The Red Sox face a MASSIVE decision...

This Boston Red Sox organization faces a massive decision this offseason, and it's not one that only has implications for the up-and-coming season, but multiple seasons going down the line, possibly a decade's worth of seasons down the line, involving arguably the most premier defensive position in all of baseball at shortstop. I'm here to break down brand new quotes from one of the most credible baseball minds covering the Boston Red Sox, specifically in Alex Speer, and how he claims a lot of the people in this Red Sox organization look at top prospect Franklin Arias as damn near almost untouchable. We'll break down all of the quotes and what this means for this Red Sox organization, not only at the shortstop position with the players that are already involved with this organization, either on the MLB level currently or down in the farm system, or potentially a future Red Sox star at the position in the sense of a blockbuster name on a different team currently. We'll break down all of that on this episode of Red Sox Digest, so let's not waste any time and get right to it, breaking down the news. So let's get to it and first start with this. Is Franklin Arias the future in Boston? We are going to cite this article posted on the Boston Globe. Shout out to Tyler Milliken for actually posting it because Alex does not use Twitter. But he goes on to say these actual quotes. Some in the organization, the Red Sox, view Arias as almost untouchable. Now, the reason this is so substantial is because he uses the word almost. If Arias was labeled as untouchable, this, all of the conversations about a potential blockbuster trade for someone like Elly De La Cruz, Jeremy Pena, or various others. In the MLB right now, especially other premier shortstops, none, none bigger than Ellie, but other big names at that position would completely be shut down and there would be no further conversation needed. And we would know that either Trevor Story will start at that position next season, or it would be Franklin Arias. Now. Jason and I have talked about this ad nauseam. Even if Story gets the opening day start at shortstop next season, it will not be long until Franklin gets called up and gets his opportunity because of how good he is and really the lack of faith in Trevor Story. But. Something else we got, another quote, this is from Iggy Suarez, he goes on to say, he's a baseball rat, he sees a lot, and he is speaking about none other than Franklin Arias, and we have talked about him on this channel a ton, especially in the past year, and the reason being is because of the development and the overall breakout that we have witnessed, and honestly, it could not have come at a better time, because if he was named the starting Starting shortstop next season on opening day for this Red Sox team. No one should question it unless they go out there and attempt to make a blockbuster trade and get it done. There is no reason to question why Arias would be the starting shortstop. Look at the numbers from this past year in the minor leagues. Now, he did start the season in AA and he was then moved up to AAA. But for the year, he batted 323. He was batting north of 320 or 315 in. Double A and everyone said he needs to get called up. When is it going to happen? He got called up to Triple A and everyone's like, well, there's going to be like some growing spurts and there's going to be some growing pains. And we don't know if he's fully going to translate. The dude absolutely mashed in Triple A. He hit better in Triple A than he did in Double A. And the power was the biggest takeaway. Look at the year by year breakdown. He had one in 23. He had 9-24. He had 8-25. In 2026, he had 25 home runs with a .957 OPS. Franklin Arias was unstoppable, not only at the plate, but then he won the Golden Glove defensively down in the minor leagues. You look at the progression. His DSL debut, he slashed .357, or excuse me, .350, .440. 4.53 in 37 games. Well, it's a lack of reps. Let's see if he can do it against, you know, not in rookie ball. Can he do it in high A? Can he do it in Double or Triple A? He goes in 2024. He slashes 309, 409, 487 with nine home runs and 35 steals. In 2025, he gets his first taste of Double A baseball and people quoted it as regression. Because he slashed .278, .335 with a .388 OPS with 8 home runs. Then this past season, he was undeniable and was labeled as a top prospect. Not only and obviously in the Red Sox system, but in all of baseball. Slashing .323, .400 with a .557 slug with 25 home runs and 91 RBIs. There is no way around it. It's not just... You know, the media going out there and painting this picture, he's going out there, he's getting the job done, and guys like, say, Don Raffaella are saying this kid is special, and he should absolutely get an opportunity. Now, that gets to the actual point of the conversation of where would he play? How would he get a spot at shortstop? Well, this is how it would work. If it loads, in which it should here any moment now. Trevor Story right now is listed as the starting shortstop in Boston. Caleb Durbin has the ability to play there, Sogard, Monasterio. There's a bunch of guys that have the ability to sit in that position, but aren't considered everyday starters. Story is really the only guy currently on the Major League roster that has looked at shortstop as an