Nick John

After a mild hamstring strain, Lucas Giolito will become the third Red Sox starter to begin the season on the IL. They still have excellent options to fill out the starting rotation. They always say you can never have too much pitching, and the Boston Red Sox are proving that true. With news that Lucas Giolito will open the season on the injured list, the Red Sox have now seen three starters shut down this spring. Kutter Crawford went down first, dealing with a knee issue that he had been bothering him since last season. There was some concern that he might need surgery, but that doesn’t look likely now. Crawford will instead look to rehab it and look to help the Sox during the season. Brayan Bello was the next, dealing with a sore shoulder that kept him behind schedule. The right-hander has yet to pitch in a spring training game, but has thrown on the backfields as he’s worked to get ready for the season. Bello is expected to miss only the 15 days needed to qualify for the IL, so long as he doesn’t suffer a setback. He'll likely pitch in a couple of rehab appearances in the minors before returning to Boston. As for Giolito, the right-hander signed a two-year, $38.5-million deal before the 2024 season, but injuries have kept him from making a single start for the Red Sox. In his first spring training appearance, Giolito lasted a single inning, being pulled due to a left hamstring strain. Giolito said he felt it while pitching to the first batter of the game and that he has dealt with worse. Giolito had been lined up to pitch the fifth game of the season per Alex Cora but the injury will now place him on the injured list. Just like Bello, it seems he’ll only miss the minimum amount of time. Usually, three injuries to your starting rotation before the season even starts can be enough to derail an entire season, leaving the team so far in the hole that they can't recover. The Red Sox, however, built up their pitching depth over the offseason and it’s starting to pay off. Even with Hunter Dobbins being optioned to minor league camp, the Red Sox have three potential candidates in camp competing for the last two spots in the rotation: rookie Richard Fitts, trade deadline acquisition Quinn Priester, and swingman Cooper Criswell. Fitts has looked the most impressive out of the three, and may have already locked up a spot in the rotation. In three appearances this spring, Fitts has gone 6 1/3 innings and struck out nine. What may be most impressive is the increased velocity on his fastball. Last season Fitts’ four seamer averaged around 94-95 mph. Through his three spring training appearances, his fastball has climbed to 97 mph and even topped out at 99 mph. He's also introduced a sinker and curveball to his arsenal and now looks like a different pitcher. To put into perspective the improvement of his arsenal, in 20 2/3 innings last year, Fitts only struck out nine batters. In 6 1/3 innings this spring he’s already matched that. If he can continue to get whiffs with his improved fastball, then Fitts could make the Verdugo trade with New York look even better than it already does. Prior to this change, his ceiling appeared to be a fifth starter or a bullpen arm. Now? If he’s able to put everything together, there’s an argument to be made that he could become a number three or four pitcher. Priester has also looked different since the start of spring training. He put on 15 pounds of muscle over the offseason, and like Fitts, his fastball has improved, topping out at 96 mph this spring. The right-hander was acquired at the trade deadline for Nick Yorke and spent most of his time at Worcester. Priester made one start for the Red Sox, pitching five innings and allowing a single run. So far in the spring, he has looked good, starting three games and throwing 6 2/3 innings, though has allowed his share of walks, surrendering four of them so far. Still only 24 years old, Priester could be a decent fill-in until either Bello or Giolito is healthy. Finally, Criswell is the pitcher with the most big-league experience. A low-cost signing last year, Criswell became invaluable to the Red Sox as he bounced back and forth between Boston and Worcester, filling in for the rotation and bullpen as needed. In 99 1/3 innings over 26 appearances and 18 starts, Criswell pitched to a 4.08 ERA. So far in spring training, he has been hit the hardest, pitching in three games and allowing four runs in 6 2/3 innings pitched. While the Red Sox have yet to offer any hints about who will fill out the rotation, there’s a good chance they might go with Fitts and Priester. Criswell would either be sent down to Worcester to begin the season, or, with Josh Winckowski struggling, fill in as the long man in the bullpen. The Red Sox are in a good position because of their depth, and also because Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, and Walker Buehler, make an excellent top of the rotation. View full article

He can play short but Cora has said the team hopes to not have to use him in the infield this year unless it's an emergency. They want him to be in the outfield all year.

I've heard that too. Though at this point I feel there isn’t really anyone who would be available that's worth it. Might as well just run with Refsnyder/the kids/possibly Thompson. Of course it all depends on how long Abreu would be out for.

That's what I would prefer. Just have Refsnyder handle things with Romy (if ready) and Sogard being super utility players coming off the bench.

The Red Sox have no shortage of outfielders, if Wilyer Abreu's recovery takes longer than the team hopes, the roster calculus gets very tricky. 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. View full article

