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Aaron Hill Trade Sets Up Future Moves for Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox traded for a veteran infielder on Thursday. While most fans were now expecting the Aaron Hill trade, it likely sets up future moves.

The Boston Red Sox completed the first of likely several pre-trade deadline moves on Thursday, shipping prospects Aaron Wilkerson and Wendell Rijo to the Milwaukee Brewers for veteran infielder Aaron Hill. While this is not necessarily the move Red Sox fans have been looking for out of Dave Dombrowski, it could be the trade that sets up those moves.

Aaron Hill Trade Sets Up Moves for Red Sox

What the Red Sox Gave Up

Consider what Boston gave up in this trade. While Wilkerson never held a top prospect designation, his consistency, as well as the sparkling stats he put up, with Triple-A Pawtucket had many clamoring for him to get a shot in Boston. The 27-year-old owned a Triple-A record of 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA. He had also recorded fifty-four strikeouts against just eleven walks. The Red Sox need pitching depth desperately, which should lead one to believe that they wouldn’t let go of a guy like Wilkerson lightly.

While Rijo hadn’t been putting up strong numbers for Double-A Portland, he remains a valuable piece. Baseball America ranked him as the Red Sox 15th-best prospect after the 2015 season. However, as a second baseman, he was blocked by incumbent Dustin Pedroia, as well as top prospect Yoan Moncada.

Trade for Pitching Likely in the Works

For a team that needs rotational depth as badly as Boston does to give up a guy like Wilkerson for infield depth, which Hill provides in the short term, another move must be coming. While Wilkerson will likely never be a number one, or even three, pitcher, he looked to be a quality fourth or fifth starter. As Red Sox fans know, the team needs a guy like that.

Fans have been clamoring for the team to acquire another ace all season. David Price, added in the off-season, has mostly under-performed, and many want a new face brought in. However, this move likely indicates Red Sox won’t go in that specific direction. Pitching remains the next target. Dombrowski himself confirmed as much following the the Hill trade.

However, trading for an ace makes little sense. The Red Sox top two starters have been pretty great. Price has looked more and more like the ace he’s paid to be as the season has gone on, though early runs remain an issue. Steven Wright, despite hitting a slight skid in his last three outings, just earned his first All-Star appearance, and has the two spot locked down. Additionally, Rick Porcello has quietly been a capable number three all season.

That means the Sox are looking for fourth and fifth starters. While Wilkerson had the potential to be that, he had yet to be tested at the major league level. Now, instead of acquiring one ace, Dombrowski will likely go after two back end starters, like Drew Pomeranz of the San Diego Padres or Rich Hill of the Oakland Athletics. Neither will be expensive, and Boston can fill its biggest hole without giving up prospects like Andrew Benintendi or Moncada.

Hill’s Presence Creates Depth in the Infield and Sets Up Possible Trades

Hill immediately fills one of the Red Sox greatest needs: a quality right-handed bat off the bench. Now, the team doesn’t have to lean solely on Brock Holt for bench offense. Hill hit .283 with eight homers and twenty-nine RBI for Milwaukee this season. Having his bat available as a sub makes an already deadly offense that much more dangerous.

A Sox Infielder Might be on the Move

His positional versatility also carries tremendous value. Hill can play second base, shortstop, and third base, meaning he can spell any of the regular starters at all three positions. However, his presence could mean much more than that.

Is The Mayor Leaving Office?

Travis Shaw, known fondly as the Mayor of Ding Dong City, won the third base job out of spring training over incumbent Pablo Sandoval, and since then has put up decent offensive numbers as a full-time starter. It’s also worth noting that his value has never been higher.

Remember, Hill can play third. His numbers are also very similar to Shaw’s. If a move for another starting pitcher is on its way, Shaw could be a part it. Hill hits well at Fenway historically, and could take over at third for the remainder of the season.

Of course, if that were the case, the 34-year-old Hill would be little more than a stopgap. Top prospect Yoan Moncada is not far away from earning a promotion to the big leagues. However, he needs to learn a new position if he wants to make it any time soon. He currently plays second base, a position locked down, as it has been for years, by Pedroia. Boston could move Moncada to third base, which he would then inherit from Hill.

Is Hanley’s Homecoming Over?

Alternatively, the acquisition of Hill might mean something else entirely. Perhaps it means that Hanley Ramirez is on his way out of Boston. Ramirez, who began his career in the Red Sox farm system, rejoined the organization in the 2015 off-season. After a rough year in left field, the Sox moved him to first base for 2016. There, he’s enjoyed a revival of sorts; he’s played solid defense, and his bat seems at least somewhat rejuvenated.

Yet at age 32, Hanley himself is little more than a stopgap. His numbers don’t differ that greatly from those of Shaw or Hill. Perhaps it will be Hanley, not Travis, on his way out in exchange for pitching. In such a scenario, Shaw would move to first, his natural position, for the remainder of the year, and Hill would man third. Moncada could still slide over to third for the future.

Nothing is Clear

Or, perhaps something entirely different will happen. Perhaps Hill just represents depth. At this point, the only person who could possibly know for certain is Dave Dombrowski. While he confirmed the Sox will focus on pitching next, he gave no indication that Shaw, Ramirez, or anyone else was on his way out. He also gave no indication as to who the Red Sox might try to acquire. While the trade for Hill almost certainly sets up a future trade for pitching, all we know right now is that it give the Red Sox much needed infield depth. All we can do now is watch for whatever happens next.

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