The Red Sox are hoping for good health out of 32-year old righty swinging 3B Kevin Youkilis in 2012. He played in 120 games for the Red Sox last year and he was 111 of 431 (.258 avg, .833 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 17 homers, 80 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Youkilis has now played in 911 games in his first 8 years with the Red Sox and he is 927 of 3,206 (.289 avg, .883 OPS) with 569 runs scored, 129 homers, 550 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. Youkilis had 9 errors in 112 games at 3B last year while showing below average range. Youkilis has to hit to be an asset for the Red Sox and they need him to stay in one piece all year long.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2012: B

30-year old righty swinging Mike Aviles and 34-year old switch-hitting Nick Punto will likely platoon at SS for the Red Sox in 2012. Aviles played in 38 games for the Red Sox last year and he was 32 for 101 (.317 avg, .775 OPS). He played in 91 games overall last year for the Royals and Red Sox and he was 73 for 286 (.255 avg, .698 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 7 homers, 39 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Aviles has now played in 339 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 360 for 1,249 (.288 avg, .737 OPS) with 172 runs scored, 26 homers, 130 RBIs and 37 stolen bases. Aviles only had 1 error in 14 games at shortstop last year but he showed awful range there. Aviles probably doesn’t want any part of a platoon at shortstop and he could win the outright starting job with a big spring.

34-year old switch-hitting Nick Punto played in 63 games for the Cardinals last year and he was 37 for 133 (.278 avg, .809 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 1 homer, 20 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 887 games in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 647 for 2,601 (.249 avg, .652 OPS) with 346 runs scored, 14 homers, 218 RBIs and 92 stolen bases. Punto played in 8 games at shortstop last year without making any errors, but he showed pretty awful range there. Punto is hoping to platoon at SS with Mike Aviles in 2012.

22-year old righty swinging Jose Iglesias comes into this season as the Red Sox’ #12 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 10 games for the Red Sox last year and he was 2 for 6 (.333 avg, .667 OPS) with 3 runs scored. Iglesias also played in 101 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 84 for 357 (.235 avg, .554 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 1 homer, 31 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Iglesias played in 8 error-free games for the Red Sox last year but he showed below average range. Iglesias is known for his glove, but it’s pretty clear that his bat isn’t quite ready for prime time quite yet. Look for him to start the 2012 season in AAA-ball.

26-year old righty swinging Pedro Ciriaco played in 23 games for the Pirates last year and he was 10 for 33 (.303 avg, .748 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 6 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Ciriaco also played in 71 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 64 for 277 (.231 avg, .543 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 2 homers, 24 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. He has now played in 31 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 13 for 39 (.333 avg, .863 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 0 homers, 7 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Ciriaco played in 7 games at SS for the Pirates last year and he had 1 error while showing outstanding range. He could help the Red Sox at some point in 2012 if the need arises.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SHORTSTOPS IN 2012: C-

28-year old righty swinging Dustin Pedroia is looking to have another big year for the Red Sox in 2012. He played in 159 games for the Red Sox last year and he was 195 of 635 (.307 avg, .861 OPS) with 102 runs scored, 21 homers, 91 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. Pedroia has now played in 715 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 862 for 2,825 (.305 avg, .837 OPS) with 479 runs scored, 75 homers, 344 RBIs and 82 stolen bases. Pedroia only had 7 errors in 159 games for the Red Sox last year at 2B, but he showed below average range.

25-year old righty swinging Brad Emaus will likely be stashed in AAA-ball when the 2012 season begins. Emaus played in 14 games for the Mets last year and he was 6 for 37 (.162 avg, .424 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. He also played in 45 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 51 for 163 (.313 avg, .954 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 9 homers, 28 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Emaus played in 11 error-free games at 2B for the Mets last year while showing off outstanding range. If Dustin Pedroia gets injured and Emaus is playing well in AAA-ball, he might get another chance at the majors in 2012 with the Red Sox.