Trevor Story will always represent an injury risk, but he's healthy and playing well right now, and the Red Sox have a surfeit of options behind him. Go ahead and take a deep breath. Shortstop has been an issue of concern for the Red Sox since Xander Bogaerts left for San Diego. It hasn't been because of a lack of talent, but rather an inability to stay healthy at the position. This year, the Red Sox hope things will be different with both a healthy Trevor Story and depth in triple-A. Prospect Marcelo Mayer looks ready to take that next step to the major leagues. The past few seasons have been shaky, as Trevor Story has consistently gotten hurt either before or soon after the start of the season. This has forced the Red Sox to give playing time to players such as Kiké Hernández, Pablo Reyes, Yu Chang, David Hamilton, Zach Short, and Ceddanne Rafaela, with minimal success. This year, Story looks to have a healthy season, but should he miss time, Hamilton, Mayer, or even Kristian Campbell could step in and plug the hole that his absence would create. For that reason, the shortstop position looks stronger than it has in years. No longer will they be discussing having Bobby Dalbec learn the position in case he’s needed. Instead, they have players such as Nick Sogard, Romy González and Hamilton on the 40-man roster who can be plugged into the position as a stopgap. Red Sox Shortstops At A Glance: Starter: Trevor Story Backup: David Hamilton Depth: Nick Sogard, Romy González Prospects: Marcelo Mayer, Mikey Romero, Franklin Arias Red Sox fWAR Ranking Last Year: 15th out of 30 The Good The Red Sox are in a better position than previous years should Story suffer another injury. Their depth, between the 40-man roster and the upper levels of the minor leagues, will make handling an injury much more feasible for the team. Yet the hope is still that Story can handle a full season at the position. Since signing with Boston before the 2022 season, Story has dealt with various injuries, the latest being a glenoid fracture and torn labrum after diving for a ball early in the 2024 season. He managed to return to the team in September, playing a total of 26 games. When Story is on the field, his defense is a huge boost for the team. So far in spring training, the 32-year-old has looked like his old self, playing great defense and hitting like he did before his two injury-filled seasons. As of March 10, Story is batting .458 with two homers over eight spring training games. Story isn’t the only player who’s been looking good either. Hamilton, who played a decent amount at shortstop last year before moving to second base, started off hot during spring training, putting his name into the competition for the starting second baseman job. Despite some struggles at shortstop last year, he showed himself to be a productive second baseman before his season ended due to a left index finger fracture in late August. Hamilton came to camp looking stronger, his speed could make the difference in him winning a starting spot in the lineup. Sogard has joined him in looking impressive early on, appearing in 12 games where he’s managed to hit .360 and get on base at a .448 mark. In those 12 games, Sogard has nine hits, including two home runs. And yet it might be the guys who aren’t on the 40-man roster that could be the most exciting. Top prospect Marcelo Mayer came into camp showing no health issues from the injury that limited him to 77 games in 2024. Instead, he’s impressed as he’s bounced between shortstop, third base, and second base while looking comfortable at the plate. If Mayer can stay healthy this year, there’s a good chance he’ll be called up to Boston sooner rather than later. He’s putting in the work and showing why he is considered a top prospect in the game. Mikey Romero has also impressed, doing so well that Alex Cora singled him out when asked which prospects besides the Big Three have caught his eye. Romero hasn’t played as much as the others, but he’s made the most of his chances, going 4-for-6 with a walk and a homer, and hitting the ball very hard. While Romero won’t reach the major leagues this season, it is a positive sight to see him build off his 2024 season. If he can stay healthy, the former first-round pick could be in for a huge season. The Red Sox don't view Campbell as a shortstop. They view him as the second baseman of the future and have also used him in left field so far in spring training. Still, Campbell has also played shortstop in the minor leagues, having learned the position last season. In 2024, he played a total of 36 games at the position between double-A Portland and triple-A Worcester. The Bad The obvious topic is health issues. Story, Hamilton, Mayer, and Romero all missed significant time last year. Hamilton played the most, appearing in 103 games between Worcester and Boston, no one else played more than 78 games. To reach their potential, the Red Sox will need their shortstop depth to remain healthy this season. With Mayer and Romero opening the season in the minor leagues (barring some unforeseen event), the Red Sox may not have as much depth on the major league roster as they think. González has been slow in spring training as he works to get ready for the season, and if Hamilton wins the starting second baseman job, that takes another depth option away from shortstop. Lastly, Sogard is much more experienced at second and third than shortstop. The Red Sox are also hoping that Trevor Story returns to his pre-2023 self at the plate. Last season, in a very short sample, Story looked closer to his Colorado Rockies self instead of how he’s hit in Boston. However, over three years in Boston, Story has yet to reach the same level of ability he showcased in Colorado. Still, should Story be unable to hit like he’s known to it could cause an issue for the offense but not one large enough to take his glove out of the lineup each day. The Bottom Line Despite any issues mentioned above, the Red Sox should feel better than they have in previous seasons when it comes to shortstop. Story has given no new reasons to worry about his health, and at this point, that's the best you can hope for. We’re halfway through spring training now, and even his bat has looked impressive so far. The rest of the group has also performed well, the Red Sox are set for a bright future at shortstop, even if there are questions about whether Mayer will stick there. Unlike previous years, the Red Sox now have sustainable depth to handle an injury or two. View full article

I just feel Wong's numbers aren't sustainable because of his savant numbers. Everything points to the fact he got lucky on a lot of soft hit balls. If Narváez can hit even slightly below those Triple-A numbers I'd argue this trade could be a steal.

I have a feeling that Narváez will get the majority of the starts behind the plate if he can hit about. 220/.230, especially with his defensive capabilities and I'm expecting Wong's offensive numbers to regress. I do hope Wong has improved on the defensive side of the game but we'll see.

