Hello, Green Monster. It’s Dan Uggla.

November 16th, 2009 | by Darryl Johnston |

I suppose it’s a possibility.

At first glance, it seems outlandish and unlikely to trade for Florida’s Dan Uggla and ask him to roam left field at Fenway Park. But with the continuing chirps from MLB circles that team are looking to cut payroll in 2010, Uggla could be a short-term solution in left field.

It just sounds weird because he’s a second baseman in the National League who would supposedly replace the Silver Slugging bat of Jason Bay. If Boston feels that they will be priced out of the Bay sweepstakes and won’t be able to afford the Scott Boras-ransoms for Matt Holliday, then Uggla might be a fit.

He is a below-average second baseman defensively, but in left field at Fenway, he might be OK. It’s the road games that would make me nervous. Add in the fact that Uggla has already said that he doesn’t want to change positions and this rumor starts to sound dumb. Besides, how much better would he be over Jeremy Hermida? Worth the headaches?

Right now, the Red Sox could do the New England area a favor and steal some headlines from the Patriots and their collosal choke in Indianapolis. Something along the lines of; “Red Sox Deal Prospects, Acquire _____.”

That blank could be Roy Halladay, Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Felix Hernandez or Miguel Cabrera. That would help ease the psyche of jittery sports fans in Boston. The last month has been a little rocky to say the least.

Maybe none of these guys end up in Boston this year. Perhaps it’s just resign Bay and go from there. But the Red Sox are not going to get away with Mike Lowell anymore. Something needs to happen at one of the infield corners or the Red Sox are going to struggle to make the playoffs.

The worst case scenario is that the Red Sox do not sign Bay or anyone comparable and refrain from trading from another bat. Then suddenly, they are a 90 win team and slip back in the AL East while Red Sox fans circle the wagons praying for a miracle while simultaneously convincing themselves that the team IS good enough.

Realistically, Uggla could be a stop-gap. The problem is, the gap is pretty wide. There are no 2011 outfield free agents worth waiting a year on. Well, except maybe Jason Werth, but he will be 32 and looking for his own pay day. Why not just sign Bay now and not deal with that?

Hopefully Theo gets creative and pulls in a couple big fish. Maybe fish named Uggla and Hanley.

Darryl Johnston is the Red Sox correspondent for Fanball.com. He has many years of sports writing under his championship belts. Email him – redsoxdj@gmail.com