Boston Red Sox 2025 preview: Roster breakdown and analysis

The Red Sox have completed Grapefruit League play and the two exhibition games in Mexico and can now focus on the 2025 season. It’s taken some time for the Red Sox Opening Day roster to come together, but it’s finally taken shape, and Boston will break camp with some surprises and will need others to take a big leap forward if they intend on being legitimate playoff contenders.

Alex Cora’s team is deeper than in years past. Boston has pitching depth to help withstand the grind of a 162-game schedule. The additions of Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler will anchor down the starting rotation. Alex Bregman immediately shoots a jolt of offense into the lineup left behind from Tyler O’Neill, who bolted in free agency.

The health of Trevor Story and Triston Casas are legitimate concerns. Jarren Duran putting together back-to-back elite seasons will be something to watch, as will Rafael Devers' performance in his new role as the designated hitter. 

Let’s take a look at the Red Sox 26-man roster ahead of the season opener on the road in Texas.

PITCHERS

Starters: Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Walker Buehler, Richard Fitts, Sean Newcomb

The Sox enter the year with a true ace in Crochet. He had a dominant spring, striking out 30 batters with an impressive 0.57 ERA in 15 2/3 innings, and now that needs to translate into the regular season. He is coming off a breakout year where he recorded a 3.58 ERA and 2.69 FIP while striking out 209 batters over 146 innings. The AL All-Star will need to work deeper into games. Can he pitch 175 innings? Will not reaching a contract extension be a distraction? Those are my two keys to watch with Crochet this year.

Houck and Brayan Bello are coming off career years in terms of innings pitched and starts. The Sox will need both of them to take another step forward. Houck’s rocky spring is a little concerning, pitching to an 11.20 ERA over four starts. His lack of swing-and-miss is glaring; he only struck out 7.76 K/9, but he’s been a ground ball machine with a 55.9% ground ball percentage, which ranked in the 93rd percentile, per Baseball Savant. He also manages to walk opposing hitters with a 2.42 BB/9 and avoids barrels at a rate of 5.7%.

Bello is starting the year on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. He will pitch in Fort Myers this week before meeting the WooSox on the road in Jacksonville, where he’s expected to pitch twice in the series.

Buehler is healthy and poised for a bounce-back campaign. He will serve as the No. 3 starter to open the season behind Crochet and Houck. His veteran presence is something Boston has lacked in their rotation the last few years. Over his career, he has struggled with injuries, and the possibility of an IL stint is concerning. The righty looked dominant in the postseason and in the World Series against the Yankees. Adding a pitcher with a championship pedigree never hurts. If he looks like the Buehler of old, Boston has a steal at $21.05 million but will have to dish out a massive deal this offseason.

Fitts won a spot in the rotation and has looked like he’s taken a big step from last year to this year. His velocity is up; he added a curveball and it looks like he slimmed down. If he can hold on to that velocity as he works deeper into games and induces swing-and-miss, he’ll stick as a starter.

Newcomb making the team and beginning in the rotation is a surprise. His time on the Red Sox roster appears to be limited with Bello and Giolito expected to return in mid-April. He will serve as valuable organizational depth while in the Red Sox system.

With the exception of a minor hamstring issue this spring, Giolito is ready to contribute to the back end of the Red Sox rotation.

Cora and pitching coach Andrew Bailey will need to see their rotation pitch deeper into games. It’s something they’ve slowly been doing the last couple of years. By pitching deeper into games, the Red Sox rotation can save valuable innings for their relievers. Cora has a history of overworking guys in the bullpen; just ask Josh Winckowski and Greg Weissert.

Relievers: Liam Hendriks, Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Wilson, Zack Kelly, Greg Weisset, and Brennan Bernardino

Hendriks could have been a DFA candidate if he hadn't been owed $6 million this season ($5 million towards the luxury tax). When healthy, Hendriks is an effective strikeout reliever, ranking in the 97th percentile in strikeout rate in his last four seasons, according to Baseball Savant. Hendriks needs more time in games as he returns from Tommy John surgery. If he’s still struggling on the mound, he’s a prime DFA candidate later this season.

Kelly finished the 2024 season with a 3.97 ERA in 49 outings (56 2/3 innings). He was dominant at times last season but also struggled after the All-Star break and again in September. The righty saw his ERA jump from 2.58 to 3.97 in the final month of the Sox’ campaign. Consistency will be the key for Kelly.

