MLB Notebook: Some Red Sox questions in search of answers

Ten questions for the Red Sox heading into spring training:

1) Are the Red Sox done adding to the roster?

Since November, the Red Sox have been engaged in a slow dance with free agent J.D. Martinez and seem no closer to an agreement than they were when free agency first began back in the fall. That doesn’t mean a deal can’t get done, but the longer the stalemate goes – complete with reports that Martinez is “fed up’’ with the Red Sox unwillingness to improve their offer – the less likely it seems that a compromise can be made.

Then again, Martinez and more than a hundred other similarly unemployed players may have to settle for the best deals available in the coming weeks.

That could lead to some bargains being available. Putting Martinez aside for a moment, the price drops could enable the Sox to obtain some starting pitching depth, infield help and another lefty bullpen piece.

Mostly, though, the focus will be on adding thump to the lineup – either by signing Martinez or a less dynamic, but more affordable option.

2) Is Alex Cora ready for his close-up?

Cora has little experience as a manager (winter ball, WBC) and only a year as a major league coach. That’s not unusual in the big leagues anymore, but then, not every city is as demanding and pressurized as Boston.

It’s clear that Cora has a lot going for him. He’s bilingual, hard-working and familiar with the Boston market after nearly four years here as a player. He’s stressed the importance of strong communication and building relationships, both of which have never been more important for the job.

Spring training isn’t likely to test his mettle. The games are meaningless and the Red Sox roster – barring unforeseen developments – is fairly set. But the next seven weeks will serve as an opportunity to build a foundation with his players, his coaches and the Baseball Operations staff.

Once the season begins, the real challenges will begin. How will he handle an incident like the David Price-Dennis Eckersley flare-up last season? What happens when he has to deliver some unwelcome news to a veteran player? Or when he disagrees with a move Dave Dombrowski makes?

Stay tuned.

3) What’s the health status of several veterans?

No fewer than five veterans are returning from various surgeries: Steven Wright (knee), Eduardo Rodriguez (knee), Dustin Pedroia (knee); Tyler Thornburg (shoulder) and Hanley Ramirez (shoulder).

Ramirez is said to be fully recovered. Wright and Thornburg could well be ready by the start of the season. Rodriguez and Pedroia will almost certainly not be on the Opening Day roster.

Injuries are part of the game; every team has its share. And there will likely be some that take place between now and the first regular season game.

The key is how well teams deal with the setbacks. It will be incumbent on some others to step up and fill spots while more established players rehab.

There’s playing time to be won at second base and perhaps a spot in the starting rotation, too. The team’s depth will be tested from the start.

4) Can a plan be developed to help Chris Sale stay strong through the season and into the playoffs?

There’s a career-long trend for Sale in which he falters in the final few months of the season and that was the case in his first year with the Sox.

To avoid a repeat of that issue this year, the work has to begin now. Sale has already curtailed some of his normal off-season throwing and the Sox need to carefully manage his workload in February and March.

Once the season begins, the new schedule will allow him to be given additional rest, thanks to five more off-days built into the calendar. But every little bit will count. The fewer pitches thrown during February side sessions and March exhibition starts, the more – theoretically – Sale will have left in the tank in August, September and October.

The program has to start now to pay off later in the year.

5) Will a number of players bounce-back from off-years?

The Red Sox seem to be counting on this. For much of the winter, Dombrowski used it as the main talking point. What’s more, the team’s analytics department provided data to support the argument. A number of Sox players, research indicated, simply hit into bad luck. And a few others played through injuries which affected their performance.

So some improvement would seem to be in order. And it may help that the Sox have a new hitting coach with a new approach.

But what are the odds that every one of these players experiences a turnaround? About the same as the likelihood that every player on the roster remains injury-free, it would seem. In other words: not very.

6) Is Christian Vazquez ready to seize the starting catching job?

Vazquez showed real offensive growth last season, especially in the second half, when he posted an .812 OPS. There have never been any questions about his defensive ability and he continues to improve his pitch-framing and game-calling.

Former manager John Farrell favored a two-man catching arrangement, the better to preserve two players at a position that is physically and mentally a grind. But Vazquez has demonstrated that he’s superior to Sandy Leon and it seems foolish to not reward him with more playing time.

The Tommy John surgery that set back his career development is clearly in the past. His arm strength is among the best in the game and now he has enough in his offensive game to warrant the promotion.

7) How much more can be expected from Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers?

These two are among the most highly-valued young players in the game, with room for additional growth.  Benintendi just completed his first full season and Devers has been in the big leagues for a little more than two months. At 23 and 21 respectively, they’ve hit to come close to hitting their prime.

Of course, they’ll need to make some adjustments this year as opponents detect some aspects of their game to exploit. That’s part of the challenge of remaining successful in the big leagues.

Devers still needs work at third base, where he can unnecessarily hurry throws to first and at times played sloppily. Benintendi, blessed with well above-average speed, needs to tone down his aggressiveness on the bases.

But both can probably be counted upon to provide more in the power department while also demonstrating more consistency at the plate.

8) Is Craig Kimbrel open to different usage patterns?

Cora has already said that he would like to use Kimbrel in high-leverage spots in the seventh- and eighth-innings, rather than utilizing him in more traditional ninth-inning save situations. That’s a smart call by Cora, who should be motivated by game situations rather than conventional closer protocol. The game is changing, and there will be games in which Kimbrel can be more valuable bailing the Sox out of a jam in the seventh rather than the standard three-run lead, ninth-inning appearance.

But as Kimbrel himself hinted last month, all of this is dependent on good communication. He needs to work with Kimbrel to help develop a routine while carefully managing his workload.

And remember that Kimbrel is eligible for free agency this November. Closers like to have lots of saves on their resume, and the Sox need to do a good job in explaining to Kimbrel that a change in his role isn't necessarily a bad thing for his market value.

9) Do the Red Sox intend to try to work out contract extensions with any players?

Traditionally, spring training offers a window during which teams can approach players with extension offers in a more relaxed environment. The team tried to do so with Mookie Betts last spring, only to be met with resistance. It could make sense to approach Betts again, especially after two negotiations – last month and last February – may have left the team’s best player with a somewhat bitter taste.

Beyond Betts, Kimbrel and Drew Pomeranz are eligible for free agency after the season. The team, for now, lacks an obvious replacement for either.

Timing could help the Sox here. With so many players still unsigned from last fall’s free agent class, players may be more open to entertaining the security that comes with a long-term offer, especially when they consider the star quality of next year’s free agent group.

10) Can David Price find happiness in Boston?

Perhaps this question can’t be fully answered until the season starts and Price is in front of sold-out Fenway crowd again. But at the very least, some steps can be taken to improve his experience.

In an interview with the Boston Globe and WBZ Radio last week, Price was enthusiastic about his new manager and confident that he can win fans back with a better performance on the mound.

But how will Price bond with a new coaching staff? Will he be contentious with the media? And not incidentally, can he remain healthy?

Again, the answers won’t come until the start of the regular season. But Fort Myers will be a chance to look at some clues,