With spring training officially opening on Sunday, the Red Sox enter camp with a solid roster in need of manageable upgrades.
So how does the roster stack up against an improved American League, and what do the Red Sox need to do to return to the postseason? Let's go position by position and break it down.The fact that Bloom reportedly made a play for Pirates Gold Glover Jacob Stallings before he was traded to the Marlins tells you all you need to know about the team's satisfaction level with Vazquez, the incumbent starter.
Given Casas's proximity to the majors, it probably makes sense for Bloom to save his financial bullets for other positions.As things stand now, Arroyo is the likely starter, with Hernández remaining in center field, where he played at a Gold Glove level last year. Or they could go massive and sign a free agent like Carlos Correa, moving Bogaerts off of short, or Trevor Story, shifting the former Rockies All-Star to second.Despite his defensive struggles, it's hard to imagine Devers is going anywhere. A move across the diamond to first base might make sense if Casas weren't nearly ready, but the likelier bet is the Red Sox continue to hope that Devers makes enough defensive strides to be passable.
The question for him is if he can take that next step offensively. He delivered a strong start that made him a borderline All-Star and an excellent finish in a postseason that saw him hit .310, but in between he was pretty mediocre, with a .777 OPS that suggests little more than average.Center field: Kiké Hernández, Jackie Bradley Jr.
Hernández also lived up to his billing as a clutch postseason performer by hitting .408 with five homers in 11 games.Here's where things get interesting. The Red Sox have been linked to Japanese star Seiya Suzuki all winter and seem ready to make a play for the young slugger, though a reported preference to spend spring training in Arizona could doom their chances.
The Red Sox could re-sign Schwarber with the idea of giving him some DH at-bats in advance of handing him the job full-time in 2023. Or they could mix and match. But for now, this job belongs to Martinez.The big question is whether youngsters Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck will earn a chance to start, or if manager Alex Cora will decide they're too valuable in the bullpen.
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