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Your Morning Dump...where Aviles is getting some time in at shortstop.

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

Shortstop Mike Aviles played all nine innings in the Red Sox' 3-3 tie with the Blue Jays Wednesday afternoon, notching a double to leadoff the game while making a key relay throw to gun down the potential go-ahead run at third in the seventh inning.

Aviles, who is in competition to earn the Red Sox' starting shortstop job, said he hadn't played nine innings at the position in March since his participation in the 2009 World Baseball Classic as a member of Team Puerto Rico.

"Out of all the positions, the one that feels the easiest for things to come back naturally has been short for me," he said. "It's one position I feel like I can take the least amount of reps and get the most comfortable quicker. Third, second or even the outfield, I feel like I have to take more reps to feel comfortable, whereas at short I can take a couple days of ground balls and feel right at home. I'm starting to feel more comfortable playing the game, pretty much."

The Red Sox totaled seven hits, one of which came off Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow, with Aviles' double serving as the only extra-base hit for the visitors.

WEEI: Aviles plays nine, Sox tie Jays

Even though everyone at Ted's Army fully endorses our favorite prospect Jose Iglesias, Aviles isn't a terrible option either. Coming from Kansas City in the middle of the year had to be a tough (but welcomed) adjustment as Kansas City hasn't been a contender since George Brett retired. The defense will be an issue as he is primarily a third basemen but if he can pick up where Marco Scutaro left off offensively, it will make this offense even better.

But all things change if Iglesias can start hitting in the .280-.290 range. Considering where he is now that's the equivalent of asking David Ortiz to play some Gold Glove-caliber defense at first. Hey anything can happen..right?

Rest of the Links: Globe: For Cody Ross, the Sox character counts | Red Sox tie Toronto | Herald: Lester works morning shift | Aviles throws glove into the ring | Bryce Brentz impresses | CSNNE:A full day’s work |Valentine impressed with Brentz |Fenway placed on National Register of Historic Places| WEEI: Unconventional world of pitching coach Bob McClure | Brentz shows his muscle | Aviles plays nine, Sox tie Jays

Your Morning Dump...where we wonder if there really are position battles

Every morning we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump...

“We like (competition) for spring training,” general manager Ben Cherington said Monday night atFenway Park [map]. “We’ve had years where we haven’t had a ton of competition for the team. I think some level of competition is healthy and it gives (new manager) Bobby (Valentine) and the staff a chance to evaluate players a little bit more of a legitimate setting.”

There is no question that some uncertainty about who will be playing where is an advantage for a team with a new manager. As Valentine gets to know his team and vice versa, the best icebreaker could be sheer effort and dedication on a baseball diamond.

“My overall philosophy on that is I wish the roster were extended through April so we could have real competition under the lights and real atmosphere, and not in this sunny park morning baseball/afternoon baseball atmosphere,” Valentine said. “But I think it’s always good for guys to feel they have a chance to work and to make the team, so they work a little harder because the more you work and practice, the better foundation you have to last the entire season. I think it’s a real tough place to compete.”

Herald | Red Sox camp to sport new look

I'm a little surprised to see the story skewed this way (and ProJo took the same angle). It seems to me that these "competitions" -- namely shortstop, catcher, and right field -- will ultimately be platoons.

We've heard all offseason how Punto has no bat and Aviles has no glove, so it's unlikely one or the other will win out at short. There might not be a true platoon (other than if they have Punto play short for more ground-ball-type pitchers), but I can't see either dominating that job.

Salty is going to get the bulk of catching duties, with Shoppach mopping up. (A big spring from Lavarnway could throw a kink in those plans.)

Right field should be a true platoon. All we've heard since the Sox became interested in Cody Ross was that he dominates lefties and can't hit righties. Sweeney is a good defensive outfielder and a left-handed hitter...which slots him in nicely against righties.

The most competition -- and the only true competition -- will be the pitching staff. Of course you have the last two starting spots going to some combination of Daniel Bard (who seems very likely to get one of them), Alfredo Aceves, Aaron Cook, and possibly Carlos Silva, with guys like Vicente Padilla, Michael Bowden, Felix Doubront, and Cy Clay Mortensen hoping to get a chance. Beyond that, there will certainly be competition for various bullpen roles. The only ones that are likely settled are closer (Andrew Bailey), set-up man (Mark Melancon, until Bard reaches his starting pitching innings limit), and LOOGY (Franklin Morales).

But hey, at least I had something to write about other than the Cubs' compensation for Theo. 

CSNNE | Yankees' Granderson excited about Kuroda, Pineda additions | Matsuzaka throws off mound for first time since surgery | Globe | Ask Nick: When will Sox get their compensation? | ESPNBoston | Daisuke Matsuzaka throws bullpen | ProJo | This year, spring training won't just be fun in the sun | Cherington adopting different free agent approach | Image: Redsox.com

Sox shortstop situation is depressing

I don't mean to dampen your mood, what with all the Cody Ross excitement and all (we totally have another outfielder, everybody!), but the Scutaro trade has left us in a bit of a bind.  We knew going into this trade that we were essentially creating a large problem to chip away at another problem.  Although, we all expected the Sox to announce the signing of Roy Oswalt, not Cody Ross.

