The Red Sox are gearing up for the new season with a formidable starting rotation, but the rest of the roster remains a work in progress. With a focus on depth and versatility, the team is poised to make a strong push for the World Series in 2026. Here's a breakdown of the Red Sox's 26-man roster projection, with a spotlight on the rotation battle and the bullpen's depth concerns.
Starting Rotation:
- The top four spots are locked with Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, and Brayan Bello. The real question lies in the fifth spot, where Johan Oviedo, Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Kyle Harrison, Connelly Early, and Payton Tolle are in the running. Oviedo is expected to secure the fifth spot, having shown promise after returning from Tommy John surgery.
Bullpen:
- The bullpen is a concern area, with only eight traditional relievers on the 40-man roster. Aroldis Chapman will be the closer, and Garrett Whitlock will serve as the top set-up man. Mid-leverage roles are filled by Justin Slaten, Greg Weissert, and Zack Kelly. Jovani Moran is the lone non-closer left-hander, and Ryan Watson is a Rule 5 pick. Tyler Samaniego, a rookie lefty, is on the outside looking in.
Catcher:
- Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong will be the starting catcher and primary backup, respectively. Mickey Gasper, Matt Thaiss, Jason Delay, Nate Baez, Nathan Hickey, and Ronald Rosario will provide depth, with Gasper as the third option.
Infielders:
- Willson Contreras and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are set at first and second base. Trevor Story will be the shortstop, and Marcelo Mayer will start at third base. Romy Gonzalez and Kristian Campbell will be utility players, with Campbell starting in Triple-A.
Outfielders:
- The outfield is a complex puzzle. Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, and Masataka Yoshida are the starting lineup. However, the team needs to address the lack of depth, with Braiden Ward as the next option. A shakeup is expected, with potential trades involving Duran or Abreu, or finding a right-handed bench outfielder to replace Refsnyder.
