sweeney is a young player who was a former top prospect and a former starter in the Majors who has experienced some success, holding a career .283 batting average, but has otherwise been unremarkable. Last season with Oakland he batted .265 in 264 at-bats. Sweeney's not known for his defense, but that shouldn't be a problem in right field at Fenway. The Red Sox are hoping that he can hit for a respectable average and provide some left-handed balance to the bottom of the order.
2. Cody Ross: Ross was signed as a free agent in the off-season after spending parts of the past two seasons in San Francisco. A right-handed hitter with a good arm and some power, Ross struggled last season with the Giants, batting .240 with only 11 homers and 52 runs batted in with 405 at-bats. The right field situation is somewhat wide open and Ross could find himself in the running for a right field job, especially if he provides good pop and/or if Sweeney struggles. Either way, Ross will probably find himself in a super platoon, splitting time with left-handed hitters Sweeney, LF Carl Crawford and DH David Ortiz. The Red Sox are hoping that Ross can provide good balance against lefties and provide some power in a reserve role.
3. Darnell McDonald: McDonald returns to Boston for his third season with the team as a fourth outfielder after two strong campaigns in 2010 and 2011. McDonald was considered the front-runner for the right field job less than a month ago, although manager Bobby Valentine is now leaning more toward a platoon of Sweeney and Ross. McDonald is arguably the second-best defensive outfielder on the team behind only CF Jacoby Ellsbury and should get a lot of playing time in the corners with weak outfielders in Crawford and Sweeney and he should also spell Ellsbury when he needs a rest. McDonald only batted .236 in 157 at-bats last season and Boston should not expect much more playing time or production from him this season, although his defense should remain strong.
4. Ryan Kalish: Kalish is a former top prospect who cracked the Majors for much of the 2010 season but was injured most of last year. He wasn't particularly productive when he was healthy in 2011 either, batting .228 in 92 at-bats. Kalish is a nice-looking young player but he's found himself behind a host of other veterans at multiple positions and he's probably headed back to Pawtucket, although he should be the first outfielder recalled when a need arises.
5. Josh Kroeger: Kroeger is a former top prospect with Arizona who Boston has signed to a Minor League contract and invited to Spring Training. Kroeger batted .284 in 282 at-bats last season for New Orleans and is not known for his defense. He has some power and a decent arm and will get a long look in Spring Training, but he'll likely be given his unconditional release following the exhibition season.
6. Juan Carlos Linares: Linares is a veteran player who defected from Cuba and joined the Boston organization in 2010. His professional career hasn't gotten very far off the ground yet though, due both to negotiation problems and injuries. He only batted .233 in 60 at-bats last year for Pawtucket, and both his range and arm in the outfield have proven to be less than advertised. Boston still believes in Linares, but with his age concerns - he admits to being 28 (probably too old for a career Minor Leaguer) and that has been called into question - and his poor performances and injury problems haven't done anything to reassure the organization of any hidden talent. Having said that, it's hard to say how much longer Boston will be willing to wait for Linares to develop.
The Red Sox look moderate in right field. Sweeney is a very mediocre player, but he should hold his own defensively in right and at least hit for a respectable average. Ross had a bad season last year in San Francisco, but he's a good defensive corner outfielder and should be productive if utilized properly against lefties. McDonald is an ideal fourth outfielder. Kalish still has a lot of potential at Pawtucket. Kroeger is interesting for depth although he probably won't remain with the organization for very long. Linares is really a mystery.
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