Weissert had stretches when he was dominant; he also had stretches when you never wanted to see him on the mound. He seemed to resolve his issues after a late-season stint with the WooSox, moving from the right side of the mound to the left side. Bernardino and Wilson offer Boston two more lefties now that Chapman is the primary ninth-inning option.

Whitlock returns from internal brace surgery, and he’s back in the bullpen where he’s flourished in the past. The 28-year-old has a career record of 18-11 over 241 2/3 innings while posting a 3.39 ERA with 252 strikeouts as a reliever.

“Let’s go back to the bullpen, baby,” said Whitlock to reporters at Fenway Fest in January.

If Chapman struggles at all and loses the closer role this season, Whitlock is a prime candidate to replace him. He’s an incredibly versatile option for Cora’s bullpen, being able to pitch bulk innings and high-leverage roles.

Closer: Aroldis Chapman

Analysis: Chapman will be the closer heading into the season and will also see time in the eighth inning during high-leverage situations.

“I think Chappy has been amazing,” Cora told reporters in Monterrey, Mexico, via MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “But if Corey Seager leads off the eighth, he could be used in the eighth. And there’s certain times he’s gonna pitch the eighth, but most (often), he’ll pitch the ninth inning.”

The veteran southpaw has a history of pitching in high-leverage situations over the course of his career. Chapman has 355 career saves under his belt and recently filled in the role of closer for the Pirates over the final two months of last season. The lefty finished the campaign with 14 saves and 98 strikeouts while posting a 3.79 ERA and 1.346 WHIP.

He's still throwing gas, routinely hitting triple digits at 37 years old. He brings swing-and-miss stuff to the back of the bullpen that the Sox haven't seen in a few years. 

POSITION PLAYERS

Catchers: Connor Wong, Carlos Narvaez

Wong begins this season as the undisputed top choice behind the plate, free from the concern of Kyle Teel lurking in the wings.

The 28-year-old had a great offensive season as a catcher, hitting .280 with 13 home runs, 24 doubles, one triple, 52 RBI, and eight stolen bases, slashing.333/.425/.758. An issue with Wong offensively was his 114 strikeouts to just 28 walks in 447 at-bats, meaning he’s not particularly selective at the dish.

Defensively, Wong was one of the worst framers in the league, ranking 57th out of 59 catchers last season with -7 framing runs. He ranked in the lower percentile for blocks above average at -12, and his pop time was 1.95. Boston’s young pitching staff could benefit from having a catcher with better behind-the-plate metrics.

Wong’s -12 blocks above average ranked toward the bottom with other catchers like the Mets' Francisco Alvarez and the Athletics’ Shea Langeliers.

The Sox have raved about Narvaez since he was acquired from the Yankees in the winter. The 26-year-old made his major league debut last season, playing in six games with the Yankees. He went 3-for-13 with three singles, two walks, and six strikeouts. Defensively, he threw out 1 of 2 base stealers.

Narváez has hit the cover off the ball playing for Cardenales de Lara in the winter, where he’s hitting .377 with five homers, 18 RBI, seven doubles, and five stolen bases with a .456 on-base percentage, a .662 slugging percentage, and a 1.118 OPS in 25 games.

He is an upgrade over Wong defensively, and the two allow the Red Sox to evaluate each player this season before making future decisions at the position.

Infielders: Triston Casas, Kristian Campbell, Trevor Story, Alex Bregman, David Hamilton, Romy Gonzalez

The addition of Bregman immediately elevates the Red Sox infield defense. He’s been at third base exclusively all spring, which made the most sense for the Sox, even after he signed back in February. Bregman has played the hot corner his entire career, winning a Gold Glove last season.

In a short period of time, Bregman has also been able to influence the clubhouse chemistry for a team in need of a veteran leader with a proven track record of winning. He went on road roadtrips to bond with the team when most veterans would have stayed back. He’s offered advice and mentorship to the younger players like Campbell, Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony.

Offensively, the Red Sox will benefit from Bregman’s right-handed presence in the lineup, particularly at Fenway Park. The 30-year-old slugger owns a career .375 batting average with seven homers, nine doubles, 15 RBI, 24 runs, and 16 walks with an eye-popping 1.240 OPS in 21 games at Fenway Park. His 1.240 OPS is the best in Major League history among players who have at least 90 plate appearances.

The Sox will need to monitor the health of both Story and Casas. 

