Red Sox roster projection: Navigating a competitive rotation battle
After a disappointing three-year stretch, the Red Sox made a significant leap forward last season, securing a playoff spot for the first time since 2021. Despite their early exit in the American League Wild Card Series against the Yankees, the team headed into the offseason with high hopes of maintaining momentum and potentially competing for a World Series in 2026.
This winter has been an eventful one, with the Red Sox making a series of strategic moves. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has orchestrated a league-high 12 trades, completely revamping the pitching staff while clearing out depth players no longer integral to the team's future. The Red Sox also waited until January to sign a free agent, missing out on top target Alex Bregman before pivoting to right-hander Ranger Suarez.
Now, the Red Sox enter the new season with what could be the best starting rotation in baseball, but they also face a multitude of questions regarding the rest of the roster.
As pitchers and catchers prepare to report on Tuesday, the Red Sox still need an additional infield bat and have an unclear outfield picture. The team is rich in starting pitching depth but lacks traditional relievers. This uncertainty underscores the fact that a lot will change between now and Opening Day.
Here's a preliminary projection of the Red Sox's 26-man roster, with a focus on the rotation and bullpen.
Starting Rotation
- MLB: Garrett Crochet (L), Ranger Suarez (L), Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello, Johan Oviedo
- MiLB depth: Connelly Early (L), Payton Tolle (L), Kyle Harrison (L), Shane Drohan (L), Tyler Uberstine, Jake Bennett (L)
- 60-day IL: Tanner Houck
- Traded: Patrick Sandoval (L)
The first four spots in the rotation are likely to be filled by Crochet, Suarez, Gray, and Bello, in some order. However, the fifth spot is the most competitive, with Oviedo, Kutter Crawford, Sandoval, Kyle Harrison, Connelly Early, and Payton Tolle all in the running.
Oviedo, Crawford, and Sandoval are the favorites, with Early and Tolle likely starting in Triple-A unless they make a strong showing in camp. Oviedo is projected as the No. 5 starter, having pitched well after returning from Tommy John surgery last summer, despite the Red Sox trading a significant asset, top outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia, to acquire him.
The team must decide what to do with the two veterans who don't make the cut. One option is a six-man rotation, which could keep Crawford or Sandoval in their preferred roles while providing extra rest for others. However, this approach is more theoretical than practical, and with an off day in the first four weeks of the season, rest won't be a primary concern.
The more likely scenario is that the odd man out moves to the bullpen, but Sandoval, with limited experience as a reliever and exclusively pitching as a starter since 2022, might be traded instead. Sandoval's $9.1 million salary in 2026 ranks 10th on the team, and his performance as a back-of-the-rotation arm, coupled with a year lost to Tommy John surgery, could make him a trade candidate.
Bullpen
- MLB: Aroldis Chapman (L), Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten, Greg Weissert, Zack Kelly, Jovani Moran (L), Ryan Watson, Kutter Crawford
- MiLB depth: Tyler Samaniego (L)
The bullpen is surprisingly light on bodies, with only eight traditional relievers on the 40-man roster. Assuming Crawford or another starter fills the long-relief role, the bullpen is otherwise set. Chapman returns as the closer, Whitlock as the top set-up man, and Slaten, Weissert, and Kelly are clear mid-leverage options. Moran is the favorite for the lone non-closer left-hander role, and Watson is a Rule 5 pick.
Rookie lefty Samaniego is the only reliever on the 40-man roster who hasn't appeared in a big league game, but the Red Sox are expected to add to this group in the coming weeks.
Catcher
- MLB: Carlos Narvaez, Connor Wong
- MiLB depth: Mickey Gasper, Matt Thaiss, Jason Delay, Nate Baez, Nathan Hickey, Ronald Rosario
The Red Sox have bolstered their organizational depth at catcher, but Carlos Narvaez will likely start the season as the starter, with Connor Wong as his primary backup. Mickey Gasper is third on the depth chart but will be used across the field, while non-roster invitees Thaiss, Delay, Baez, Hickey, and Rosario will shoulder the load in spring training.
Infielders
- MLB: Willson Contreras (1B), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B), Trevor Story (SS), Marcelo Mayer (3B), Romy Gonzalez (Util.), Nate Eaton (Util.)
- MiLB depth: Kristian Campbell, David Hamilton, Nick Sogard, Gasper, Tsung-Che Cheng, Brendan Rodgers
- 15-day IL: Triston Casas (1B/DH)
The Red Sox infield picture remains incomplete. The team has spoken about the need for an impact bat, preferably an infielder who can hit for power from the right side. While Willson Contreras fits this profile, the Red Sox still need at least one more player to round out the lineup.
Until that happens, Contreras and Trevor Story are locks to start, with Romy Gonzalez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Marcelo Mayer, or Kristian Campbell filling the remaining infield spots. Mayer is projected to start at third, with Kiner-Falefa or Gonzalez at second, one serving as a utility player, and Campbell in Triple-A for regular playing time.
Outfielders
- MLB: Roman Anthony (LF), Ceddanne Rafaela (CF), Wilyer Abreu (RF), Jarren Duran (OF), Masataka Yoshida (DH)
- MiLB depth: Campbell, Braiden Ward
The Red Sox outfield picture is complex. The team has more starting-caliber outfielders than it can reasonably accommodate, and the only way to field all five is by having Rafaela play second, which the club wants to avoid. Four of the five also bat left-handed, leaving no sensible platoon options.
The Red Sox have limited outfield depth behind these five, with Campbell as the best choice but needing regular playing time. Gonzalez and Eaton can also play in the outfield, but the team must decide how to utilize its reserve outfielders without sacrificing utility options.
