If -- and that word can't be put into big enough type -- Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association find a way to reach an agreement on all the health and safety issues, settle their significant economic deals and find a way to play a shortened 2020 season, plans call for 30-man rosters.
That represents an upgrade from the original plan to carry 26 players -- itself, a slight upgrade from the 25-man rosters in place before this season. The motivation to go to 30-man rosters? With a short second spring training barely enough time to get players ready to go, a compressed schedule that could feature fewer off-days and additional doubleheaders, depth is going to be paramount.
This will, in turn, offer opportunities to a handful of players who likely wouldn't have made the original 26-man squad had the season begun as scheduled on March 26.
Let's assume that the Sox divide the four extra spots evenly, with two going to position players and two to pitchers.
First, the position players:
- C Kevin Plawecki. In a matter of months, Plawecki, signed as a free agent last fall after the Sox dealt away Sandy Leon, went from roster-lock to a player on the outside looking in. The arrival of Jonathan Lucroy dropped Plawecki from second to third on the depth chart behind starter Christian Vazquez. Manager Ron Roenicke has a history with Lucroy from their time in Milwaukee and clearly wanted him as the backup. But even before the shutdown began, Roenicke was beginning to shift his stance and advocate for three catchers, emphasizing that Lucroy could give him another right-handed hitting option at first base. The 30-man roster cements that, while the demands of the new schedule heighten the need for a third receiver.
- INF Tzu-Wei Lin. Lin (shoulder) lost a good deal of 2019 to injury, and in turn, lost a chance to make more of an impression at the big league level. Lin may be one of the best pure infield defenders in the system and offers a nice depth option behind shortstop Xander Bogaerts. He can also play a strong center field, and while the Sox have no shortage of options there behind starter Jackie Bradley Jr. (both outfield newcomers, Alex Verdugo and Kevin Pillar are plus defenders), it's nice to have additional depth. In theory, the extra spot should make it easier for Rule 5 draft pick Jonathan Arauz to stick. He impressed the Sox with his glove work, his at-bats and his maturity. Importantly, he didn't appear overwhelmed, which isn't an easy task for an young, inexperienced player. But while they'd have to offer Arauz back to the Astros if he doesn't make the 30-man roster, Lin is out of options. And if the Sox are forced to choose between losing someone who's played at the upper levels of the system and had big league experience and someone who's barely played above Single A and is harder to project long-term, the edge would seem to go to Lin.
- Austin Brice. With spots available, the Red Sox were aggressive in the offseason in collecting depth pitching pieces, either through small trades or free-agent signings. Of these, Brice was easily the most impressive during Spring Training — first catching the eyes of evaluators watching him throw for the Marlins in the early months of last season. He combines quality stuff with a unique (lower) arm slot and could provide some bulk innings in relief, or at some point, transition to an opener role if the Sox felt the need to make changes in the rotation. Either way, Brice is likely to be on the 30-man roster.
- Chris Mazza. Mazza has some (however short) major league experience and demonstrated the ability to provide some volume to the staff in March. Like Brice, he could be a candidate to serve in a long relief role, or as part of an opener equation -- as either the actual opener or the first guy out of the bullpen, tasked with providing multiple innings.