Report: Red Sox interested in Marlins INF Joey Wendle originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox have a giant question mark in the middle of their infield following the departure of homegrown shortstop Xander Bogaerts. With each of the top free-agent shortstops off the market, they could look to address the position via trade.
Last week, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the Red Sox asked the Miami Marlins about shortstop Miguel Rojas’ availability. It appears Rojas isn’t the only Miami infielder Boston has inquired about.
Joey Wendle is also on the Red Sox’ radar, according to The Athletic’s Chad Jennings. Although chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has identified second baseman Trevor Story as a possible Bogaerts replacement, the club reportedly believes Wendle would fit on the roster as an alternative option.
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“The asking price has been high up to this point, but the Red Sox feel that a left-handed middle infielder would be a good fit, and the smaller-market Marlins should have reason to move a 32-year-old who’s owed a projected $5.4 million in his final year of arbitration,” Jennings wrote Thursday. “The Red Sox don’t necessarily see Wendle as an everyday solution shortstop, but they do see him as potentially another piece of among a revolving and evolving list of shortstop possibilities.”
Jennings adds that despite Bloom’s preference for Story, there are some in the organization who prefer utility man Kiké Hernández to move from center field to shortstop.
Wendle split time between shortstop, second base, and third base with the Marlins last season. In 101 games, he hit .259 with three homers and 32 RBI.