The Red Sox made many improvements to their roster this offseason, but catcher is still a question mark for the team. Last year at this time, Kyle Teel looked like the catcher of the future. Likely to make his major league debut some point in 2025, Teel appeared set to take over for Connor Wong as the starter. Fast-forward a year, and Kyle Teel has been traded to the White Sox in the Garrett Crochet deal, and Wong is still entrenched as the team's starting catcher. Wong can be serviceable behind the plate but is better suited as a backup. Last season, Wong was one of the worst defensive catchers in baseball. Statcast put him in the ninth percentile when it came to framing, costing the teams seven runs. He graded out even worse at blocking: third percentile, costing the Red Sox 13 runs. And while his offense looked decent, with a slash line of .280/.333/.425 across 126 games, there were still issues. He hit 13 home runs in 447 at-bats, but for the most part, he did not hit the ball hard. Wong's average exit velocity was near the bottom of the league at 86.5 mph, and his stat line carried several indicators of unsustainability. The Red Sox didn’t ignore the catching position, however. Gone are Reese McGuire and trade deadline acquisition Danny Jansen, replaced by defense-first rookie Carlos Narváez and former 2019 draft pick Blake Sabol. Also brought in as extra depth on a minor league deal was Seby Zavala. All three are fighting for the backup catcher position in spring training, though Narváez may have a leg up on the other two from his early showings. Red Sox Catchers At A Glance: Starter: Connor Wong Backup: Carlos Narváez Depth: Blake Sabol, Seby Zavala (NRI), Mark Kolozsvary (NRI) Prospects: Brooks Brannon, Ronald Rosario, Johanfran Garcia Red Sox fWAR Ranking Last Year: 22nd out of 30 The Good Honestly, with this crop of catchers, there's nowhere to go but up. Last season, the Red Sox had Wong as the starter and McGuire as the backup, to go along with Tyler Heineman as a depth option in Triple A. McGuire struggled in 53 games, only hitting .209 before being designated for assignment in late July. His replacement, Danny Jansen, didn’t do much better in his short time in Boston, hitting .188 in 30 games. Offensively, Wong was the lone bright spot, despite relying on a very high BABIP and a career-low exit velocity. He did manage to cut his strikeout percentage from 33.3% in 2023 down to 23.4% last season. Relying on Wong offensively is not something the Red Sox can do if they plan to compete for the playoffs, but having someone with his bat near the bottom of the lineup will play out well for the team. Add to it the work Wong put in during the offseason to improve his defense, and there’s a good chance he can improve upon his poor framing and blocking ability. Simply getting to league-average defensive production would make a huge difference. When it comes to defense, Carlos Narváez should represent a huge improvement. Acquired from the Yankees in December, Narváez is known for his defensive capabilities and a strong arm behind the plate. He entered spring training in a competition for the backup catcher position and has shined with both his glove and bat in his given opportunities. Defensively he’s more than ready for the majors but if his bat can be anything around league-average for a catcher, there’s a chance he could even challenge Wong for the starting position by the end of the season. The position right now is Wong’s to lose, though a regression to his 2023 season offensively could give Narváez a bigger opportunity. When it comes to the future, the Red Sox may have to wait, but if both Garcia and Brannon can stay healthy and showcase their potential on the field it could make trading away Kyle Teel easier to swallow. Garcia has been profiled as a bat-first backup with the ceiling of an everyday catcher. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL last season and his projection depends on how he recovers from the injury. Stil, entering his age-20 season, he’ll have time to progress through the minors. Brannon, on the other hand, has struggled to stay healthy, but when he has been able to stay on the field he’s shown flashes of potential with his power. The Bad There’s a chance everything goes wrong. The floor here is very low. Wong is the first big question mark. His defense was very bad last season. It’s been reported that Wong spent the offseason focusing on his defense, but if he doesn't improve in a big way and his offense comes down to earth, there won't be much keeping him in the starting job. If Narváez struggles to hit major league pitching and shows that he’s not ready, the other backup option is Sabol. Across two seasons, he’s played in a total of 121 games with San Francisco, and he may not be much of an upgrade over either of the catchers on the 40-man roster. If his bat doesn’t work out, the Red Sox could be forced to make a move, especially since Sabol showed some defensive weakness last season. He made three errors in only eight games behind the plate, and also allowed five wild pitches and 11 stolen bases. The rest of the depth is almost non-existent. After Wong and Narváez the only other catcher on the 40-man roster is Sabol, who will most likely play the role Heineman played last year; play in Worcester and be an emergency call-up when needed. Heineman played a total of two games for Boston last year. After Sabol, the Red Sox will have Zavala, Nathan Hickey and Mark Kolozsvary sharing time behind the plate, first base, and designated hitter to make sure they get playing time. The group represents emergency depth, with Zavala's 194 games giving him the most major league experience in the group. His best season came in 2022 with the White Sox, where he managed to hit .270 across 61 games. For his career, Zavala is a .205 hitter who gets on base at a .271 pace. Hickey started last year in Worcester, but struggled and was demoted to Portland during the second half. So far in spring training, he’s mainly played first base, but the Red Sox still plan to have him catch in Worcester this season. Kolozsvary will rejoin him there, the right-hander played in only 27 games last season as he spent a large portion on the development list. His strength lies more in his ability to work with the pitching staff instead of actual in-game contributions. The future also isn’t very bright, as top catching prospect Garcia recovers from surgery. There’s been no word on when he’ll return to catching. He’s only 20 years old and the team will want to make sure he is completely healthy before playing him again. They don’t want another injury to sideline him and slow down his progress. As he's only made it to single-A Salem, he won't be reaching Boston any time soon regardless of injuries. The Bottom Line Jason Varitek isn’t getting behind the plate and calling games any time soon. You would hope for more stability at the catcher position, but the Red Sox seem to like what they have with the combination of Wong and Narváez. However, there’s no knowing what you’ll get with these two. Either Wong builds off of his 2024 season and shows he can bridge the gap to the next catcher, or he regresses and Narváez is given a chance to play more. Should both of them struggle, Sabol will get his chance. After that, the Red Sox will need to make a move to bring in some catching help. However, if Wong and Narváez are the players that the Red Sox expect them to be, they’ll be in a good situation with complementary pieces: an offense-first catcher and a defensive standout for a backup. View full article

Top prospects Jhostynxon Garcia and Luis Perales were reassigned to minor league camp, but the Big Three ride on. Spring training has been going on for nearly a month now, and the Red Sox have made their first cuts this week. On Friday morning, the team announced the first series of cuts to their spring training roster as top prospects Luis Perales and Jhostynxon Garcia were optioned to minor league camp. The first move comes as no surprise, considering that Perales is still recovering from Tommy John surgery and isn’t expected to get into any game action until June at the earliest. As he was on the 40-man roster, Perales was part of the major league camp, though besides running on the agility field and playing catch, he didn’t do much. He did get to do fielding practice but without throwing. The right-handed pitcher is the top pitching prospect for the Red Sox. On the other hand, it's a bit of a surprise for Garcia's spring to end this early. The outfielder had been used frequently at the beginning of camp, though hestruggled a little at the plate. In 11 games and 21 at-bats, Garcia only had one hit with 10 strikeouts. Despite the numbers, the young outfielder still impressed. However, with Trayce Thompson having a great spring, there may have not been room to keep him around and allow both to get sufficient playing time. Garcia ended last season with the Portland Sea Dogs and seems likely to open the season with them again. Joining the duo in being cut is a quartet of pitchers who were non-roster invites. Left-handed pitcher Jovani Morán and right-handers Robert Stock, Brian Van Belle, and Jacob Webb were all reassigned to minor league camp. Out of the four pitchers, Stock appeared in the most action, pitching in three games to less-than-stellar results. The 35-year old surrendered four runs across three innings pitched. In that span, he walked three and struck out four. Van Belle appeared in only two games: the exhibition against Northeastern and the game against Philadelphia on February 28. In that game he lasted a single inning, allowing three runs on four hits, including two home runs. Webb pitched in two games, tossing 2 2/3 innings without allowing a run. Morán did not appear in a single game as he continued to recover from surgery that kept him out all of 2024. All four of these pitchers should expect to be in Worcester to begin the season, though it’s not yet known if Morán will start the season on the minor league injured list. Each of them has some experience pitching at the triple-A level or higher. The four will provide minor-league depth in the event of an injury or the need for reinforcements to the bullpen. After the first round of cuts, there are still plenty of noteworthy names competing for the last few spots on the opening day roster, especially with some opportunities opening due to the stomach bug that has spread throughout camp. Most notably the Big Three of Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer are all remaining in major league camp. UPDATE 3/9/25: The Red Sox announced Saturday morning, March 8th, that Yovanny Cruz was reassigned to minor league camp. The right-handed pitcher appeared in two games, throwing two innings and allowing six earned runs. With the roster move, the Red Sox now have 56 players in the Major League camp with 18 of them being non-roster invites. View full article

There's no way you trade the face of your franchise just 2 seasons after he signed an extension. It would make it hard to sign any of the young guys like Anthony, Mayer or Campbell to extensions. Plus it wouldn't look good to free agents. As it is, I wouldn't say his shoulder condition will become chronic. Probably should have got shut down sooner in September to give more time to rest but it is what it is.

