Branford's Mike Olt in Contention for Red Sox Starting 3rd Base Job

By Jack Kramer, Patch correspondent

BRANFORD, CT – While hometown boy Mike Olt was signed to a minor-league contract by the Boston Red Sox, he seems to be in the conversation about a potential option as third baseman for the big club.

The Red Sox begin spring training with no obvious starting third baseman.

The first option is Pablo Sandoval, a two-time All Star with the San Francisco Giants before he joined the Red Sox in 2015, signing a $95 million, five-year contract. But Sandoval has had back, shoulder and weight problems in his time in Boston.

He’s lost some weight and he is the favorite to start opening day at third for the Sox.

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But a recent Associated Press story listed Olt, a former first round draft choice who has fought injury problems of his own as a major leaguer, along with Travis Shaw, Brock Halt, Josh Rutledge, Matt Dominguez as possible third base candidates if Sandoval falters.

Olt, 28, a graduate of the University of Connecticut, has hit 16 homers in his major league career.