The Winter Conferences have come and gone, and whereas lots of the high gamers in the marketplace discovered new properties, the Pink Sox largely got here dwelling from Orlando empty-handed.
Now, with each Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso not out there, the Pink Sox must look elsewhere to spherical out their roster.
Even with none extra main additions the Pink Sox ought to nonetheless be adequate to contend for one more Wild Card berth, however the membership stays one or two gamers in need of being a real World Collection contender. In order Craig Breslow and the entrance workplace regroups, right here’s a have a look at the place issues stand right now and what extra must be carried out to take the membership to the following stage.
Proper-handed bats wanted
If the Pink Sox opened the season with the roster they’ve now, their Opening Day lineup would most likely look one thing like this: Roman Anthony LF, Trevor Story SS, Jarren Duran CF, Triston Casas 1B, Wilyer Abreu RF, Masataka Yoshida DH, Carlos Narvaez C, Marcelo Mayer 3B, Ceddanne Rafaela 2B.
You possibly can see a few apparent issues.
With out Alex Bregman or somebody like him, this lineup is far too left-handed. 5 of the membership’s high six hitters bat lefty, as does Marcelo Mayer, who might need that form of upside if he can keep wholesome and develop on the plate. Ideally, the Pink Sox would have a minimum of yet another righty bat who may slot into the highest 5, which might make it simpler to separate up the lefties and depart the membership much less prone to left-handed pitching.
The opposite apparent downside is the Pink Sox nonetheless have extra starting-caliber outfielders at full energy than they’ve lineup spots. Meaning the membership would as soon as once more need to play Rafaela at second base, which is ridiculous contemplating that he’s arguably the most effective defensive middle fielder within the sport.
Re-signing Bregman and buying and selling away one of many outfielders would go a great distance in direction of making this a extra practical roster. Ideally, the Pink Sox would commerce for both a primary or second baseman who may tackle the membership’s want for extra energy. That means the membership will probably be coated if Casas isn’t out there to start out the season or in case Mayer runs into extra damage points this coming yr.
Rotation in good condition
You possibly can by no means have an excessive amount of pitching, and if a possibility to amass a frontline starter presents itself, the Pink Sox ought to clearly take it. However all issues thought of, the beginning rotation must be in a great spot heading into subsequent season.
Proper now the Pink Sox have a high three of Garrett Crochet, Sonny Grey and Brayan Bello together with almost a dozen different candidates for the final two spots. These arms embrace veterans Patrick Sandoval and Kutter Crawford, every of whom is ready to return after lacking all of 2025 as a result of damage, the newly-acquired Johan Oviedo, and youthful contenders like Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Hunter Dobbins, Kyle Harrison, Luis Perales, David Sandlin, Shane Drohan and Tyler Uberstine.
You’d be laborious pressed to seek out one other membership with that stage of high quality beginning pitching depth.
Crochet is an unquestioned ace and may as soon as once more be a Cy Younger contender this coming season. Grey is coming off back-to-back 200-strikeout seasons and — his rocky stint in New York apart — has been one among MLB’s higher starters for greater than a decade. Bello is coming off the most effective season of his profession and remains to be solely 26 and getting into the prime of his profession.
If even one of many different 11 guys competing for one of many final rotation spots can step up and set up himself as a playoff-caliber starter, the Pink Sox must be in good condition.
Bullpen coming collectively
The Pink Sox have had good luck with their latest Rule 5 picks, with Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten every instantly turning into invaluable members of the bullpen upon their arrival.
Now the membership hopes Ryan Watson could make it three for 3.
Watson’s acquisition throughout Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft gained’t go down as one of many greatest strikes of the offseason, however his arrival may show sneaky necessary. Breslow admitted he’s been eyeing the 28-year-old right-hander for months and as a Rule 5 decide he’ll get a protracted leash to impression the bullpen.
He’ll be part of a gaggle that returns nearer Aroldis Chapman, set-up males Whitlock and Slaten, and returnees like Greg Weissert, Jordan Hicks and Zack Kelly.
The highest of Boston’s bullpen is great, however the again finish nonetheless has query marks.
For one, the membership wants extra lefties. The one lefty relievers on the 40-man roster apart from Chapman are Jovani Moran, who appeared in two MLB video games final season, and lately acquired Tyler Samaniego, who has but to make his large league debut. Neither will probably be assured an enormous league roster spot out of spring coaching.
The Pink Sox may use one among their depth starters out of the bullpen — Early, Tolle, Harrison and Drohan are all southpaws — however they’ll presumably every get a possibility to compete for a rotation spot this spring.
The membership additionally wants to determine what it might count on to get out of Hicks. The hard-throwing righty had a calamitous 2025, posting a 6.95 ERA in 34 appearances, together with an 8.20 ERA in 21 outings after his arrival in Boston within the Rafael Devers commerce. Hicks is ready to earn $12 million in every of the following two seasons, however not way back he was among the many most dominant relievers within the sport.
If the Pink Sox can get Hicks again to his 2023 kind, when he struck out 81 batters in 65.2 innings with 12 saves, he may assist elevate the bullpen right into a monster. But when not, the membership must hope Watson and whoever else emerges within the coming months can assist decide up the slack.
What now?
A number of experiences have indicated Bregman is Boston’s high free agent precedence, and at this level the membership may actually use him again. He made an unlimited impression on the Pink Sox final season each on and off the sphere, and his potential to drag the ball within the air as a right-handed hitter and play wonderful protection at third base would fill two necessary areas of want.
The membership additionally nonetheless wants a real center of the order menace who may slot into the three, 4 or 5 gap. Various experiences have mentioned the Pink Sox have spoken to the Arizona Diamondbacks about All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte, and he can be a match each by way of skillset and place.
Free agent slugger Eugenio Suarez would additionally match the invoice.
Whereas Breslow and supervisor Alex Cora have every mentioned they’re comfy retaining all of Boston’s incumbent outfielders, widespread sense dictates that somebody goes to wish to go. Maybe some mixture of Duran, Abreu or Yoshida would go in a possible Marte deal, or perhaps they’d be utilized in a unique commerce for one more frontline starter.
Both means, it’s not a thriller what the Pink Sox need to do.