Honestly at this point I feel it's too late to move Devers to first base for this season. It isn't so easy for a player to suddenly pick up a new position (yes, Bregman might end up at 2nd but the longer ST goes and he's yet to get game time there I doubt it happens) and throwing Devers onto first I feel could lead to an injury for him. Remember how Christian Arroyo ended up getting injured when we tried him at 1st in 2021? I feel that Devers will split the season between 3rd and DH to keep his body from breaking down near the end of the season.

With Rafael Devers sidelined to start spring training, Red Sox fans may not know what the "regular" infield makeup will be until Opening Day. Spring Training games have begun and with it came the debate over where certain players should play for the Boston Red Sox. The most prominent being where Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers will play. Devers will be entering his age-28 season, the third since signing his franchise record 11-year, $331 million contract. The deal will keep him in Boston through the 2033 season and created the assumption at the time that Devers would be the starting third baseman for the foreseeable future. That has changed with the signing of Alex Bregman. All offseason, it was stated that Bregman would be the starting second baseman if he signed with Boston. You had Alex Cora stating that he envisioned Bregman as a Gold Glove second baseman. But now with spring training in full swing, there’s been a debate as to where Devers and Bregman will play and what would be best for the team in the long run. Fans would argue that the best lineup for the Red Sox would be Devers at designated hitter, Bregman playing third base and top prospect Kristian Campbell making the team as the starting second baseman. Defensively this makes the most sense, Bregman is already a Gold Glove defender at third, having won the award this past season while Devers is considered one of the worst defensive third basemen in the game. Last season alone, Devers recorded a minus-6 Outs Above Average. To put that in perspective, that was tied for 36th out of the 43 qualified third basemen last season. Since 2020, Devers has compiled a minus-34 Outs Above Average, ranking as the worst among all qualified third basemen in that span. And despite that, Devers wants to stay at third base. While talking to the media back on February 17th, Devers was asked if he was willing to move off third base to allow new teammate Alex Bregman, his response was simple and he repeated it often. “No. I play third.” This single quote and its repetition by Devers has led to a division among Red Sox fans, some believing that Devers should give up the position and move to being a designated hitter to both preserve his body and to allow the Red Sox to field their best defensive lineup. However, others have pointed out that if Devers quickly relinquished the position he would have been viewed as lazy or ready to just hit now that he has signed his contract. And while even ignoring Devers’ defensive woes, it may not be in the best interest of the team to make Devers a permanent designated hitter. The thought would be that the team would be best with Devers at designated hitter, Bregman as the starting third baseman and top prospect Campbell as the starting second baseman, however, that belief has a few issues. The first would be that Campbell is an unproven rookie. Yes, he vaulted up the prospect rankings last season and finished the year in triple-A Worcester, but as shown from the early games of spring training he’s still a young player who’s learning. The second issue would be the benching of current designated hitter Masataka Yoshida. The left-handed hitter was moved from left field to designated hitter heading into the 2024 season, much to his displeasure. And despite putting up with injuries across the season he still managed to slash a decent .280/.349/.415 with 10 home runs and 56 runs batted in despite dealing with thumb and shoulder injuries. The latter resulted in offseason surgery. If Devers is the new designated hitter, Yoshida would be without a position as the outfield is filled and his bat is too valuable to lose, especially if he’s fully healthy this season. While his numbers may not jump out at you, Yoshida’s OPS+ was 112, putting him as a slightly above average hitter. Add to it his incredibly low whiff and strikeout percentages and he’s a rather valuable member of the lineup when it comes to putting the ball in play. The third and final dilemma is the fact that many players perform worse as the designated hitter. There's a even a name for this phenomenon: The Designated Hitter Penalty. For many players, they need the time in the field to keep them in rhythm when they finally get up to bat. It gives them a chance to think about other aspects of the game besides just hitting and allows them to move on from a poor at-bat. Doing nothing but hitting and then sitting in the dugout thinking about your next at-bat while your teammates field can be mentally draining for players, especially ones like Devers, who have never played anything but one position, and clearly want to remain there. To be a truly great designated hitter you need to be mentally strong and be able to handle the tolls of slumps, otherwise they might drag themselves down and into a longer rut. Not everyone is a David Ortiz or Edgar Martinez who can just slot in as a designated hitter and handle it without issues. Even with the Red Sox they have had players in the past wish to play the field. Probably the most prominent duo being J.D .Martinez and Masataka Yoshida. Martinez signed with the Red Sox in 2018 and helped them win the World Series that season, but before that had shown some desire to remain in the outfield and not just hit. He was at a similar point in his career as Devers is now, just two years older than Devers is, Martinez wanted to play the field. His exact reason at the time when asked about wanting to play the outfield was “because I’m 30 years old”. Likewise, Martinez had an interesting split when he played the field vs when he didn’t in 2018. As the Red Sox outfield was loaded with young, homegrown stars Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts, Martinez only played the outfield in 57 games that season. However, his bat exploded when he played in the field. In 57 games played in the outfield, Martinez managed to hit .383 in 219 at bats and got on base at a .450 clip. In 93 games as the designated hitter Martinez had 350 at-bats and saw his average drop to .297 and his on base percentage also drop to .373. His power was more prevalent while being the designated hitter, hitting 27 of them compared to 16 while playing in the outfield. Overall though, it shows just how playing in the field kept Martinez locked in. It’s been the same for his entire career, as between playing as the left fielder, right fielder or designated hitter, Martinez’s numbers have been lowest while playing as the designated hitter. Yoshida is a similar case when you compare his stats based on his position. In 86 career games in left field, Yoshida has slashed .308/.350/.480 with 12 home runs and 60 runs batted in. He also struck out only 41 times in that span totaling 344 at-bats. As a designated hitter, however, those numbers drop. In 150 games as the designated hitter, Yoshida saw his numbers drop to a stat line of .273/.338/.407 along with 13 home runs and 68 runs batted in across 560 at-bats. It's yet to be seen if Devers is someone who could handle the mounting pressure of being the team’s designated hitter, especially with calls for him to give up his starting position at third base. Based on a small sample size from last season when he was hurt, Devers hit rather well. But his line of .353/.371/.618 was only across eight games, not a large enough sample size to give us an idea of how he would do across a full season. If the Red Sox and Devers decide it’s best for the team for him to slide off of third base, I feel the best-case scenario for him would be similar to how they handled J.D. Martinez in 2018: play roughly a third of his games in the field to give him a break from the mental strains of being the designated hitter. Despite the defensive woes that Devers has at times, it would be best for the team in the long run to allow him time on the field, time to clear his head and give him a chance to reset at the plate by focusing on his defense. Though this question has been a thing since the start of spring training, this issue is a good one. The fact that we’re arguing over where multiple all-star players should play is something we haven’t been able to do for a few years now. Wherever Devers and Bregman end up playing, one thing is for certain: this team will be enjoyable to watch. View full article

