Red Sox roster projection 1.0: Still moves to make as spring training looms

Red Sox roster projection 1.0: Still moves to make as spring training looms originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Spring training is fast approaching, and the Boston Red Sox’ roster remains filled with question marks.

The way the roster is currently constructed suggests that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow will make another trade or two before Opening Day. The Red Sox boast admirable pitching depth, but their lineup leaves plenty to be desired after losing Alex Bregman in free agency. They also must find a solution to their outfield logjam and add at least one reliable left-handed reliever to their bullpen.

We should expect multiple moves to be made before pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers on Feb. 10, but here’s what the 26-man roster looks like with about three weeks until spring training begins:

Starting rotation

Starting pitching is the Red Sox’ strength. In fact, Boston could have the best rotation in baseball for 2026.

Garrett Crochet returns as the unquestionable ace after placing second in the American League Cy Young race last season. He’ll lead a group that now features left-hander Ranger Suarez (signed to five-year, $130M deal) and righty Sonny Gray (acquired from St. Louis Cardinals), giving the Red Sox a scary 1-2-3.

Brayan Bello slots in as the No. 4 starter after his best big-league season yet. After him, it will be a battle for the No. 5 spot with several depth options at Boston’s disposal.

For now, we have Johan Oviedo (acquired from Pittsburgh Pirates) as the frontrunner for the role, but he’ll compete with Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, and Kyle Harrison in spring training. There’s a strong possibility that the Red Sox take advantage of their pitching depth to make another trade to improve their lineup before Opening Day.

Bullpen

It’s looking like it’ll be the same group — minus southpaws Justin Wilson, Brennan Bernardino, and trade deadline addition Steven Matz — in Boston’s bullpen next season. Without that trio, left-handed relief is among the glaring weaknesses on this roster.

Moran can’t be relied on to be the go-to lefty outside of Chapman. Perhaps top prospects Payton Tolle and/or Connelly Early can assume bullpen roles until spots open in the starting rotation, but it seems more likely they’ll begin the campaign in Triple-A if one doesn’t earn the No. 5 starter role.

Lineup

Willson Contreras was a nice upgrade at first base, but the Red Sox should still look to add at least one more bat before Opening Day. Losing Bregman to the Chicago Cubs in free agency completely changes the look of the lineup and puts pressure on oft-injured shortstop Trevor Story to replicate his 2025 performance. Marcelo Mayer proved to be an outstanding defensive third baseman while filling in for Bregman last year, but his struggles against left-handed pitching and ongoing injury concerns are worrisome.

Then there’s the second base situation. Romy Gonzalez is a platoon bat, while David Hamilton provides next to zero offensive value besides his speed. Ceddanne Rafaela could move to second, and that would solve the outfield logjam, but then Boston would lose his elite defense in center field.

Trading Duran or Abreu earlier in the offseason would’ve solved the problem, but with Bregman gone, the Red Sox can’t afford to part ways with either bat.

Bench

The outfield logjam forces Duran into the DH spot and leaves Yoshida without an everyday role for the second straight season. Other than that, it’s a pretty straightforward bench with Wong as the backup catcher, Sogard and Eaton as versatile defenders, and Hamilton as the fill-in middle infielder who can pinch run.

Injured list

Red Sox roster projection 1.0: Still moves to make as spring training looms

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