MLB Notebook: Fifteen questions as Red Sox spring training draws closer

It won’t be long now. In less than two weeks, Red Sox pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers to officially kick off 2026 spring training, with position players soon to follow.

A lot can still happen between now and then. In fact, a lot might happen after players report. That’s the nature of the business with things in flux.

But for now, let’s start with 15 questions that must still be answered:

1) What’s the final move?

Realizing that there could well be several moves (more on that in a bit), it’s undeniable that the Red Sox need to address the need for a righthanded-hitting infielder — one who could play either second or third base.

By now, you know the regular suspects: Isaac Paredes, Eugenio Suarez, Brendan Donovan, Matt Shaw, Nico Hoerner...All but Suarez would require a trade.

Either way, the Red Sox need someone who could play average or better defense with the ability to produce runs. Otherwise, the offseason roster building is incomplete and the team begins the season at less than full strength.

2) How healthy are the players who were injured at the end of last season or underwent offseason procedures?

This is a long list, especially if you include the likes of Roman Anthony (oblique), Marcelo Mayer (wrist), Triston Casas (knee), Carlos Narvaez (knee), Kutter Crawford (wrist, knee) and Patrick Sandoval (elbow).

The starting pitchers (Crawford and Sandoval) have had time to fully recover from surgeries (Sandoval underwent Tommy John in June of 2024), but it’s not known if they’ll be a full-go at the start of spring. Anthony and Mayer would seem to be fully cleared, but Casas is a question mark after reconstructive knee surgery last May.

3) Will the Red Sox look to upgrade the back-up catching spot?

The best guess is: yes. They’ve kicked around several acquisitions in the last six or so month, including an attempt to re-acquire Kyle Teel. Meanwhile, it’s clear that Connor Wong wasn’t fully healthy for much of the season after suffering a broken bone in his hand early last season.

Increasingly, teams view the catching spot as a job-share and the fact that Narvaez wore down in the second half is further proof of how important it is to have a solid No. 2 catcher.

4) What are the plans for Casas?

The acquisition of Willson Contreras makes the veteran the everyday first baseman and effectively blocks Casas at the position, though, if healthy, Casas could see some playing time to give Contreras a breather.

If the Red Sox can find a taker for Masataka Yoshida and his remaining salary, Casas could also get some at-bats at DH. But with an extra outfielder and Yoshida on the roster, Casas doesn’t have much of a pathway to DH time. He could start the year at Triple A and hope for an opening, or be dealt elsewhere.

5) Where will Marcelo Mayer play?

It speaks to Mayer’s defensive versatility that it could be either second or third — depending on whom the Red Sox acquire for the infield. If the Sox can someone to play third, Mayer will be at second and if they get a second baseman, he’ll be at third. He’ll be above-average at either position.

Less certain is how much he’ll play. Will the Sox platoon someone from the right side or will they trust him to hit lefthanded pitching?

6) How do Payton Tolle and Connelly Early fit?

To start the season, it’s likely they don’t — such is the depth the Red Sox have accumulated with their starting pitching.

For now, and assuming good health, the rotation looks to be Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez, Brayan Bello and Johan Oviedo.

There’s plenty of other options, including Crawford and Sandoval, to provide back-up. But talented as they are — Tolle is regarded as the second-best lefty prospect in the game — there’s really no obvious openings for the two lefthanders. In fact, barring a significant injury, it’s a good bet that the pair will open the season at Triple A Worcester, where they can continue to develop.

7) What’s the outfield look like?

In a word: crowded. With Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu, the Red Sox have more everyday outfielders than they do spots.

One could still be dealt away, of course, but with each passing day, that probability seems to dip. That means the Sox will have to find at-bats for one of the four at DH on an almost daily basis.

Nate Eaton will be given every opportunity to replace Rob Refsnyder was the righty-hitting fifth outfielder. And, of course, Yoshida remains somewhat in the mix.

8) Does Yoshida still have a role?

For the time being, yes, but that’s only because of his unwieldy contract, which will is set to pay him $18 million this season and next.

Manager Alex Cora continues to extoll Yoshida’s virtues as a hitter and he does well to put the ball in play regularly, but it’s difficult to imagine the Red Sox having him as a regular contributor. given his .388 slugging percentage a year ago.

It may come down to how much of the leftover $36 million management is willing to swallow in order to facilitate a deal.

9) What’s up for grabs in the bullpen?

The dynamic duo of Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman will handle the eight and ninth innings respectively. Figure that both Justin Slaten and Greg Weissert will also have roles for the seventh inning.

That leaves four more available spots in the bullpen. They’ll need at least one lefty in the group, so figure that Jovani Moran has a leg up there, with Tyler Samaniego also in the running. An additional free. agent signing of a veteran lefty would surprise no one.

Others competing will include Zack Kelly, Rule 5 pick Ryan Watson and, perhaps, Crawford and/or Sandoval for a bulk role.

10) How will the World Baseball Classic impact camp?

The hope, of course, is that it won’t at all. Every chosen player will compete and return to the Red Sox healthy and ready to start the season.

The reality is, there will complications, with the potential for injuries to take place. Meanwhile, since a good deal of the outfield group will be taking part in the WBC, there wlll be opportunities for others who remain in camp to catch the team’s eye.

It could be a big chance for someone like Nate Eaton to make an impression and secure a roster spot.

11) How much improvement can be made to address club weaknesses?

The Red Sox are on record as saying they want to cut down on strikeouts and make more regular contact. That might not be something that can be accomplished in workouts; it’s more about a change in hitting approach and philosophy that improves over time.

Also, for about the fourth consecutive year, the Sox have made it a priority to improve their infield defense. They’ve cycled through three infield instructors in recent years, changed out the lineup and not much has worked.

It will be interesting to see what they try to do differently with drills and early morning infield work.

12) What message does Alex Cora send when he addresses the full squad for the first time?

As the Red Sox went through their rebuild, failing to reach the postseason from 2022-2024, Cora typically would attempt to rally the team by reminding them that the media was expecting them to be non-competitive, appealing to the players’ pride.

Now that the Sox are again contenders, he’ll have to alter that message. Figure that the speech will focus on improving on last year’s brief visit to the postseason, reminding them that they have to get better in order to have a deeper October run.

13) Where does Kristian Campbell fit?

Campbell emerged as one of the bright lights of 2024 camp, winning the starting second base job, and soon after, a lengthy contract extension. But things spiraled after a month or so and Campbell now looks like he’s blocked for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

He, too, will probably benefit from Duran, Rafaela and Abreu being out of camp for the WBC as he gets some playing time in the outfield. Whether he can secure a spot on the 26-man roster is another question entirely.

14) Who will be the surprise of the spring?

The Red Sox don’t have any position player prospects with much of a chance of breaking with the team, and even the young pitchers (Early, Tolle) are somewhat known qualities.

Keep an eye on some of the NRI (non-roster invitees) who will be part of camp. Some signed as minor league free agents, others are internal minor leaguers getting their first taste of big league camp. Can someone come out of nowhere and steal a spot?

15) Which players might fill the leadership void?

Alex Bregman is gone, having signed with the Chicago Cubs. Refsnyder is, too, after signing with Seattle. They were both important voices in the dugout, on the field and in the clubhouse.

Bregman took huge strides almost immediately last spring in establishing himself as a leader and gaining the trust of new teammates, but that’s rare. A replacement is unlikely to emerge overnight. However, the Sox need someone to begin to take the necessary first steps to assume that mantle.

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