Vaughn Grissom was previously a top prospect with the Braves, having been ranked as high as seventh in Atlanta's organization. If he reaches his potential, Grissom could be a key piece to the Red Sox lineup for 2025. Two days before the year of 2024 was ushered in, the Red Sox made a surprising trade as they shipped Chris Sale off to Atlanta. In return, they acquired a former top prospect in Vaughn Grissom. Grissom had played in parts of two seasons with the Braves where he slashed .287/.339/.407 across 64 games split between second base and shortstop. Fast forward to 2025, and now there are questions if Grissom will even break camp with the major league club due to the likes of Alex Bregman and Kristian Campbell both ahead of him on the depth chart. Grissom fell short of expectations in 2024, and if he wants to play in Boston this season, he’ll have to prove last year was lost from injuries. What Went Wrong in 2024? The easy answer is injuries. Grissom started the year hurt, suffering a left hamstring strain during spring training that delayed his availability for the start of the season. The injury bug continued to affect Grissom throughout the season, as he would end up coming down with the flu right before he was to be activated. His bout with the flu was so bad that manager Alex Cora stated that Grissom lost 14 pounds from being sick. Once recovered from the flu, Grissom finally got his shot in Boston as he was activated from the Injured List on May 3, 2024, though his time in Boston was short lived as he would exit the game on June 1 following a groundout. It was revealed that he strained his hamstring, this time the right hamstring. In 22 games played prior to the injury. Grissom was struggling with the bat, slashing an awful .150/.209/.163 across 86 plate appearances. Grissom would remain on the Injured List until the end of July, when he was sent on a rehab assignment to Worcester and would remain there upon being activated from the IL on August 8, which was immediately followed with him being optioned to Worcester. Grissom would remain at Triple-A until September 20, when he was recalled to Boston and played in eight games to finish the season. Grissom looked like a different hitter upon his return, slashing .333/.370/.417. For the season, Grissom slashed .190/.246/.219 in 114 plate appearances. What Can Go Right in 2025? Grissom may have been leapt in the depth chart by Kristian Campbell and Alex Bregman, but he is still a former top prospect and one who has a solid hit tool. Grissom’s potential with the bat is enough to keep him in conversation for a spot on the roster. After last season, the Red Sox could use the offensive potential his bat carries along with him being a right-handed hitter that would help balance out the lefty-heavy lineup they currently have. If Grissom can stay healthy and prove that he’s closer to the player they saw in eight games towards the end of the season instead of the 22 he played during May, Grissom will be able to make the Sale trade look a little more digestible for Boston. There is less pressure on Grissom this season now with Campbell being thrown into the spotlight and Bregman being the big signing of the offseason. Should Grissom showcase the preternatural hit tool that made him a top prospect, it’ll put the Red Sox in a tough but enviable position to have so many quality offensive contributors on the roster. How Will This Impact the Red Sox? If Grissom can put up a successful year, he’ll improve the depth of the lineup, especially in the middle infield. Should he put his name into the starting second baseman conversation, Grissom will create quite the positive problem as the team will look to get not only his bat but also Campbell’s into the everyday lineup. Such a rebound by Grissom gives the Red Sox a dynamic batting order that mixes contact, power and speed to give them a varied offensive attack. Grissom would lengthen the lineup as he could bat in the bottom third and take pressure off of players like Connor Wong and Ceddanne Rafaela to produce. Or, should the Red Sox choose to focus on offense over defense, it could lead to Kristian Campbell playing left field and Jarren Duran sliding over from left field to center field and forcing Rafaela to the bench. A healthy and productive Grissom gives the Red Sox a new weapon that helps transform the roster in multiple ways. And, let's be honest: it would be nice to see some ROI on the Sale trade after the southpaw's Cy Young season last year. View full article

