There is one player that Boston Red Sox fans are keeping a close eye on—Mikey Romero. The organization had invested about $2.3 million in the young shortstop, betting on him to bolster Boston’s future. At just 21 years old, Romero has already shown flashes of his potential. His infield work and his natural swing are winning over fans. In fact not just fans, Alex Cora was also recently all hyped up about Romero too.
Cora, when asked about which prospects other than the big three have caught his eye this spring, said, “Mikey Romero, the last three, four days. He’s a good player, a really good player.” He even went on to praise his natural feel for the game. Moreover, Romero even had the chance to work alongside Trevor Story, learning the ropes from a veteran himself. So with such endorsements, it’s easy for fans to get ahead of themselves. However, insider Chris Smith is here to burst the bubble and show it’s not all rosy for Romero here.
Firstly, Smith reminded everyone that being a first-round pick doesn’t mean much. “Just because he is a first-round draft pick doesn’t mean anything.” And it makes sense there are many infield prospects like Deven Marrero and Michael Chavis who have failed to carve it big in MLB despite being first picks. Plus for Smith, while there are positives about the player, Romero is entering healthy for the first time in two years, so Smith thinks it’s too early to get on the hype train.
“I want to see what he can do at the AA level before we get overly excited again, before putting him in the top 50. He is a guy that you have to be cautious about,” said Smith on the Fenway Rundown podcast. And well, the skepticism is fair given Romero’s early career was tough and rough on him. He missed most of 2023 because of injuries and slashed just .214/.294/.286 over 34 games. His ranking in Baseball America’s prospect list fell from 6 to 16! Plus, on personal grounds, he suffered the loss of his father too.
However, things in 2024 did change. He hit .271/.312/.509 with 16 home runs and 53 RBIs across three levels. And he got himself the honor of South Atlantic League Player of the Month. But despite this resurgence, Double A is a whole different challenge. Defensively, though, Romero has spent time at second base and at shortstop with the Boston Red Sox. He also bulked up to 205 pounds, and that does increase power. While Romero has shown flashes of performance, Smith’s words prove that Boston needs more from him before putting the label of him being a future star.
Could the Boston Red Sox land the Miami Marlins one big star?
The Miami Marlins have ripped their roster apart before the 2024 MLB trade deadline, shipping out key players and leaving just one star—Sandy Alcantara. However, if you are being honest—how long before he packs his bags and leaves? While his season in 2023 was shaky, he missed 2024 because of an injury. But he is back in form now and is looking like his pre-injury self.
So given the Miami Marlins are in a rebuild mode, it’s only a matter of time before they try to cash this in. Now, Fansided’s Jacob Mountz has already suggested a new proposal: the Boston Red Sox can do a deal for Alcantara. He suggested a trade package involving Wilyer Abreu, Marcelo Mayer, and Kristian Campbell. “Normally, a player with a rookie campaign like Abreu’s would be a keeper,” Mountz mentioned, but with Roman Anthony waiting, Boston might be open to making such moves in the outfield.
As far as Mayer, he is Boston’s No. 3 prospect, and he is a talented shortstop. He is going to make his big league debut soon. But right now, with the full infield, a spot isn’t right out permanent for him. But the kicker is—trading him would be a major decision, and he is not just a prospect but a future star. So yes, the possibility of trading both Abreu and Mayer away for Alcantara would be a steep price to pay. More so, given Boston is already relying on sorting their infield depth. Plus, Alcantara is coming off a long injury, so betting on him this big is risky.
But if the Boston Red Sox do want to take the risk and add a true ace, this can be their shot. So do you think they will pull the trigger on this? Let us know your thoughts.
The post Red Sox’s $2.3M Star Faces Reality Check as Top Insider Urges Caution Before Buying Into the Hype appeared first on EssentiallySports.
