Red Sox Lineup Idea

David Ortiz is not going to play on Opening Day and I'd be doubtful if a 37-year-old with issues in both heels is at the plate at Fenway Park anytime before July.

Ortiz' absence does create a major hole in the middle of the Red Sox lineup but there is an internal solution.  Top prospect Jackie Bradley Jr., who has been tearing the cover off the ball in spring training, should move into the Red Sox lineup and solve the problem caused by the injury to Ortiz.

There are issues with promoting the 22-year-old outfielder beyond the typical questions about whether or not he is ready to jump from Double-A, where he spent the second half of the 2012 season, all the way to the A.L. East.  The real issue is team control over Bradley in the future.  If he starts the season in Boston, Bradley will be eligible for free agency after the  2018 season but if they wait until April 20 to call him up to the big leagues he would not become a free agent until after 2019.

While I understand that the Red Sox want Bradley under their control for as long as possible, there is no reason for the team to hold him back even a few weeks to postpone free agency for him down the road.  The Red Sox might not have the resources of the Yankees and Dodgers but they still are the wealthiest team in baseball.  They charge an enormous amount of money for tickets and concessions and they own NESN, a cable network that provides them with plenty of cash.

Here is what the Red Sox lineup could look like with Bradley in the lineup.

1. Jackie Bradley Jr., LF (L)
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B (R)
3. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF (L)
4. Mike Napoli,  1B (R)
5. Will Middlebrooks, 3B (R)
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C (S)
7. Johnny Gomes, DH (R)
8. Shane Victorino, RF (S)
9. Stephen Drew, SS (L)

I doubt that the Red Sox would put Bradley in the leadoff spot immediately but to offset the loss of Ortiz, they should move Ellsbury to the third spot in the lineup with the hope that he can replicate his production from the 2011 season (.321 batting average, 32 home runs, 105 RBI, .928 OPS) when he finished second in the voting for A.L. MVP.  Ellsbury has too much potential as a run producer in the middle of the lineup to be wasted in the leadoff spot and the loss of Ortiz provides the opportunity to transition him to the heart of the order.

The Ortiz injury also provides the opportunity to immediately start the career of Jackie Bradley Jr. and it is an opportunity that the Red Sox need to take advantage of in order to bounce back from an awful 2012 season and contend for a playoff spot in 2013.