With spring training officially getting underway, you'll be hearing a lot of new names for the next few months. Here's an introduction to all the Red Sox non-roster invitees, from the longshots to the Big Three. Spring Training officially began this week for the Boston Red Sox as the full team began practicing on Monday. I figured it would be a good idea to go over the various non-roster invitees who will be battling it out to try and earn one of the last spots on the roster. Pitchers Michael Fulmer: The 2016 AL Rookie of the Year signed a two-year minor league deal with Boston last season as he recovered from surgery. Fulmer has mostly pitched out of the bullpen since 2021, but it’s believed that the Red Sox will look to stretch him out back into a starter in Worcester as depth. Austin Adams: Adams has pitched for four teams across parts of eight seasons. A right-handed reliever, he pitched in 56 games for the Oakland Athletics in 2024. He was a decent bullpen arm for them, running a 3.92 ERA, though he allowed 23 walks in only 41 1/3 innings. Sean Newcomb: A former starter while with the Braves, Newcomb is hoping to rediscover his form from 2017-2019, when he ran a 3.87 ERA over 105 games and 53 starts. Since then, he’s struggled, including in 2024 where he pitched in seven games for the Oakland Athletics. In those seven games he pitched 10 innings and gave up seven runs. Bryan Mata: A former top prospect with the Red Sox, Mata could never stay healthy throughout his various stops across the minor leagues. Designated for assignment in November, he signed a minor league deal to return to the organization hours later. Mata pitched in 11 games last year, making seven starts. In total he threw 22 2/3 innings. Robert Stock: Stock has had a long journey. spent parts of four seasons with four teams, including 10 games in 2020 with Boston. After 2021, he bounced between various leagues, pitching in Korea, Triple A for Milwaukee, in the Independent League and just recently in the Mexican League, where he radically changed his mechanics. After impressing in the Mexican Pacific Winter League with a 1.60 ERA in 84 1/3 innings pitched, Stock signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox. Jovani Moran: Acquired in a trade from Minnesota for Mickey Gasper on Christmas Eve, Moran has pitched in 79 games across the 2021-2023 seasons. Moran missed the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. His best season was 2022, when he pitched in 31 games, throwing 40 2/3 innings to a 2.21 ERA and striking out 54 batters. Brian Van Belle: Van Belle went undrafted out of Miami as a senior due to the shortened five-round draft and became one of the most sought-after seniors in the undrafted free agent class. Van Belle had been a starter in Boston’s organization until 2024, when he was moved to the bullpen in Worcester. In 30 games, he threw 93 2/3 innings and struck out 87 batters. Over the winter,r he pitched for Criollos de Caguas in the Puerto Rican Winter League, appearing in seven games and making four starts. Jacob Webb: Drafted by the Red Sox in the 14th round of the 2021 draft, Webb made it up to Worcester by the end of the 2024 season. The right-hander appeared in four games at the end of the season for Worcester, throwing 3 2/3 innings while surrendering eight runs. Noah Davis: A former 11th-round draft pick in 2018 by the Cincinnati Reds, Davis was traded to the Colorado Rockies and pitched in parts of three seasons for them before signing a minor league contract with Boston in December 2024. He pitched in nine games last season, throwing 20 1/3 innings. The past three offseasons, he has worked out at Driveline. Isaiah Campbell: Acquired by Boston before the 2024 season in hopes of improving their bullpen, Campbell was unable to replicate his 2023 season. Pitching in eight games, Campbell threw 6 2/3 innings between an IL stint and a rehab stint before being shut down for the season in mid-July. He was non-tendered in November of 2024 but resigned on a minor league contract. Yovanny Cruz: Cruz pitched in the Chicago Cubs organization for seven seasons, missing the 2020 season due to Covid and 2021 due to injury. He signed a minor league deal with the Padres for the 2024 season, when he pitched for double-A San Antonio. Cruz pitched in 23 games, throwing 29 2/3 innings. Wyatt Mills: Mills spent parts of two seasons split between the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals before being traded to Boston before the 2023 season. Mills has not pitched since 2022, as he missed the entire 2023 season due to injury before having Tommy John surgery in July 2023. He was non-tendered following the season and signed a two-year minor league contract with he Red Sox before the 2024 season. Mills did not pitch in 2024 as he rehabbed from his surgery. Catchers Seby Zavala: There are defense-first catchers, and then there's Seby Zavala. According to FanGraphs, over parts of five major-league seasons, Zavala's defense has earned his teams 26.2 runs, while his offense has earned -22.5. He made his major league debut in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox after being in their system since 2015. He was in their organization until the Arizona Diamondbacks claimed him off waivers in September 2023 before trading him to Seattle two months later. Zavala played in 33 games at triple-A Tacoma, where he slashed .188/.325/.376. Zavala also played in 18 games for Seattle. Zavala signed a minor league deal with Boston in November of 2024. Mark Kolozsvary: Kolozsvary spent six seasons in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization, making his major-league debut in 2022. He played in 10 games. Kolozsvary split 2023 between the Baltimore Orioles organization and the Minnesota Twins organization, playing for both of their triple-A teams. He would spend 2024 playing in 27 games for triple-A Worcester in the Red Sox organization. He spent a good portion of the season on the development list. Nathan Hickey: Drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 draft by the Red Sox, Hickey opened the 2024 season in Worcester. He appeared in 86 games but struggled to a .210/.340/.397 slash line before being demoted to Portland. Hickey continued to struggle in Portland, playing in 26 games but only slashing .207/.387/.329. Infielders Kristian Campbell: The Red Sox' number two prospect behind Roman Anthony, Campbell burst onto the scene in 2024. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, Campbell split the 2024 season between Greenville, Portland and Worcester. Overall, he slashed .330/.439/.558 across 115 games. Campbell has also shown an ability to play multiple positions, appearing at second base, third base, center field, and shortstop. Marcelo Mayer: A first-round pick in the 2021 draft, Mayer has made his way throughout the Red Sox minor league levels. He spent most of 2024 in Portland, appearing in 77 games and slashing .307/.370/.480. Mayer ended the 2024 season in Worcester but did not play a single game due to yet another injury. Abraham Toro: Toro spent six seasons in the Houston Astros organization, including stints in the majors for parts of three seasons before getting traded to Seattle in 2021. He remained in Seattle until the end of the 2022 season, when he was traded to Milwaukee, and played the 2023 season for them. Toro spent the 2024 season with the Oakland Athletics after being traded to them by Milwaukee. He signed a minor league deal with Boston in January of 2025. Nate Eaton: A former 21st-round pick in the 2018 draft by Kansas City, Eaton made it to the major leagues for them in 2022. Eaton would spend part of 2023 in the majors as well before spending the entire 2024 season in Triple-A Omaha. He signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox in November of 2024. Eaton has never quite figured out the offensive side of things, running a career wRC+ of just 51. Howver, he's got one of the strongest arms in baseball, and touched 94.9 mph on the radar gun when pitching during garbage time. One of these years, we might end up putting him in the pitching section of this article. Outfielders Roman Anthony: You don't need to be introduced to Roman Anthony. The top prospect in baseball, Anthony was drafted in the compensation round following the second round of the 2022 draft. He made it to triple-A Worcester by the age of 20 during the 2024 season and showed that he was ready for the major leagues after slashing .344/.463/.519 in 35 games. View full article