But it's not until you take a deeper look at the problem we just created in short that you really begin to question this trade.  And Eric Seidman of fangraphs.com has done just that.  Brace yourselves:

In approximately 30 percent of his career plate appearances, Aviles has a very good .350 wOBA against lefties, compared to a .307 mark against same-handed righties. However, those career splits include his rookie 2008 campaign, when he hit .325/.354/.480, put up a .360 wOBA and posted a +11 fielding mark. Suffice to say, he hasn’t come close to those stats since, and his 2009-11 numbers are more indicative of his expected output.

Essentially, the Red Sox have two shortstops that can’t hit, and only one that can field. Plus, the good glove belongs to a 34-year old part-time player that hasn’t played over 100 games since 2009 and hasn’t spent more than 500 innings at the position since 2008. The Red Sox offense will still produce well, especially if Carl Crawford regresses, but it isn’t yet clear that the trade-off of the shortstop position for Oswalt is beneficial to the team. This isn’t a traditional platoon in any sense of the term, and it’s hard to envision how this tandem will pay dividends over the course of a long season.

Replace "Oswalt" with "Cody Ross" and the outcome is even worse.  The only positive to come from this is the "PuntoViles Platoon" nickname Seidman created.  I'm on-board with that.

In fairness, the Sox aren't looking for a triple-crown candidate to fill in at short.  The offense will take care of itself.  They just want a solid contributor on offense and a competent glove in the field.  I think the PuntoViles Platoon can provide just that. 

But I still don't believe the Sox made this move to go after Ross.  Unless they plan on shipping Kalish off for some pitching help, and plan on getting creative to fill the void in Right next year and beyond.  In fact, Jose Canseco has thrown his name into the ring, tweeting that he'd like a tryout with the Sox.  He's only 47.  Surely he has 3 or 4 good years left in his syringe (badum tss!). 

Whatever Cherington's plans are, they certainly can't end with Cody Ross.  But if you need me, until the curtain is pulled back and his master plan is revealed, I'll be over here scratching my head.

Phase 1. Trade Scutaro. Phase 2. ??? Phase 3. Profit.

 

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The Red Sox and Rockies finally consummated their Marco Scutaro talks, as Scutaro heads to Denver to play second base. In return, RHP Clay Mortensen is heading to Fenway.

Mortensen is 26 and has been relatively lackluster thus far in his career. He did tally a 3.86 ERA in 16 appearances last year, including six starts. According to Nick Cafardo, the Red Sox consider Mortensen a starter, though it's not clear as of now whether that means he'll compete for a spot in the big-league rotation at this point. FanGraphs projects him to put up a mid-4 ERA in a reliever role, although that projection is obviously based on him being with the Rockies.

If you read between the lines (and you don't really have to think that hard), this deal comes down to money. Scutaro is due $6 million and Mortensen is due $400k and can be sent to the minors. The Sox clearly believe their infield is not their biggest problem, and trust Punto and Aviles to hold it down while they spend their $6 million elsewhere.

The Sox are rumored to be after free agent Roy Oswalt, as well as White Sox starter Gavin Floyd, who would obviously require prospects as well. Another name thrown into the mix has been Cody Ross, although the Mets are reportedly making a run at the outfielder.

Oswalt seems the most likely to me. With Kalish waiting in the wings, it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend money (and supposedly they have limited resources) on an outfielder. Meanwhile, they must be comfortable with a Punto/Aviles combo at short until Iglesias is ready, so it looks like they'll be throwing their money (if anywhere) at pitching.

Who knows if it makes sense. I suppose we could get a solid year out of Aviles playing close to full time between short and right, and Punto and MacDonald pitching in. But it certainly seems like trying to fill one hole by creating another.

Aviles likes right field

The outfield is Mike Aviles' only answer for a decent amount of playing time in 2012. The Sox have yet to add a long-term replacement for J.D. Drew in right and there is a possibility of time on the DL for Crawford. He is sure to get some fill-in time in the infield, but he may now prefer the outfield grass for the future.

Projo:

"I was playing every day in right field just to get the ins and outs of outfield, so I could feel comfortable come spring training and be ready to play anywhere in the outfield next year," he said on Friday. "For me, it's all about getting at-bats and trying to get a chance in the game and help the team win some way somehow. I don't care if it's second, third, short, first, left, right, center -- wherever. Wherever it may be, I just want to help the team out."

Aviles hasn't played in the outfield since he was a sophomore at Concordia College in Bronxville, N.Y., but he surprised himself by adapting to the role quicker than expected both then and now.

"I also surprised myself at how much I actually like it," Aviles said. "I actually really love it."

While he is at it, learning to throw a breaking ball wouldn't hurt.