27-year old Mike Aviles and 34-year old switch-hitting Nick Punto are likely to share shortstop this year for the Red Sox, but they can both handle 2B if the need arises. Aviles played in 27 games at 2B last year and he had 3 errors there while showing outstanding range. Nick Punto only had 2 errors in 45 games last year at 2B and he also showed outstanding range there.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2012: A

29-year old lefty swinging Adrian Gonzalez had an outstanding year for the Red Sox in 2011. He played in 159 games for the Red Sox last year and he was 213 for 630 (.338 avg, .957 OPS) with 108 runs scored, 27 homers, 117 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Gonzalez has now played in 1,017 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 1,113 of 3,797 (.293 avg, .889 OPS) with 596 runs scored, 195 homers, 642 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Gonzalez is not just a great hitter but he is pretty nifty with a mitt on his hand. He only made 4 errors in 156 games at 1B last year while showing really good range. I look for Gonzalez to have another big time year for the Red Sox in 2012.

24-year old lefty swinging Lars Anderson comes into this season as the Red Sox’ #28 prospect according to Baseball America. Anderson played in 6 games for the Red Sox last year and he was 0 for 5 (.000 avg, .000 OPS) with 2 runs scored. Anderson also played in 136 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 130 for 491 (.265 avg, .791 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 14 homers, 78 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He has now played in 24 games in his first two years with the Red Sox and he is 7 for 40 (.175 avg, .492 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 0 homers and 4 RBIs. Anderson played in six games for the Red Sox at 1B last year and he made 1 error.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012: A+

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Kelly Shoppach and Ryan Lavarnway are going to provide a lot of thump behind the plate for the Red Sox in 2012. 26-year old switch-hitting Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be the starter once again in 2012. He played in 103 games for the Red Sox last year and he was 84 for 358 (.235 avg, .737 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 16 homers, 56 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 113 games in his first two years with the Red Sox and he is 87 for 377 (.231 avg, .735 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 16 homers, 57 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Saltalamacchia has now played in 353 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 286 for 1,171 (.244 avg, .712 OPS) with 154 runs scored, 39 homers, 151 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Saltalamacchia had a rough time behind the plate, mostly when he was catching Tim Wakefield. Saltalamacchia played in 101 games behind the plate for the Red Sox last year and he had 6 errors and a stunning 26 passed balls. He threw out 28 of 120 (23.3%) base stealers last year and Red Sox’ pitchers had a 4.62 ERA with him behind the plate. If he doesn’t improve defensively, he’s likely to lose some P.T. in 2012.

31-year old righty swinging Kelly Shoppach will be the backup catcher at the start of the 2012 season for the Red Sox. He started his career in Boston way back in 2005. He played in 9 games for the Red Sox that year and he was 0 for 15 (.000 avg, .063 OPS) with 1 run scored. Shoppach played in 87 games for the Rays last year and he was 39 for 221 (.176 avg, .607 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 11 homers and 22 RBIs. He whiffed a stunning 79 times last season as he essentially turned into an all or nothing hitter. Shoppach has now played in 460 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 289 for 1,288 (.224 avg, .732 OPS) with 174 runs scored, 59 homers and 180 RBIs. Shoppach is a really solid defensive catcher. He played in 86 games behind the plate for the Rays last year and he had 3 errors and only 1 passed ball. Shoppach threw out 15 of 44 (34.1%) potential base stealers and Rays’ pitchers had a 3.77 ERA when he was behind the plate.

24-year old righty swinging Ryan Lavarnway is almost ready for prime time. He comes into this season as the Red Sox’ #9 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 17 games for the Red Sox last year in his first taste of the majors and he was 9 for 39 (.231 avg, .738 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 homers and 8 RBIs. He also played in 116 games in AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 126 for 435 (.290 avg, .939 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 32 homers, 93 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Lavarnway played in 8 games behind the plate for the Red Sox last year and he didn’t have any errors or passed balls. He threw out the only runner that tried to steal on him and Red Sox’ pitchers had a 4.39 ERA with him behind the plate. I look for Lavarnway to be the Red Sox’ starting catcher in 2013, if not before.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: C-