What Should the Red Sox Do if Wilyer Abreu Isn’t Ready?

In 2024, Wilyer Abreu was a key piece in the Red Sox roster, providing irreplaceable defense and delivering clutch hits. This year he’s behind schedule and there’s a good chance he might not break camp with the team because of it. Abreu has yet to play a game or do much more than just track pitches and play catch. He came to spring dealing with a gastrointestinal virus, unable to do any baseball activities. Instead, he was getting lab tests done in hopes of being given the all-clear to begin getting ready for the season. Abreu got the go-ahead last week, but the virus cost him strength and several pounds. He's now trying to ramp up so he won’t miss the start of the season. Should that prove impossible, there are plenty of candidates to take his spot, but there really isn’t just one answer. It’ll all depend on how much time Abreu needs to get back into the lineup.

In a perfect world, Abreu would be able to get into game action sometime before the end of the week, ending all these concerns. Abreu is a valued member of the team, playing outstanding defense in what is arguably one of the hardest right field in all of baseball. Add to that the offensive potential he showcased last year, batting .253 with a .322 on-base percentage and 15 home runs, and he’ll be missed no matter how much time he might miss. I’ve thought of a few different scenarios, and it’s been reported that the Red Sox are looking for rght-handed outfielders in the trade market, everything you're about to read was written under the assumption that the team doesn't acquire anyone else.

Option 1: Rob Refsnyder is the temporary left fielder, Jarren Duran moves to center, Ceddanne Rafaela moves to right.

This is probably the most likely scenario, besides Abreu being ready for Opening Day. Rob Refsnyder has been a key piece of this team since being called up from Worcester back in 2022. He’s played in 239 games, providing key hits and hustling on all plays. Last season was a career year for Refsnyder, one that was almost his last, as he pondered retirement despite running an impressive 130 wRC+. He also set a career-high with 11 home runs. Refsnyder is known as a lefty killer, which normally makes him a solid candidate for Abreu as a platoon partner. Refsnyder can play either corner outfield position, having split his time between the two last year. However, it would make sense for superior defenders Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela to cover the more challenging center and right. I think Rafaela's superior arm makes him the better candidate for right rather than Duran. 

Refsnyder would be a stopgap, a veteran presence comfortable when he’s facing a left-handed pitcher but hoping for the best when a right-hander is on the mound. He'd return to the bench when Abreu returned, without causing much roster shuffling. However, if Abreu were out for more than a few weeks, that might be asking too much of Refsnyder.

Option 2: Kristian Campbell breaks camp with the Red Sox as the left fielder.

This situation may seem like a bit more of a stretch, but I feel the team could go in this direction. All throughout the beginning of spring training, we’ve heard about how much the team likes Kristian Campbell and how they would love for him to break camp with the big club. At the time, the thought was for him to be the second baseman, but it seems that there are two other options ahead of him at that position. Both Vaughn Grissom and David Hamilton have played well while Campbell pressed and struggled to begin spring training.

When you look at where Campbell has played in the games, it becomes clear that the Red Sox are looking at him as a potential outfielder, to start the season at least. Campbell has played seven of his 11 games at second base and the remaining four in left field. It may not seem like much, three of those seven were his first three games played. Whatever the reason for it, the team seems to be thinking of Campbell more as an outfielder lately.

However, this situation would be a bit different upon Abreu’s return. Instead of being sent down to Worcester, Campbell would stay on the roster, perhaps moving to second base if the current second baseman struggles. Or he could even stay in a platoon with Abreu considering the team may be hesitant to use him against left-handed pitchers. The point is, I can’t see Campbell being the replacement for Abreu if he is just going to be sent back down once Abreu is ready. It makes no sense to waste an option year like that and Campbell is a true star prospect. The team needs to do whatever they feel will help him develop into the best player he can be.

Now, why did I choose Campbell and not Roman Anthony? While Anthony is an outfielder, he is also a left-handed hitter and wouldn’t help to balance the lineup. And considering that the team is searching for a right-handed bat to fill Abreu’s spot on the roster if necessary, it seems Campbell would be the better fit. It also seems like the team feels Anthony could use a little more seasoning in Triple A, despite how well he played there last year. Lastly, Anthony succumbed to the stomach bug making its way through the clubhouse last week, and he also lost some time getting up to speed.

Option 3: Trayce Thompson makes the team, then gets DFA’d upon Abreu’s return.

This may be more likely than Campbell playing left field in Boston aside from one hiccup. Thompson is a veteran with some power who can play all three outfield positions, and he's having an unbelievable spring so far, but he isn't on the 40-man roster. At this point in the spring, Boston’s 40-man roster doesn't have any room to spare, meaning someone would need to lose their spot for Thompson to gain one. The most likely openings will occur near the end of spring training when Zach Penrod and Chris Murphy are likely placed on the 60-day injured list.

Even if Thompson were to make the team, there’s no guarantee the Red Sox would keep him for anything longer than a short stint. His spring training stats are something else: a .391 batting average to go along with six home runs. But it’s still spring training. Sam Travis and Bobby Dalbec should remind fans of how spring training stats can be deceptive. Thompson ran a 129 wRC+ in spring training in 2024, then ran a below-average batting line in the minors, never earning a big-league appearance.

Thompson last played in the majors in 2023, when he split the year between the Dodgers and White Sox, appearing in 72 games and struggling mightily. In his entire career, he’s only had one really decent season. In 2022, he ran a 142 wRC+ over 80 games with the Padres and Dodgers. His track record is against him, and even if he made the roster, it's hard to imagine him keeping his spot once Abreu is ready (unless his monster run continues into the regular season). Beacause of the roster crunch, Thompson would most likely be DFA’d immediately upon Abreu’s return, passing through waivers and returning to Triple A.

There's no shortage of options, but the best option is still Abreu proving himself ready to start the season on March 27. In order to do that, he'll need to get back into playing shape and get quality at-bats in games. Abreu is a key piece of the team, and while you can’t outright replace him, these Red Sox have the depth to be able to withstand a short absence.