Projecting the 2025 Red Sox Opening Day Roster, Version 1.0

There’s a lot to be excited about in 2025 for the Red Sox, but there are still some question marks and a couple of holes that need to be filled. Let’s get started by looking at the players on the team as of today.

Lineup

1. Jarren Duran, CF
2. Rafael Devers, 3B
3. Trevor Story, SS
4. Triston Casas, 1B
5. Masataka Yoshida, DH
6. Wilyer Abreu, RF
7. Connor Wong, C
8. Kristian Campbell, 2B
9. Ceddanne Rafaela, CF

That’s right, I have Kristian Campbell breaking camp with the big league club. I fully believe that entering camp there will be a competition for the second base position between Campbell and Vaughn Grissom, and Campbell will light spring training on fire so thoroughly that the Red Sox have to start him on Opening Day. He will hit low in the lineup, at first, to ease him into the big leagues, but as his bat comes around he will move higher into the lineup later in the season. Trevor Story hitting third in the lineup doesn’t serve as protection for Rafael Devers at first, but as long as he stays healthy then his righty swing will end up benefiting Devers in the long run.  

Bench

• Carlos Narváez, C
• Vaughn Grissom, Util
• David Hamilton, Util
• Romy Gonzalez, Util 

That’s a lot of utility players, but in modern baseball, that’s what your bench should be stocked with. Carlos Narváez will back up Connor Wong and spell him during slumps, but he’s here for his defense and not his bat. When there’s speed on the bases late in games, Alex Cora is bound to swap catchers to give his team a better chance to get outs on the basepaths. Vaughn Grissom has played second and shortstop but should be looked at as someone who can slot into third base at times and my assumption is we will see him get some time in left field during spring training to make him more of a utility type of player. David Hamilton and Romy Gonzalez can play all over the infield and add another burst of speed coming off the bench when necessary.

Starting Rotation

1. Garrett Crochet, LHP
2. Tanner Houck, RHP
3. Brayan Bello, RHP
4. Walker Buehler, RHP
5. Kutter Crawford, RHP
6. Lucas Giolito, RHP

While there’s talk of a six-man rotation, including from Craig Breslow himself, I don’t expect that to actually happen with any regularity. There may be some long stretches without off days where the Sox go to a sixth starter to give everyone an extra day of rest, especially considering that three of the six starters are likely to have some kind of leash on them as they return to form. Still, I actually think Kutter Crawford is the odd man out here. When push comes to shove, Lucas Giolito was brought here to start and if the Red Sox go with a five-man rotation, Crawford seems the obvious candidate to head to the bullpen. There could be an argument to be made for Brayan Bello to be that guy, but Boston didn’t give him an extension and hand him the ball to start the season in 2024 for him to be relegated to the bullpen already. 

Bullpen

• Liam Hendriks, RHP
• Aroldis Chapman, LHP
• Justin Slaten, RHP
• Garrett Whitlock, RHP
• Justin Slaten, RHP
• Justin Wilson, LHP
• Luis Guerrero, RHP

The bullpen is still probably the shakiest group on the roster. The team needs one more big-time, high-leverage type arm to help replace Chris Martin and Kenley Janson. Luckily, there is quite a bit to like about what we’re already seeing though. Liam Hendriks is likely your Opening Day closer because the organization thinks highly of him and that’s his natural position, but it wouldn’t shock me at all if that spot went to someone else by the end of May. Justin Slaten seems primed to take over the closer role at some point, and that seems to be the safer long-term move. Chapman should work as the seventh or eighth-inning setup man, Whitlock will be used as long relief, Guerrero showed enough at the end of last season to be trusted to get outs, and Wilson will work as a left-handed specialist when needed. There’s a lot of like in the bullpen, but additions will help to shore up the 'pen and help to settle the fanbase.

We’ll have more roster projections as the offseason continues to unfold, so keep an eye out for them. For now though, what are your thoughts as the team currently stands? Should Grissom get the nod over Campbell? Does Roman Anthony deserve to break camp with the big league club too? Let us know.