A number of weeks again after we did our first Red Sox roster projection, there have been nonetheless just a few notable unknowns. Who may emerge to assert a spot within the beginning rotation and behind the bullpen? How may the bench shake out? Could any spring heroes emerge from obscurity to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster?
Now almost three weeks into spring coaching we’ve got a a lot better thought of how the crew ought to look on Opening Day, and sadly it’s not due to something good.
Injuries have taken their toll on the Red Sox, who seem set to enter the season with a number of vital contributors sidelined. Lucas Giolito’s elbow harm is especially devastating, and new second baseman Vaughn Grissom goes to be enjoying catchup at any time when he returns after basically having his whole spring coaching worn out.
The Red Sox do nonetheless have some viable alternate options to plug the holes which have emerged, however for a crew that has such little margin for error this isn’t a spot the membership needs to be. In any case, right here’s the place we see issues at roughly the halfway level of spring, and what lingering questions stay unanswered.
Catchers (2)
Connor Wong, Reese McGuire
Connor Wong has been a bit banged up this spring, however he’s nonetheless taken common at-bats regardless of battling a sore elbow via the primary two weeks of camp and has hit fairly effectively. He and Reese McGuire must be good to go for Opening Day and there’s no motive to anticipate any surprises when the roster is finalized.
That being stated, it must be famous Boston’s catching depth has drastically improved from a 12 months in the past and it may be fascinating to see how issues shake out on the Triple-A stage. Tyler Heineman is at present on the 40-man roster and must be the primary man up if Wong or McGuire get damage, however the veteran Roberto Perez is a two-time Gold Glove winner and has drawn rave evaluations from the pitching employees.
The membership may even have to search out enjoying time within the minors for Mark Kolozsvary, Nathan Hickey and Stephen Scott, all of whom frolicked in large league camp however most likely gained’t have the choice of beginning in Double-A, the place Kyle Teel tasks to get the lion’s share of the work. That’s not one thing most followers have to concern themselves with, nonetheless, and it’s a superb downside to have in comparison with final 12 months when the membership’s catching depth was borderline non-existent.
Infielders (6)
Triston Casas, Enmanuel Valdez, Trevor Story, Rafael Devers, Pablo Reyes, C.J. Cron, Vaughn Grissom (15-day IL)
Vaughn Grissom’s groin pressure was an enormous bummer and will land him on the injured checklist for Opening Day, however one one that drastically stands to learn is Enmanuel Valdez. The second-year infielder most likely had no shot of opening the season within the majors earlier than, however now he’s the odds-on favourite to start the 12 months because the beginning second baseman.
Things aren’t fairly as settled on the bench, however Pablo Reyes ought to really feel fairly good about his probabilities as the primary utility man. As for the back-up first baseman, C.J. Cron’s arrival places a whole lot of stress on Bobby Dalbec, who beforehand may have earned a roster spot nearly by default. Cron is coming off an injury-plagued season however is just two years faraway from an All-Star marketing campaign by which he hit 29 dwelling runs for Colorado. He’s precisely the sort of right-handed thumper the Red Sox may use backing up Triston Casas, and if he stays wholesome and performs these subsequent few weeks he’ll possible be the man.
Outfielders (5)
Masataka Yoshida, Tyler O’Neill, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Rob Refsnyder
The large query right here is whether or not or not Ceddanne Rafaela wins the beginning heart area job, and whereas he’s carried out effectively to date, I’m not fairly able to put him there.
Though Rafaela has gotten probably the most enjoying time at heart area of anybody on the roster this spring, that’s partially a product of Jarren Duran being introduced alongside slowly as he completes his restoration from toe surgical procedure. Rafaela has largely performed with the second unit and in highway video games, and on Tuesday when Alex Cora fielded the membership’s whole beginning lineup, Duran was enjoying heart with Rafaela coming off the bench.
That being stated, it’s onerous to think about Rafaela getting off to a greater begin. Defensively he’s been excellent, clearly, however much more encouraging has been his progress on the plate. (Offensive stats coming into the weekend)
If Rafaela retains that up it may be onerous for Alex Cora to maintain him in Triple-A, however for now we’re sticking with the O’Neill-Duran-Abreu alignment with Masataka Yoshida because the DH and Rob Refsnyder off the bench.
Starting rotation (5)
Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck, Lucas Giolito (60-day IL)
Lucas Giolito’s elbow harm is a big setback, and sadly it also needs to carry a measure of readability for the Red Sox rotation. Barring any sudden late additions, the children are going to be those shouldering the load.
Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck, who we thought can be going face to face for the final spot within the rotation, now look set to every get an opportunity to show themselves as soon as extra. Along with Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford, the Red Sox rotation now tasks to be comprised nearly solely of younger, up-and-coming arms who’re nonetheless making an attempt to determine themselves as large league starters.
The lone exception, Nick Pivetta, is coming into a contract 12 months and has loads to show as effectively.
Josh Winckowski and Cooper Criswell will get a possibility to start out as effectively, and it’s doable one may even open the season within the rotation as a sixth man to assist the membership get via its hectic first month. But given all the things the group has invested in Whitlock and Houck, it’s onerous to think about they gained’t get the ball when the chips are down.
Bullpen (8)
Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin, Brennan Bernardino, Josh Winckowski, Cooper Criswell, Justin Slaten, Isaiah Campbell, Greg Weissert, Zack Kelly (15-day IL), Bryan Mata (15-day IL)
Originally it appeared the Red Sox have been overflowing with large league caliber bullpen arms, however since our first roster projection John Schreiber was traded after which Lucas Giolito received damage. Now issues aren’t wanting fairly as crowded.
The core of the bullpen is essentially the identical, with Kenley Jansen nonetheless pegged because the nearer, Chris Martin as the highest set-up man, Brennan Bernardino because the lead left-hander and Josh Winckowski as a flexible hybrid arm. Cooper Criswell might be a lock at this level too, both in an analogous function as Winckowski or as a devoted bulk man, leaving three extra spots up for grabs.
Justin Slaten will nearly definitely get one in every of them. The Rule 5 choose has been excellent, constantly filling the zone with strikes whereas maintaining large league hitters on their heels. Newcomer Isaiah Campbell is an effective guess too, he pitched effectively as a rookie in Seattle final 12 months and has drawn optimistic evaluations since being acquired final fall. That leaves one spot, and the Red Sox may go various alternative ways.
Do the Red Sox go for an skilled arm? If so they could go along with Greg Weissert or Zack Kelly, each of whom have loved success of their transient stints within the majors. Do the Red Sox need to carry a second lefty? If so they may go along with both Chris Murphy or Joe Jacques, each of whom are on the 40-man roster, or they may add a non-roster veteran like Joely Rodriguez or Lucas Luetge. Do the Red Sox worth upside above all else? Then perhaps they may nonetheless carry Bryan Mata, the membership’s former high pitching prospect who boasts among the finest stuff within the group however who’s out of minor league choices and should make the crew. Mata has been shut down with a hamstring harm and might have to start out the season on the injured checklist anyway, but when he’s able to go it’s doable the membership may give him a shot to see what he can do.
For the sake of this train, let’s say the Red Sox go along with Weissert. Like Slaten and Campbell he was acquired this offseason in a commerce — the Alex Verdugo deal — and he affords most likely the very best mixture of expertise and upside of Boston’s depth arms. Plus, Kelly’s battling a sore indirect and may want to start out the season on the IL anyway. In both case, the final spot within the Red Sox bullpen will most likely wind up being a revolving door anyway, so don’t be shocked if a whole lot of these contenders see motion within the majors sooner or later or one other.
Source: www.bostonherald.com