Despite a relatively slow offseason by the Boston Red Sox, spring training is almost upon us as pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers next week. With that, it’s time to see how a potential opening day roster looks before the first spring session begins. One thing to note, however, is that I’m going into this under the assumption everyone remains healthy throughout the spring. It’s tough to expect but necessary for this roster projection. Lineup & Batting Order 1. Jarren Duran – LF (L): Duran broke out in 2024, making his first All-Star Game. Leading the Red Sox in games played, hits, doubles, triples, stolen bases, and batting average, he was a key piece of the lineup. In 2024, he opened the season as the left fielder before moving to center as Ceddanne Rafaela moved to the infield following Trevor Story’s injury. There’s a chance he could see a drop in some stats, though it’s safe to assume he’ll be a key piece of this lineup again. 2. Rafael Devers – 3B (L): Devers opened 2024 as the second hitter in the lineup before injuries and a need to drive in runs forced Cora to slide him to the cleanup spot. While batting cleanup may be where he ends up by the end of the season, I could see Cora placing him here to begin the season. His ability to hit for power, drive in runners, and get on base means he needs as many at-bats as possible each game. And with Duran hitting before him, it’ll lead to plenty of RBI opportunities in the beginning and late portions of the game. 3. Triston Casas – 1B (L): Casas missed most of the 2024 season due to injuries, but he was an important factor in the lineup when he played. In only 63 games, he hit 13 home runs and walked 30 times. With his power, there is hope that he could hit 30 or more home runs and provide an option to deter pitchers from walking Devers late in the game. However, with a lefty on the mound, I’m not surprised if Story and Casas swap spots in the lineup. 4 Trevor Story – SS (R): Breaking up the string of lefties early in the lineup is Story. The oft-injured shortstop will look to bounce back from another lost season. With the hope that Story will remain healthy for a full season, there is no reason to doubt his ability to return to a 20 to 25 home run pace with a patient approach at the plate. Ten of his 26 games in 2024 were spent batting either third or fourth in the lineup, barring a last-minute addition to the team; there’s a good chance he’ll be hitting in the top half of the lineup again. 5. Wilyer Abreu – RF (L): Coming off of a great rookie season that saw him take home a Gold Glove, Abreu will look to build off of it and cement himself as a key piece of this team’s future. Last season, I saw Abreu bat mostly in the two-hole, but if he is fully healthy, I could see his ability to drive the ball be useful with runners on base. His 125 strikeouts in only 399 at-bats are why I feel he may bat lower in the lineup this season if everyone is healthy. 6. Kristian Campbell – 2B (R): The first shakeup of the lineup, Campbell will report to camp as a non-roster invite. After his fantastic 2024 season and how highly the team speaks of him, I wouldn’t be surprised if Campbell breaks camp with the Red Sox. Spring training will see a battle between Campbell, Vaughn Grissom, and David Hamilton for the starting second base position, and barring a tough spring, I think Campbell will win it. A combination of bat-to-ball skills, power, and speed will make him an exciting rookie who could also help with the lineup being primarily left-handed. 7. Masataka Yoshida – DH (L): Yoshida is an interesting player. Last season, Cora did not like using him against left-handed pitching unless it was unavoidable. Following the season, it was revealed that he needed surgery. The team has said they plan to use him in the outfield again this season, though his real value is in his bat. Yoshida does not strike out much and showcased some power with 10 home runs and 21 doubles in 108 games. I wouldn’t be surprised if Cora tried to protect him against lefties again this season. 8. Connor Wong – C (R): Wong spent 2024 as his second straight season as the primary catcher on the team. Playing in 126 games, he managed a .280/.333/.425 stat line to go along with 13 home runs and 52 RBI. With no real competition for the starting catcher position, it’s easy to see Wong slotting back into that role to begin 2025. 9. Ceddanne Rafaela – CF (R): Rafaela had an up-and-down rookie campaign, bouncing around the field as needed. He split most of his 152 games between center field and shortstop, though with a healthy Trevor Story, he will remain in center field where his glove will allow him to shine. His bat still needs work, though Rafaela’s aggressive batting will likely stay here. Still, the potential for the last hitter in your lineup to have a 20-20 season is enough to get him at-bats. However, the fact he only had five walks from July until the end of the season is a bit worrying. *Update: Following the signing of Alex Bregman, I feel there is a slight change in the lineup. The following is my new projected 1.0 lineup. 1) Jarren Duran - LF (L) 2) Rafael Devers - DH (L) 3) Alex Bregman - 3B (R) 4) Triston Casas - 1B (L) 5) Trevor Story - SS (R) 6) Kristian Campbell - 2B (R) 7) Wilyer Abreu - RF (L) 8) Connor Wong - C (R) 9) Ceddanne Rafaela - CF (R) The Bench Rob Refsnyder – OF/DH (R): Refsnyder has been a key bat for the Red Sox since joining the organization in 2022, and he’ll be expected to play a key role again in 2025. The outfielder plays best when he is a lefty crusher, slashing .302/.393/.548 with eight home runs in 126 at-bats in 2024. Refsnyder will get into the lineup on days that a left-handed pitcher is on the mound, either for Abreu or Yoshida and will also be used in pinch-hit situations late in the game against lefties. His power output was a surprise last season, as his 11 home runs were almost half his entire career. Carlos Narvaez – C (R): Narvaez was acquired this winter from the Yankees in a trade during the Winter Meetings. A defensive catcher, Narvaez has a total of 13 at-bats at the major league level and will be looked to as the backup catcher to Wong. His main competition in spring training will be Blake Sabol, though Narvaez’s defensive abilities will likely give him the edge in this competition. Vaughn Grissom – 2B (R): Grissom did not see his Red Sox career start well. Injured in Spring Training, the righty took a while to get going as he struggled to stay healthy. Upon returning from one hamstring injury, he ended up hurting the other. However, his performance across eight September games showed the kind of healthy player he could be. I believe that potential alone will guarantee him a spot on the opening-day roster. Should Campbell struggle, I see second being Grissom's to lose. Romy Gonzalez – 1B/2B/SS/3B/OF (R): I was tempted to give David Hamilton the last spot on the bench as the speedy player would give the Sox a stolen base threat off the bench. However, I feel Gonzalez’s defensive versatility (having played every position for the Red Sox except catcher and pitcher) makes him a bigger piece to keep. Also, being a right-handed hitter will allow Cora to mix and match the lineup based on the opposing team’s pitcher. Gonzalez played better against lefties than righties, slashing .302/.362/.517 vs .217/.221/.277. Starting Rotation 1. Garrett Crochet (LHP): Acquired at the Winter Meetings in a deal headlined by prospect Kyle Teel, Crochet gives the Red Sox a bona fide ace. Having already announced that there are no plans for an innings limit, it’ll be exciting to see what the lefty can do across an entire season. He looks to lead a revamped pitching staff. 