Casas has really just played one full season at the big league level, which offered a great sneak peek as to his potential, hitting 24 homers and slashing .263/.367/.490. The 25-year-old was limited to just 63 games last year after suffering torn cartilage in his left rib cage swinging in an at-bat against the Pirates.

Casas' performance in the spring was disappointing, as he only managed a.195 (8-for-41) average with two home runs and five RBIs. He did hit the ball to the opposite field a lot during Grapefruit League play, suggesting he is going to utilize the Green Monster to his advantage this season.

In an interview with FanGraphs last month, Casas spoke to the adjustments he was making offensively this season.

“It’s more an approach of keeping my swing inside my frame,” said Casas. “I want to have the angles of my body — my hips and my shoulders — in alignment and try to make sure that I’m making contact inside my body. I want to feel like I’m hitting with my arms bent at a certain point.

“As a hitter, you need that triple extension. Your wrists, your front leg, and your back hip are all perfect, at the right time, as you’re making contact. That’s where you get the power.”

All that is well and good, but the left-handed slugger needs to prove he can put together a full season where he’s healthy and can stabilize the middle of the order with his power bat.

The easiest analysis for Story: stay healthy. 

The shortstop missed 133 games last year because of a left shoulder injury, which was caused after making a diving attempt to field a ground ball hit by Angels’ Mike Trout. Story worked hard in his rehab and returned to the Sox’ lineup before the season came to a close.

The 32-year-old trained hard this winter and entered camp healthy. He feels good, which should bode well for a motivated Story both offensively and defensively. A healthy year will be a massive boost for the Sox’ infield, which was one of the worst last season statistically. With Bregman and Story anchoring the left side of the infield, Sox’ pitchers will not cringe when the ball is hit on the ground with the hopes someone will make a clean play.

Story expects to be great; fans just want him to be healthy.

Campbell makes the team as a rookie out of camp, becoming the first of the “Big 3” to earn a promotion to the majors. He scuffled at the plate during Grapefruit League play, but even despite a slow start, Campbell maintained his confidence and focus. Campbell will be the Red Sox' starting second baseman and can play left field as needed. He has excellent athleticism and, with patience, should reward the Red Sox at the plate and in the field.

The other plus is that if he wins the AL Rookie of the Year, Boston will earn a compensatory draft pick after the first round for the 2026 amateur draft.

Hamilton’s speed off the bench for situations late in a game will be a boost for the Sox. The Texas native swiped 33 bags for the Sox in just 98 games last season. He possesses the versatility to play at both second base and shortstop, as well as in the outfield when necessary.

Outfielders: Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Rob Refsnyder

Analysis: Is it possible for Duran to repeat his breakout season that saw him rise to one of the game’s elite outfielders? Duran stands out at the top of the Red Sox lineup, slashing .285/.342/.492 with 21 homers, 34 steals, and 83 extra base hits. He also led the league with 48 doubles and 14 triples over 160 games.

The last player to lead the majors in both doubles and triples was Lou Brock in 1968. Duran’s impressive campaign saw him join former Red Sox players Jacoby Ellsbury (2011) and Mookie Betts (2018) as the only Sox’ hitters to record 30 or more stolen bases and record 80 or more extra-base hits in a season.

Duran’s 8.7 bWAR ranked fifth in the majors, only behind Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Shohei Ohtani, and Gunnar Henderson. Defensively, the speedy outfielder was a Gold Glove finalist in center field after ranking second in the league with 23 defensive runs saved. Duran led all outfielders in assists (12) and innings played (1,421 1/3 frames). Winning the All-Star MVP award was the crowning achievement of his impressive campaign.

“I’m putting so much pressure on myself to kind of continue off of last year,” Duran said to The Boston Globe. “[Assistant hitting coach Ben Rosenthal] and some of the hitting coaches have realized that I’m putting a lot more pressure on myself, and they just told me that what made me special last year is that I was just myself. So they’re just trying to remind me to go out there and just be myself. So I’m trying to get back to that.

“I know I’ve been hard on myself already,” Duran added, “and we aren’t even in the season yet.”

There’s another motivator for Duran to build off his 2024 campaign, and it’s the potential compensation he can earn next season. Duran agreed to a one-year, $3.75 million deal for this season that avoided arbitration. He also gets an $8 million team option for 2026 that can max out to $12 million based on performance escalators that depend on how he finishes in next year’s MVP race.

