Fan questions answered about the Red Sox

Out of the new signings and promotions to the big-league roster, who do you assume could have the largest impression? What is your prediction for the group’s file this yr?

Speier: I’d go together with each Willson Contreras and Marcelo Mayer as having the largest impacts, given the woeful 2025 manufacturing for the Red Sox at first and second base final yr. There is appreciable worth in the reliability they’ll convey — Mayer defensively, Contreras in his all-around sport — that was a serious drag on the group’s efficiency for lengthy stretches in 2025.

I’ll avoid wins predictions — simply not my factor. The delight of Opening Day is standing on the precipice of the unknown.

Is Roman Anthony successful his first MVP this yr, or does he have to attend till subsequent yr?

AS: Have expectations ever escalated so rapidly for a participant? Mookie Betts was an MVP runner-up in his second full season, however nobody projected him to take action that yr. The thought that there is MVP buzz round Anthony after 71 big-league video games is mind-blowing. I’m not saying it is wrong-headed, and I respect your tongue-in-cheek query, but it surely’s insane to assume that somebody with so little huge expertise is constructed upon for elite manufacturing.

Will the automated ball-strike problem system be as warmly obtained as the pitch clock was?

AS: As warmly as the pitch clock? That could be an exaggeration, as a result of the pitch clock positively impacted each pitch of the sport! The problem system might be a bit buggier — whether or not it is frustration about the two-challenge restrict, ongoing dialog about whether or not full ABS is preferable, or when video games are determined by the reality {that a} group runs out of challenges. That mentioned, there isn’t any query it will be seen as an enchancment over the established order, and it labored terrifically in Triple A.

Does it actually really feel like the outfield is simply ready for an harm to work itself out? Will Masataka Yoshida be placed on one other ghost injured record stint?

AS: For now, I’d guess we’ll see Yoshida in the lineup two to 3 instances every week and getting an excellent variety of pinch-hitting appearances, with Cora utilizing considered one of her lefthanded bench bats for the catchers fairly a bit. The Sox do not have superb place participant depth proper now, so maintaining Yoshida in the end is smart. If Triston Casas will get wholesome and appears like the hitter he was in 2023 and stretches of 2024, or if Kristian Campbell (who struggled fairly a bit this spring) finds a groove, maybe the Sox will revisit then.

I’m curious about the group chemistry now that each one the World Baseball Classic gamers are returning to the membership. Does it seem to be they’re able to journey the momentum of their sizzling performances?

AS: I’m not an enormous believer in momentum normally. And on this particular case, there was such an excessive shift from the match to eight am report instances in the clubhouse for 1 pm video games in spring-training parks (and/or on minor league backfield video games) that the week and a half since the finish of the WBC appears fairly way back. The query is much less momentum than whether or not these performances served as a sign of expertise, particularly with Anthony and Wilyer Abreu probably being prepared for power-hitting primetime.

How come the Sox did not pursue a “real” designated hitter in the offseason?

AS: Well, it is a slight exaggeration to say they did not “pursue” one, however their provide to Pete Alonso wasn’t near the place the Orioles went. The Sox have been loyal to long-term, five-year bets on DHs, so Alonso and Kyle Schwarber went elsewhere. They went with an excellent, possible underrated hitter in Contreras — who required only a two-year dedication.

Do the Red Sox have an outfielder drawback? If so, to what extent? Yoshida performed consultant left discipline for Team Japan [in the WBC]. I really feel like the plan is to attend for an harm to permit everybody to get their at-bats. Do you see it in a different way? Are all 5 of those outfielders on the roster in October: I imply Abreu, Anthony, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Yoshida.

Meanwhile, does Campbell even sniff the major-league roster this yr? It looks like he is a transparent sixth, except supervisor Alex Cora would like that Yoshida keep a DH even when there are sufficient accidents to warrant taking part in him in the outfield.

AS: For now, it is a problem moderately than an issue — Alex Cora was assembly one-on-one with totally different members of the outfield group throughout the waning days of spring coaching to elucidate how the division of labor may work with the taking part in time. For October, the thought of ​​an excellent bench bat can be an asset moderately than an issue.

I do not assume the Sox will ever really feel like their finest defensive group consists of Yoshida on the discipline. If there’s an harm to considered one of the different 4, or a commerce, I believe we would see a wholesome dose of Nate Eaton in the outfield over Yoshida.

As for Campbell…hopefully I’ve given some sense of that above. His offense will decide if he re-emerges as a big-league choice in 2026.

Which of the Red Sox’ new group of minor-league arms (Juan Valera, Kyson Witherspoon, Anthony Eyanson, Marcus Phillips) are you most excited about by way of prospect potential? Is this the finest group of minor-league arms the Red Sox system has ever had?

AS: The 2005 Portland Sea Dogs had an Opening Day rotation of Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, Aníbal Sánchez, and Manny Delcarmen. I’d go together with that group as extra loaded till confirmed in any other case. But that Greenville group ought to have extremely electrical stuff, and can be excessive on the record of highest-ceiling minor-league rotations the Sox have featured.

Who’s the most underrated participant on the Sox this season and why is it Masataka Yoshida?

ACE: Ha! I do assume the dismissiveness about Yoshida’s potential impression deserves re-examination. I additionally assume Duran’s unbelievable ceiling is simply too simply forgotten. His 2024 season was extraordinary, and his 2025 follow-up had flashes of nice, albeit with out the consistency of the earlier yr. Duran is considered one of simply 13 place gamers to be value 10-plus fWAR since the begin of 2024. When he is at his most dynamic, there are few game-changers in baseball like him. Meanwhile, he appeared explosive at the plate in spring coaching — in a approach that provided reminders of his extraordinary expertise. He would possibly by no means have a season like 2024 once more, and sure could have some significant peaks and valleys, however Duran and Anthony are the two place gamers most able to carrying the Sox for sustained stretches.

What would you think about a profitable 2026 season for this group?

AS: Ultimately, I believe the customary is whether or not they can take a progressive step ahead on their developmental arc, which could be met in considered one of two methods: 1) Winning the AL East 2) Advancing previous the wild-card spherical.

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Adria Watson could be reached at adria.watson@globe.com. Follow her @adriarwatson. Alex Speier could be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. observe him @alexspeier.