After a long and largely uneventful offseason, spring training is officially here.
The Red Sox formally open camp in Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday, kicking off a six-week marathon as the club ramps up preparations for the 2024 campaign. Though some last-minute signings are always a possibility, we more or less know what this year’s team is going to look like. Now, the question is if enough of the club’s younger players are ready to take the kind of leap forward it will take for Boston to compete in a loaded American League East.
So as camp officially opens in the coming days, here is everything you need to know about the Red Sox this spring.
Spring training officially kicks off Wednesday when pitchers and catchers report for their first workout. The first full squad workout will follow next week on Monday, and the first exhibition game will be next Friday (Feb. 23) against Northeastern University.
From there the Grapefruit League schedule will kick off next Saturday (Feb. 24) against Baltimore in Sarasota, and the Red Sox will play nearly every day for the following month. Among the highlights of the spring training slate are the two-game series against Tampa Bay in the Dominican Republic (March 9-10), the Spring Breakout prospect showcase at JetBlue Park on March 16, and once camp breaks the Red Sox will play their last two spring training games at Texas’ Globe Life Field (March 25-26) on their way west for the season opener in Seattle (March 28).
Most of the Red Sox starting lineup is already set in stone, but there are a handful of position battles to keep an eye on as the spring progresses.
The biggest is who will claim the last spot in the starting rotation. Right now, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito, Nick Pivetta and Kutter Crawford are projected to be in, leaving Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck, Josh Winckowski and Cooper Criswell to battle for the remaining spot. Unless the Red Sox make a late signing (Jordan Montgomery?) one of those four should win the final spot while the others start the season in the bullpen.
Most of the Red Sox bullpen also appears set, but there will be fierce competition for the last spot. Justin Slaten looks to have the inside track as a Rule 5 pick, but Isaiah Campbell and Greg Weissert both have recent big league experience and were acquired this offseason in trades, and incumbents like Zack Kelly, Chris Murphy, Brandon Walter, Joe Jacques and Bryan Mata should all factor in as well.
On the position player side, there should be a competitive battle for the primary utility spot off the bench. Pablo Reyes and new signee Romy Gonzalez should be the favorites, though prospects Enmanuel Valdez and David Hamilton will get a look as well. The X-factor is Ceddanne Rafaela, who has by far the highest upside but who might be better served getting regular at-bats at Triple-A, rather than inconsistent playing time off the bench.
To the extent there will be competition among the projected starters, it will be worth watching how Masataka Yoshida and Tyler O’Neill are utilized. Will Yoshida mostly serve as a designated hitter? Will O’Neill be an everyday player or will he wind up platooning with the left-handed hitting Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu? Is Abreu really in line to serve as Boston’s regular right-fielder, as the club’s top decision-makers have suggested throughout the offseason? We should get a clearer sense as the spring goes on.
With the addition of left-hander Lucas Luetge, the Red Sox will begin spring training with 24 non-roster invitees.
A former Yankees left-hander, Luetge is one of 11 pitchers hoping to make a good impression in Fort Myers. There’s also former Colorado Rockies minor leaguer Helcris Olivarez, who offers strikeout potential, but has struggled with command throughout his career.
Former Boston bullpen arm – albeit briefly – Frank German is back as well, after a whirlwind tour of several organizations. After being named the organization’s minor league Relief Pitcher of the Year for 2022, German has been traded to the White Sox last February, claimed by the Cincinnati Reds in May, and released in July. He re-signed with the Red Sox on a minor-league deal later that month.
Luis Guerrero is one of the most intriguing arms in the group. He posted a 1.81 ERA over 43 appearances for Double-A last year, including 34 games finished and 18 saves. It earned him a promotion to Triple-A, where he allowed four earned runs on four hits over six appearances (three scoreless) before season’s end. Though the Sox bullpen already has plenty of righties, Guerrero could be looked at as a potential closer option in the near future, especially if a Kenley Jansen trade ends up happening.
It’s the beginning of what should be a big year for Nick Yorke. The 21-year-old infielder already earned a spot at the organization’s annual Rookie Development Program last month, and is now a non-roster invite to Major League camp. He had a solid season in Double-A, hitting .268 with a .785 OPS over 110 games, but with a fairly set Boston infield, it’ll be interesting to see what his future holds. Likewise for infielder Chase Meidroth, who’s only been in the organization for two years, but rose from rookie ball to Double-A in that span.
There’s also catcher Nathan Hickey, who’s climbing the ranks at the same time as the organization’s 2023 first-round pick, fellow backstop Kyle Teel. Hickey is joined two-time Gold Glove-winner Roberto Pérez in the non-roster crew.
Dalton Guthrie, whose father Mark played for the Red Sox during his own Major League career, is another intriguing invitee. Unlike most of his fellow non-roster folks, he has some Major League experience from his time with the Philadelphia Phillies. He offers Boston infield and outfield depth.