Duran played in 160 games, putting a significant strain on his body due to his heavy workload. He would have likely played the entire 162-game calendar but was suspended for two games for the use of a homophobic slur that resulted in him being suspended for two games. Boston needs Duran as fresh as possible the entire season; a repeat performance this season is one of the keys to the Sox' potential postseason hopes.

Rafaela should get to see time exclusively in center field this coming year after 87 games out there in 2024. The 24-year-old saw 82 games at shortstop after Story injured his shoulder early on in the year, resulting in missing a massive portion of the season.

The third-year big leaguer should stick exclusively in center field, and if he does, there’s a chance he could be a legitimate Gold Glove candidate this year. With only 634 1/3 innings, he finished 8th in the majors in Outfield DRS (12), but his overall defensive metrics suffered due to a steep learning curve as an everyday shortstop (-2 DRS, -7 OAA) after Story was placed on the shelf.

“Physically it was a challenge,” Cora said to reporters in camp last month. “Playing short, playing center field. That was a lot. We threw a lot to him. And he actually had a good season, I believe. The chase part of it, we have to be better.”

Rafaela's offensive performance raised numerous concerns, and he must significantly improve. Across 152 games last season, he hit .246/.274/.390/.664 with 15 homers, 23 doubles, and 5 triples. He finished with a 79 wRC+, which was the 4th-worst mark for any qualified regular last season, only trailing Maikel Garcia, Orlando Arcia, and Bryan De La Cruz.

Poor swing decisions led to his struggles, finishing in the 1st percentile in Chase Rate, BB%, and xOBP, according to Baseball Savant. He went a staggering 142 straight appearances without a walk. Boston needs him to be more selective at the plate and less aggressive.

Boston laid out a plan for Rafaela this coming season. First, he will play exclusively in center field. If Story suffers an injury, the Sox will have more depth this year, especially with Mayer at Triple-A Worcester eager to play in the big leagues. Rafaela altered his batting stance, lowering his hands and allowing him to be connected with his front leg, accompanied by a small leg kick to help his overall timing. He also added muscle to his small 5-foot-9 frame. The club needed Rafaela to get more physical, and the added strength will help him over the course of a long season.

Abreu comes in this season fresh off winning a Gold Glove in right field. His defense is exceptional, and his powerful arm enables him to play in one of the most challenging right fields in the game. The 25-year-old hit .253 with 15 homers, 58 RBI, and a .781 OPS in 132 games. He struggled to hit left-handed pitching, hitting just .180 with a .533 OPS.

The Red Sox would like Abreu to be a more complete player who plays every day, but he will need to show he can handle southpaws at the Major League level. Abreu acknowledged this spring that he needs to make better adjustments when facing lefties on the mound.

“That’s something I focused on, how to prepare to face lefties,” Abreu said through team translator Daveson Perez. “I didn’t have the greatest numbers last year, but I didn’t have many opportunities. This year, I think it’s going to get a lot better if I have more opportunities against lefties.

“Last year was just a year of adapting for me. This year, I’m going in with a deeper understanding of how they want to attack me, what they’re going to do to me, and a deeper understanding of how to prepare throughout the year."

Masataka Yoshida will be part of the outfield mix at some point this season. The Sox have no other choice but to include him, owing the left-handed hitter $18.6 million per year for the next three seasons. He will commence a 20-day rehabilitation assignment with the WooSox, after which the Sox can determine his physical readiness and either activate him immediately or postpone his decision further. 

The best-case scenario for the Red Sox is that Yoshida gets hot early and carries it into the summer, and they can move him in a deal regardless of where they're at in the standings. John Henry must absorb a portion of his salary, as his roster spot is too valuable to continue attempting to fit a non-standard player into a non-standard position. 

Designated Hitter: Rafael Devers

Analysis: Following the start of the spring season, Devers expressed frustration over losing his position to Bregman. He is the team’s designated hitter, and he says he’s ready to help the team win. 

"(Devers) was very vocal about how he felt, and we made a decision," Cora said on WEEI on Wednesday afternoon. "Alex is going to play third, and Raffy is going to DH. We all are in the winning business."

Similar to Duran, the Red Sox need Devers’ to produce at the plate if they want to be considered serious players for a postseason berth.

His shoulders were an issue last season, and they seem to be fine ahead of the new season. Devers has yet to hit 40 homers in a season, and now, having to only focus on hitting, he has a chance to put together a giant year offensively. One thing to watch is if he starts out slow at the plate and if he becomes an issue. There’s nothing to suggest he will, but Boston desperately needs a dialed-in Devers this year.