2. Tanner Houck (RHP): Coming off of an All-Star season, Houck will look to build off of it. The righty led the Sox rotation in ERA and WAR and threw the only complete game out of all the starters in 2024. The biggest point of interest for Houck will be his ability to push through late-season fatigue, as August saw him hit a rough patch before bouncing back. 3. Walker Buehler (RHP): Buehler was the last major free agent the Sox have signed as of this write-up, coming to Boston on a one-year deal. The righty returned to the mound in 2024 after missing almost two years. His return was unexpected, appearing in 16 games and struggling at times. However, he seemed to have discovered something in the playoffs as he surrendered six runs in 15 innings (all six runs being in his first appearance). He’ll look to build off of that postseason and return to his pre-injury form. 4. Brayan Bello (RHP): Last year’s Opening Day starter sees himself as the number four starter in this rotation. Last season, Bello saw some ups and downs, as he had a great April before struggling in May and June. Fortunately, Bello looked to round a corner in the second half, starting 13 games and having a 3.47 ERA across 72 2/3 innings pitched. He also lowered the number of home runs he allowed to just five in the second half. 5. Lucas Giolito (RHP): Signed last offseason to be a key addition to the 2024 rotation, Giolito got injured in his second Spring Training start and needed Tommy John surgery. Now healthy, he insists he’s ready to work and help the team. As he comes back from injury, there’s a chance the Red Sox may limit his workload to begin the season despite what he insists. 6. Kutter Crawford (RHP): Crawford rounds out the rumored six-man rotation in what will be a swingman role. Starting or providing long relief as needed by the team. Like Houck and Bello, Crawford saw improvements in 2024 and rough patches. The righty led the team with 33 starts and 183 2/3 innings pitched, but he also led all major league baseball with 34 home runs surrendered. If Crawford wants to remain in the rotation, he must limit the number of home runs he allows. Bullpen Aroldis Chapman (LHP): The key reliever brought in this offseason, Chapman will look to be a shutdown reliever for the team. He’s no longer the star reliever from the mid-2010s, but he’s still a capable pitcher. Appearing in 68 games last season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chapman saved 14 games and struck out 98 batters in 61 2/3 innings pitched. His fastball still plays and should allow him to be a key piece of Cora’s bullpen. Justin Slaten (RHP): Slaten proved himself early in his rookie season as a dependable arm in the bullpen. Now, he’ll be looked to step up even more with Kenley Jansen's and Chris Martin's departures. What might be his most valuable stat that the Red Sox hope he repeats is the lack of home runs he surrendered, only giving up four in 55 1/3 innings. Liam Hendriks (RHP): Hendriks signed last season right as spring training began with the expectation that he would return to the mound at some point near the end of August or early September. That didn’t happen as he struggled to bounce back as expected in his rehab stint in Worcester. With a healthy offseason to rest, Hendriks and the Red Sox hope he can return close to the level he was at from 2019 through 2022, where he was one of the best closers in the game. Justin Wilson (LHP): This was a confusing signing as he struggled down the stretch in Cincinnati, which saw him finish the season with a 5.59 ERA in 46 2/3 innings pitched. There is a chance that his workload caught up to him and led to his brutal August and September (14 earned runs allowed in 17 2/3 innings) compared to his July, which saw him pitch rather decently. As the second lefty in the bullpen, Wilson might be viewed as coming in to get a batter or two to end an inning instead of looking to get length out of the 37-year-old. But if he struggles early, I’m not surprised if he’s let go for more promising arms in Worcester. Greg Weissert (RHP): Weissert had an up-and-down first season in Boston but still finished with a tidy 3.13 ERA in 63 1/3 innings pitched. Weissert started the season well and ended the season on a roll as he did not allow an earned run across 17 2/3 innings pitched in August and September. The righty is better served in low or medium leverage and could serve the role well. Just don’t use him in high-leverage situations, as batters slashed .357/.427/.518 against him in those situations. Every team needs a low-leverage arm to pitch the sixth or seventh inning, and Weissert can fill that role. Don’t be surprised if he’s optioned once Garrett Whitlock is healthy. Zack Kelly (RHP): Kelly has spent parts of three seasons in Boston, though 2024 was his biggest role with the club. Appearing in 49 games, Kelly pitched 56 2/3 innings and struck out 61, ending the season with the biggest moment of the season was getting out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam against the Yankees on Sunday Night Baseball. After being one of the best arms in the bullpen for the first half, Kelly struggled in the second half. Cooper Criswell (RHP): Criswell did whatever he was asked to do last year, whether starting or coming out of the bullpen. Appearing in 26 games, the righty won six games while throwing 99 1/3 innings. Criswell won’t be needed to start this season and could see himself optioned at times to Worcester to bring up a fresh arm, but to begin the year; it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in a role similar to the one Chase Anderson held last season. Pitch when you’re either up by a lot or losing by a lot to preserve the bullpen in either situation. Josh Winckowski could win a long reliever role in spring training, one of the arms listed above, to begin the year in Worcester. Still, I feel the Red Sox view him as more valuable as a starter in Worcester alongside the likes of Quinn Priester, Hunter Dobbins, and Richard Fitts. Garrett Whitlock was someone I initially projected to make the opening day roster, but I changed it as we don’t know where he currently is in his rehab. Depending on how spring training goes for him, there’s a chance he’ll open the season in Worcester. My last tough choice was Brennan Bernardino, a staple in the Red Sox bullpen the past two seasons. With Chapman being the number one lefty in the bullpen and the signing of Justin Wilson to a major league deal, I don’t think there’s much space for Bernardino. However, if an injury happens, he'll likely be the first arm called up. View full article