![]() The rotation is a relatively easy guess at this point. Tapia has a late-spring opt-out, meaning he could look for other opportunities if the Red Sox choose not to carry him. Greg Allen, another veteran on a minor-league deal, is a better defender than either Tapia or Duran, but he hasn’t hit as much and seems to be a longer shot to make the team out of camp. In his absence, Tapia has thrived with a 1.138 OPS. Jarren Duran is an obvious alternative (who’s already on the 40-man roster) but Duran’s been away from the team to play in the World Baseball Classic. He hasn’t played there much this spring, but Tapia’s done it in the past, and whoever fills the final bench spot will likely need to play some center field to help rest Duvall. A source familiar with the Red Sox’s thinking said the team is “warming to the idea” of Tapia playing some center field as well. He would give the Red Sox speed and a lefty bat off the bench, plus some designated hitter protection for Turner against tough righties. Rob Refsnyder is a shoo-in as the right-handed fourth outfielder - essential for balance considering all the lefties in this lineup - but Tapia has been tremendous this spring. The non-roster position player in a better position to make the team is outfielder Raimel Tapia. If Alfaro were a slam-dunk big-league bench player, he would have gotten a major-league deal this winter, and how many teams want to start the season with a catcher who’s completely unfamiliar with their pitching staff? Given the tight 40-man roster, it might be easiest and best for the Red Sox simply to carry Wong, assuming he continues to make progress toward a healthy Opening Day. If another team wants Alfaro, the Red Sox will have to decide whether he’s enough of an upgrade to be worth DFA-ing someone else, but it might not come to that. ![]() Jorge Alfaro is an interesting alternative who has an upward mobility clause in his minor-league contract (meaning he can ask the Red Sox to make him available to any team willing to put him on its big-league roster). Yu Chang was given a big-league contract at the start of spring training, and despite his time away - for the World Baseball Classic, and now because of visa issues - he remains a heavy favorite to be the backup middle infielder, at least until Adalberto Mondesi is ready to play.īackup catcher is a little less certain, but the Red Sox have been encouraged by Connor Wong’s recovery from an early hamstring injury, and Wong got a bunch of minor-league at-bats on Monday. The Red Sox are giving Bobby Dalbec starts at shortstop and groundballs at second base, but it’s still hard to imagine him breaking camp in the utility role. The bench is far less settled, though it might not be quite the open competition it seems. The only lingering lineup question is who will lead off most games, but that might vary depending on matchups. Justin Turner was hit by a pitch to the face on March 6, but he returned to the lineup on Monday. The team knew coming into spring training that Trevor Story would be unavailable to start the season, but all of the other lineup regulars are healthy at the moment. The good news for the Red Sox is that their everyday lineup is so far fully intact. As was the case all winter, the team’s full 40-man roster will be a factor in the decision-making process.
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