McAdam: Five Red Sox players with the most on the line in 2020

If -- there's that word again -- there exists a 2020 baseball season, the stakes will be higher for some than others. That would be true in any season, and it will be this year, too.

Here's a look at the five Red Sox players with the most on the line should the season be salvaged:

1. Jackie Bradley Jr. 

Bradley is scheduled to be a free agent this winter and, as such, could use a strong offensive season to bolster his worth on the open market.

There are no issues with his defense, of course, which metrics aside, remains elite. But Bradley needs to show that he can be a consistent run producer so that he can market himself as a complete player. To accomplish that, he'll need to avoid the streakiness that has been associated with his game for most of his career.

If Bradley -- in a shortened season -- can avoid the lengthy funks at the plate and improve at least somewhat against lefthanded pitching (career OPS: .669), he'll do OK as a free agent. If not, he'll be seen as a defense-first, platoon player who will be lucky to get the kind of short-term deal that new teammate Kevin Pillar ($4.25 million for 2020) signed in February.

2. Eduardo Rodriguez

Rodriguez finally fully blossomed in 2019, setting career highs in virtually every category imaginable -- wins, innings, strikeouts, starts and ERA+. He can now rightly be thought of as a good No. 2 starter, and at 27, should just now be entering the prime of his career.

It's never been about stuff for Rodriguez. Earlier in his Red Sox career, he was injury-prone, with a chronic knee injury interrupting several seasons. Later, it was about approach and focus. But in 2019, Rodriguez finally seemed to fully realize his potential.

Rodriguez had always been the "little brother'' to veterans on the pitching staff, but in 2020, David Price and Rick Porcello are with other teams and Chris Sale will be rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and not around the team much. This will be the first season in which Rodriguez will have to pitch without his mentors offering their emotional and technical support. Can he succeed without their guidance?

If he can, he can position himself for either a lucrative extension from the Red Sox, or anticipate a big payday after the 2021 season when free agency arrives for him.

3. Michael Chavis

By any measure, Chavis enjoyed an impressive rookie season. Promoted to the big leagues late in April when the team was hit by a bunch of injuries to its infield group, Chavis delivered a booming pinch-hit ninth-inning double in his first at-bat.....and kept pounding from there.

He finished with 18 homers in just 95 games and some of his home runs were tape-measure shots. He also ran hot-and-cold for stretches, and his 33.3 percent strikeout ratio was of some concern. Specifically, Chavis proved himself to be especially susceptible vulnerable to fastballs up in the zone.

As with all second-year players, Chavis will have to continue to make adjustments as the league similarly adjusts to him. Is he a consistent run-producer or just someone who will pounce on mistakes? And where does he fit long-term in the field? First base? Second? With Jeter Downs and Bobby Dalbec not far away in terms of development, second and first base could be claimed by others if Chavis doesn't make his case.

4. Alex Verdugo

It may not be fair, but for now, Verdugo is destined to be the answer to the question: "Who did Red Sox get back in the Mookie Betts trade?'' Perhaps in time, Downs and Connor Wong will reach the big leagues and the answer can be spread around some. For now, Verdugo is it.

If that's not enough, there's the fact that he's recovering from a stress fracture of his lower back, so attention will be paid as to how durable and effective he will be. Should the season begin in July, Verdugo will be facing major league pitching for the first time in 11 months. (His 2019 season was cut short on Aug. 4 because of the back injury).

Further, there will be an additional spotlight on how Verdugo adapts to Boston. With the Dodgers, he often earned the wrath of some teammates and coaches for some lackadaisical play. Is he mature enough to handle the scrutiny? And if he gets off to a poor start, how will he respond to the inevitable booing that will be aimed at him?

Finally, there's the considerable challenge of playing right field at Fenway -- spacious and full of odd angles and dimensions.

5. Brandon Workman.

No Red Sox player took a bigger leap in performance from one year to the next like Workman. After a disappointing showing in spring training, Workman failed to make the team at the start of 2018 and spent the first 10 weeks in the minors before making his debut that season on June 5.

Last season, Workman had incredible strikeout numbers, averaging 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He also allowed just 29 hits in 71.2 innings pitched and in the second half of the season, effectively served as the team's closer.  In 235 at-bats, he allowed just one homer.

But Workman also displayed some trouble with control, averaging 5.7 walks per 9 IP. His WHIP was an impressive 1.033, but had he exhibited better location, it could have been far lower.

It will be interesting to see how Workman handles the closer duties from the start of the season, and especially so since, like Bradley, he's heading for free agency in the winter and needs to demonstrate that 2019 wasn't a fluke.