McAdam: Red Sox Roster 2.0 - A look at the remaining decisions with two weeks to go

Opening Day is exactly two weeks away and the Red Sox are drawing inexorably closer to their 26-man roster for the start of the regular season.

In the previous two days, the Red Sox have trimmed 12 players from major league camp, getting down to 35 players in camp.

Even at the start of camp, there were just a handful of roster spots up for grabs. Injuries and illness have altered that somewhat, but in the final 12 days or so the team has remaining in Fort Myers, a few decisions still must be made.

A look at where we stand:

CATCHERS (2): Christian Vazquez, Kevin Plawecki

COMMENT: Nothing complicated here. Vazquez is the No. 1 and Plawecki the trusty backup the Sox had been searching for prior to last year. Plawecki was slightly delayed at the start of camp after being placed on the COVID-19 related I.L., but was long ago cleared and has participated in games.



INFIELD: (7): Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts,  Kiké Hernandez, Bobby Dalbec, Marwin Gonzalez, Christian Arroyo, Michael Chavis.

COMMENT: Devers and Bogaerts return to anchor the left side of the infield. Hernandez will be, more or less, the everyday second baseman, though he'll contribute in the outfield at times, too. Dalbec is the starting first baseman, but Gonzalez will get some playing time there to give them a lefty bat at the position for some matchups. The most interesting inclusions here are Arroyo and Chavis. The expected unavailability of outfielder Franchy Cordero, who missed the first two weeks of camp with COVID-19, means there will, temporarily, be an extra roster spot up for grabs. Arroyo is out of options and the Sox would have to expose him to waivers in order to send him to the alternate training site. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom likes Arroyo -- he was part of a front office that traded for him in Tampa Bay -- and it would seem the Sox don't want to risk losing him if they can avoid it. Arroyo has had a good spring (.290/.333/.516 with two homers) and can play all over the infield. Chavis had appeared to be a longshot to break with the team, but he, too, has hit well (four homers, .693 slugging) and provides a powerful righthanded bat off the bench.

OUTFIELD: (3): J.D. Martinez, Alex Verdugo, Hunter Renfroe.

COMMENT: Verdugo and Renfroe will handle center and right, with both having the ability to play either spot. Left field will be a job-share until Cordero is activated, with Gonzalez and Martinez capable of filling in there. Hernandez will mostly be limited to center when he shifts to the outfield. In a pinch, Chavis could also contribute there, though he's yet to be put there this spring. The only other pure outfielders on the 40-man roster are Marcus Wilson and Jeisson Rosario. The former hasn't played above Double A and the latter, while toolsy, is several seasons away.

STARTING ROTATION: (5): Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Richards, Martin Perez, Nick Pivetta.

COMMENT: This, too, is pretty clear-cut. Pivetta was always the favorite for the fifth spot and the fact that he's out of options gives him the edge. Having traded for him and spent time getting him on track at the alternate site last summer, they don't want to risk exposing him.

BULLPEN: (9): Adam Ottavino, Matt Barnes, Hirokazu Sawamura, Darwinzon Hernandez, Josh Taylor, Matt Andriese, Garrett Whitlock, Austin Brice, Phillips Valdez.

COMMENT: Either Ottavino or Barnes will serve as the closer, with the other filling the role of primary set-up option in the eighth inning. Sawamura will be brought along slowly, but will get the ball primarily in the seventh. Hernandez and Taylor as the two lefties, though either can also get out righthanded hitters. Andriese will function as a multi-inning weapon and spot starter. Whitlock, who has impressed, is a Rule 5 pick and must remain on the major league roster (or IL) all season or offered back to the Yankees. Then, it gets tricky. The absence of Ryan Brasier (fractured pinky finger) for the start of the season has thrown open an extra spot and there was one already up for grabs. That means Brice, Valdez and Colten Brewer are likely competing for the final two spots. Brewer has been used sparingly this spring (three appearances) and hasn't been sharp. He has options remaining, so despite the fact that he's been part of the staff for each of the last two years, it seems likely he'll open the year at the alternate site, freeing up room for Brice and Valdez. Brice's low three-quarter delivery is a plus at a time when the Sox are striving to present different looks out of the bullpen. Valdez was a pleasant discovery from last year.