Red Sox roster projection 2.0: Lineup taking shape as spring training begins

Red Sox roster projection 2.0: Lineup taking shape as spring training begins originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Baseball season is here.

Many Boston Red Sox players showed up at JetBlue Park on Monday, a day before pitchers and catchers were scheduled to report for spring training. Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Payton Tolle were among those getting work in early.

The Red Sox also solidified their infield on Monday, acquiring Caleb Durbin in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. They sent infielder David Hamilton to Milwaukee alongside left-handers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan.

There may still be moves to be made, but Durbin’s arrival fills the most glaring void on Boston’s roster. The 25-year-old will either take over for Alex Bregman at third base or move to second while Marcelo Mayer plays at the hot corner.

The Red Sox’ roster is beginning to take shape, but there will be a handful of position battles worth monitoring in spring training. Here’s our updated roster projection heading into spring workouts:

Starting rotation

Garrett Crochet, LHP
Ranger Suarez, LHP
Sonny Gray, RHP
Brayan Bello, RHP
Johan Oviedo, RHP

Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Trade acquisition Johan Oviedo is the frontrunner for the No. 5 spot in the Red Sox rotation.

No surprises here, though there should be a fun competition for that No. 5 spot in spring training. Oviedo is the frontrunner after the Red Sox acquired him from the Pittsburgh Pirates early in the offseason. Still, he’ll have to hold off top prospects Connelly Early and Payton Tolle, right-hander Kutter Crawford, and lefty Patrick Sandoval. Both Crawford and Sandoval are returning from injury.

Bullpen

Aroldis Chapman, LHP
Garrett Whitlock, RHP
Justin Slaten, RHP
Jovani Moran, LHP
Greg Weissert, RHP
Zack Kelly, RHP
Ryan Watson, RHP
Kutter Crawford, RHP

Aroldis Chapman was MLB’s most dominant closer in 2025.

Jordan Hicks is no longer in the equation as he was traded to the Chicago White Sox earlier this month. Ryan Watson was acquired from the Athletics during the Rule 5 draft, so he’ll be required to stick on the active roster throughout the 2025 season.

Boston remains short on left-handed relievers after parting ways with Justin Wilson, Brennan Bernardino, and Steven Matz this offseason.

Lineup

Roman Anthony, LF
Trevor Story, SS
Jarren Duran, DH
Willson Contreras, 1B
Wilyer Abreu, RF
Carlos Narvaez, C
Marcelo Mayer, 2B
Caleb Durbin, 3B
Ceddanne Rafaela, CF

It’s unclear at this point whether Durbin will play primarily at third or second base for Boston. Regardless, he established himself as an everyday player with the Brewers last season and finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year race.

While Durbin boasts above-average bat-to-ball skills, he doesn’t offer much power. The Red Sox are banking on Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Willson Contreras, and Wilyer Abreu carrying the load offensively. They also need Trevor Story to replicate his 2025 production.

At this point, it doesn’t look like the Red Sox will move Duran or Abreu to resolve their outfield logjam. As a result, we’ll probably see a combination of Duran and Anthony in the DH spot this season, but there’s another DH on the roster who still doesn’t have a path to consistent playing time…

Bench

Masataka Yoshida, DH/OF
Connor Wong, C
Romy Gonzalez, UTIL
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, UTIL

Masataka Yoshida still lacks a path to consistent playing time in Boston.

Yoshida remains in limbo heading into the 2026 season. As long as the outfield logjam exists, he has no path to consistent playing time with Duran and perhaps Anthony also spending time at DH. The problem is he still has two years and roughly $37 million left on his contract, making him virtually untradable.

The lefty-mashing Gonzalez will reprise his role as a platoon bat, likely splitting time with Mayer at second base. Mayer struggled against left-handed pitching last season.

Boston signed Kiner-Falefa to a one-year, $6 million contract last week. The 30-year-old veteran is a solid, versatile defender who brings next to zero value with his bat, but has earned a reputation as a clubhouse leader.

Injured list

Triston Casas, 1B
Patrick Sandoval, LHP
Tanner Houck, RHP

Triston Casas will work his way back from a ruptured patellar tendon suffered in May 2025.

Casas will likely begin the 2026 season in Triple-A as he works his way back from a ruptured patellar tendon.

Sandoval’s status is up in the air as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss all of 2025.

Houck is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season as he recovers from Tommy John.