everyday starter. Franklin Arias could be the new guy to plug into that position. As an everyday starter, and it could start in 2027, you may be saying, well, Craig Breslow and Chad Tracy are the two most important voices in this conversation. What have they said? Well, Tracy said this, physical gifts and tool wise, you can watch Franklin and feel like the guy's going to play in the big leagues, which is without a doubt, 100% accurate, especially not just the stats that you watch, but if you watch individual games, individual plays, There's a reason he won the Gold Glove in AAA this past season at that position. The dude was an absolute monster. He got the job done every opportunity in every opportunity he was given. Then Craig Breslow. Again, Tracy was a big part of that conversation. Breslow is the other piece of that conversation. He says, I hate to put those types of expectations on a 20-year-old. Speaking about... What do we do with Franklin Arias? Are we going to see him next season? Are we going to see him this season? Speaking back to this past September, is he going to be a late September call-up? Is he going to be on a playoff roster? Everyone was itching at the bit to see if that was actually doing. going to take place because there was a lot of speculation. There was a lot of skepticism surrounding guys like Trevor Story specifically, and Breslow didn't really shut it down, but he wasn't going to entertain it to the level everyone was really hoping for. So now we get to the conversation at May. Are we going to see Franklin Arias flat out protected by this Red Sox team, or are they going to engage in a potential blockbuster trade? I will say before we get to the rest of this conversation. There is only one name I would love to see Franklin Arias traded for. Everyone else, I'm on the fence, if not totally off the fence, and not into it by any means, okay? Ellie Dela Cruz is the only name I will not get upset or complain or shed a tear about of Franklin Arias being traded away from this Red Sox organization. Thank He is the returning asset. Now, it wouldn't just be Franklin for Ellie. There's no way that would take place, and I fully understand that. But that trade would start with Arias you if the Red Sox wanted to get Ellie. Outside of Elly De La Cruz, for there is no conversation that should even be permitted watching. for this Red Sox team. Okay, I understand there's a lot of great talent. I understand there's a lot of guys that could be on the trade block. Elly, in the sense of the amount of years you have, in the sense of control available, the actual statistical production, how entertaining and blockbuster and just overall just captivating of a player he is, he is the only name I would be complacent in totally just even the form of accepting of Franklin Arias being traded for him. That's the only person. And let me know down below how you guys feel. This guy, what's his name? I can't read his name. It's too small. I can't even read his name. I apologize. I'm calling him Len. Len Biz. Okay. Sox don't need a shortstop. Arias is a better option than Dela Cruz. Okay. He makes his thought process abundantly clear. And I don't mind it. But let me know down below how you guys feel about it. Now, this is from Alex Spirit. They'd only consider dealing him for a star with multiple years of control. Again, that checks out with someone like Eli Dela Cruz. I don't want to entertain. Anyone else? No conversation needed. It's Ellie or Arias. Okay, if you don't want to trade Arias for Ellie, guess what? Arias should be the starting shortstop in Boston for the foreseeable future. And I don't think there's any conversation required. Again, let me know down below. How do you guys feel? Yes, only for a true franchise changing player. And again, the sense of trading someone like Franklin Arias or B, keep him and build around him as the core to this team. With guys like Roman Anthony, say Don Raffaella, Willier Abreu, Adley Rutschman, and the great young pieces they already have constructed on this roster. Now. To complete this actual conversation and wrap up this video in its entirety, again, this is from Brian Abraham. His profile's as a complete hitter. Again, that's something we've broken down early in this video because of how great he was and always has been. Monasterio gave him some actual advice, and he said, always be ready. You never know when your name's going to be called, and when it is, you do not want to get away, and you do not want to give it up. Be ready whenever your name may be called. So not only did I ask you guys, do you think the Red Sox should trade someone like Franklin Arias? Again, let me know down below how you guys feel about that, A or B. And then also let me know down below, how should the Red Sox handle the infield in 27? Do you think Arias should get the opportunity from the get-go? Do you think they should keep Story at short and possibly give it to Arias? Or do you think use Arias as a centerpiece for a trade for a big name star? Again, thank you guys for watching this episode of Red Sox Digest. This is going to be a very entertaining conversation all offseason long. So please do let us know down below in the comments how you guys feel about all of these moving parts with one of the top prospects in all of baseball in Franklin Arias. And I will see you guys on the next episode of Red Sox Digest.