Countdown to Sox Spring: Ranking the Red Sox roster, from 20-1.

With spring training almost upon us, here’s a look at the Red Sox’ 40-man roster, ranked according to value, from bottom to top. (Here's our look at Nos. 40-21.)


DAY 2, ROSTER SPOTS 20-1:

20) RHP Brandon Workman

Comment: Pitched better in the second half, but will have to battle for one of the bullpen spots to start the year.

19) C Blake Swihart
Comment: Swihart is out of options, so the Sox will need to find a way to keep him on the roster. Could he supplant Sandy Leon as the backup catcher, or will he be utilized at other positions?

18) RHP Tyler Thornburg
Comment: Some 14 months after he was acquired, still looking to throw his first pitch for the Sox.  If healthy, he’ll give them another power arm set-up option.

17) RHP Steven Wright
Comment: Back-end starter coming back from knee surgery that cost him most of last year, he’ll also likely have to deal with some form of discipline stemming from an off-season arrest.

16) RHP Carson Smith
Comment: Healthy after Tommy John surgery, Smith will enter camp as the primary eighth-inning man out of the bullpen.

15) 1B Mitch Moreland
Comment: Surprise returnee at first, where he’ll get the majority of the playing time. Steady but unspectacular.

14) RHP Rick Porcello
Comment: Will the real Rick Porcello please stand up? Is it the A.L. Cy Young Award-winner from 2016? Or the starter who led the A.L. in 2017 in hits and homers allowed?

13) 2B Dustin Pedroia
Comment: Will miss the first two months after undergoing major knee surgery in the off-season. Big question is: how much can he be counted on when he returns?

12) CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
Comment: After a winter of trade rumors, Bradley seeks more consistency at the plate. His brilliance in the outfield is obvious.

11) SS Xander Bogaerts
Comment: A hugely disappointing second-half – the result of a hand injury – should be behind him. Sox would love more power output from him. He may benefit more than anyone else from managerial change.

10) LHP Eduardo Rodriguez
Comment: After knee surgery gave him peace of mind, big things are expected from the lefty, whose stuff has never been an issue.

9) LHP Drew Pomeranz
Comment: Took a huge step forward last season and should be motivated to repeat or improve his performance with free agency looming after this year.

8) DH/1B Hanley Ramirez
Comment: One of a number of Sox players coming back from surgery, Ramirez believes a repaired shoulder should help him have the kind of season he had in 2016.

7)  C Christian Vazquez
Comment: Made big strides last season at the plate, and is in position to claim the No. 1 catcher’s job. Behind the plate, his arm strength is unmatched and his game-calling continues to improve.

6) RHP Craig Kimbrel
Comment: He may be hard-pressed to match last year, when he struck out nearly half the batters he faced. He’s poised for a big-day next winter as a free agent – in Boston or elsewhere.

5) 3B Rafael Devers
Comment: Red Sox are expecting big things in his first full season in the big leagues. He still needs work at third -- especially on throws – but power potential is seemingly huge.

4) LF Andrew Benintendi
Comment:  It seems that a 20-20 season with 90 RBI was just the start. Benintendi, about to enter his second full season, looks like a perennial All-Star, but there’s room for improvement, too.

3) LHP David Price
Comment: So many questions: Is he healthy? Is he happy? The Red Sox have a lot invested in Price’s performance and desperately need him to be the front-line starter they thought they were signing two years ago.

2) LHP Chris Sale
Comment: His first season in Boston was a dominant one, but the key to 2018 may well lie with preserving him and having him at his peak in September and October. A lot rides on that.

1) RF Mookie Betts
One of the 10 best players in the game, and truly a five-tool star. The unanswered question: is his relationship with the club damaged at all by some unsuccessful contractual dealings?