With a thin market of available shortstops, it looks like the Red Sox may turn to their second baseman to play shortstop next year and, perhaps, into the future:
The team has asked second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who won the AL MVP Award in 2008, if he could play shortstop for the team if needed next season.
"They've asked me if I think I could play shortstop," Pedroia told ESPN's Peter Gammons. "They've put it out there and I've told them I'm all for it. I can do it. I can't wait for [Terry Francona] to call me and ask, 'can you do it?' I can do it. I really want to do it."
[...]
Francona played him some games at shortstop in spring training in 2006 and was unimpressed.
"I was 20 pounds heavier. I tried to get big and it was a disaster. I know it. It's all about quickness, agility and flexibility, and I know it," Pedroia said. "I've really worked hard on speed, agility and flexibility as well as all the strength, conditioning and endurance programs," Pedroia said. "It's really helping me. I have much more quickness and speed than I ever had. Maybe there is some question about my arm strength, but I'm working on that. I can do it. I hope it happens."
Pedroia is a great defensive second baseman and there is no doubt in my mind he'd play a great shortstop, but his numbers would most likely take a hit (UZR/150 would go down). I think this is a better option than signing Marco Scutaro, but I'd rather see the Sox sign Adam Everett to play shortstop (a great defensive shortstop, mind you) than move Pedroia. Keep Everett at short for a year or two just for his glove and then hopefully Jose Iglesias will be ready to man the position.
What say you? Would you approve a Pedroia-to-shortstop move? Do you think it's a smart idea from Theo & Crew, or just a lazy/cheap one? If this were to happen, who would play second base? I vote Mark Bellhorn (I'm kidding, of course ... or am I?).
(H/T to beantownbeamer for the FanPost)