Boston Red Sox outfielder/first baseman Daniel Nava is finally about ready to come back from his thumb injury that has kept him sidelined for over a month. 

Now the real question is, "Do the Red Sox need him back?" 

When Nava went on the disabled list on May 25th, it seemed like very good timing, both for Nava and for the Red Sox. Nava was off to yet another miserable start, batting just .159 with precisely zero home runs and just seven RBI. The injury seemed like a good excuse for Nava to stop playing, rest up, play a few rehab games, and get back in uniform for the Sox. However, the Red Sox had to find solutions for Nava's absence and they did. They brought super-utility man Brock Holt off of the bench and he became a regular starter. Holt started just 24 games over the first two months. But when Nava went down, and fellow outfielder/first baseman Allen Craig was optioned to Pawtucket, Holt cracked the lineup.

Since May 25th, Holt has started 32 of 35 Red Sox games and hit .300. He became the first Boston player to hit for the cycle in nearly 20 years, doing it against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park, on June 16th. Much like 2014, Holt is forcing manager John Farrell to play him; he is simply not an asset to be stuck on the bench. He has played seven different positions this year and made just five errors combined. He has been spectacular in filling in for the injured Dustin Pedroia at second base recently. 

Meanwhile, Nava  has played just three games since May 25th. They were rehab appearances for Triple-A Pawtucket. He went 2-for-8 with three strikeouts. Nava never adjusted well to a part-time role this year. Nava, a switch-hitter, was used almost exclusively against right-handed pitching; he is much better when hitting from the left side. He started three of the first six Sox games, going 4-for-11. He appeared to be a valuable player that could play outfield, or give first baseman Mike Napoli a rest. Then Nava went into a major slump.

Over the next month, he went just 2-for-34 (.058) and hit just .113 after those first three games. He was put on the disabled list, opening the door for Holt. With the Red Sox heating up, and just five games out of a wild-card spot, what will the Boston Red Sox do with Daniel Nava, who was so critical in that 2013 World Series run? Do they stick Holt back on the bench? Almost certainly not. Platoon him with Mike Napoli? Potentially, but if he doesn't start hitting for power or average, that would be an incredibly weak combination at first base for the Red Sox, as Napoli is hitting a meek .192 with 10 home runs. The power is nice but hardly makes up for the lackluster average. The outfield has no room for Nava as veteran Shane Victorino is finally looking healthy, new addition Alejandro De Aza has peformed well, young star Mookie Betts is heating up, and Hanley Ramirez, who has 18 home runs to go along with a respectable .277 average, is a staple in the middle of the lineup. Unfortunately, Nava is out of minor league options, so the Red Sox cannot stick him in Pawtucket until he regains his prior form.

A second option for Boston is to play Nava consistently for a few weeks, hope he heats up, and try and trade him at the deadline and get something in return. 

There are several options the Red Sox have in finding a role for Nava. None of them are great. So it comes down to this. Do they trust the man who was a key component in 2013, and, after a slow start, hit .270 in 2014? Or do they turn their backs on his clutch history and focus on getting to the playoffs with Holt, Betts, Victorino, De Aza, Ramirez, and the rest of their current roster?