Red Sox 2025 roster projection: There’s still work to be done after the hook trade

Red Sox 2025 roster projection: Still work to be done after Crochet Trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox finally made a big splash this offseason last week by acquiring left-hander Garrett Crochet in a blockbuster deal with the Chicago White Sox. The move gives Boston the asset it desperately needs, but questions remain about the pitching staff and throughout the rest of the roster.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has stated that the club is still looking for rotation upgrades, right-handed bats and bullpen help. They could still address these needs through free agency, but we shouldn’t rule out another blockbuster trade that would shake up the projected Opening Day roster.

Until then, here is a Red Sox roster projection for early 2025, with many changes expected to be implemented in the coming months:

Catcher (2)

1. Connor Wong

2. Carlos Narvaez

The Red Sox traded their No. 4 ranked prospect, catcher Kyle Teel, to the Chicago White Sox in the deal that brought left-handed ace Garrett Crochet to Boston. Teel would have had a clear path to a big league role alongside Connor Wong, but instead he’s the odd man out among the ‘core four’ Sox prospects.

Shortly after the Crochet trade, the Red Sox acquired backstop Carlos Narvaez from the New York Yankees for right-handed pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. Narvaez has just six games of MLB experience, but is considered an above-average defensive catcher. He’s poised to serve as Wong’s backup, barring any other moves to land a big-league catcher this season.

First base (1)

1. Triston Casas

Triston Casas has been signed as Boston’s opening day first baseman until further notice. That said, there appears to be a real chance he won’t be on the roster when the Red Sox begin their season in Texas on March 27.

The 24-year-old slugger continues to be mentioned in trade rumors as we approach the new year. He was reportedly raised in trade talks with the Seattle Mariners, with Boston eyeing one of their starting pitchers early in the offseason.

These trade rumors, combined with talk of potentially moving third baseman Rafael Devers to first base, indicate Casas will anchor a different lineup next season. But for now, he’s the Red Sox first baseman for 2025 and beyond.

Second base (2)

1. Vaughn Grissom

2. Kristian Campbell

Enmanuel Valdez led the Red Sox in starts at second base last season (56), but he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday in exchange for right-hander Joe Vogatsky. That deal leaves youngsters Vaughn Grissom, Kristian Campbell and David Hamilton (more on him in the shortstop section below) as the top candidates for the starting second baseman gig in 2025.

Grissom, who turns 24 in January, was acquired from the Atlanta Braves last offseason in exchange for veteran left-hander Chris Sale. That deal seems like a dud in retrospect, considering Sale won the National League Cy Young award. However, Grissom has time on his side as he seems to be developing into the player he was supposed to be when he was ranked as Atlanta’s top prospect.

If Grissom can’t find his groove in 2025, Red Sox breakout Kristian Campbell could steal the starting second base job. Campbell, the No. 2-ranked player in the system (via SoxProspects.com), was named the 2024 Minor League Player of the Year after starting the season at High-A Greenville and ending it at Triple-A Worcester. He slashed .330/.439/.558 with 20 home runs and 77 RBI in 115 minor league games.

If he picks up where he left off, it will be difficult to leave Campbell off the 2025 Opening Day roster.

Short stop (2)

1. Trevor story

2. David Hamilton

A wholesome story could be a game-changer for Boston, but right now it’s a pipe dream. The 32-year-old hasn’t been able to stay on the field since the Red Sox signed him in 2022.

Nevertheless, Story is under contract through 2027 and is all but locked in as shortstop on Boston’s Opening Day. What about the backup plan?

Speedy middle infielder David Hamilton played 62 games at shortstop in 2024. The Red Sox would likely prefer to see him come off the bench as a versatile defender and base-stealing threat, but he’s a viable option if Story goes down go. He could also take the starting second baseman job if neither Grissom nor Campbell are ready for the role.

Ceddanne Rafaela and top prospect Marcelo Mayer are also candidates to spend time at shortstop. Rafaela played 87 games in the outfield and 82 as a short player in 2024. Mayer was unable to play after being promoted to Triple-A due to a season-ending lumbar strain, so he will almost certainly start next season in Worcester hoping to make things right. the selection from the big league later in the campaign.

Third base (1)

1. Rafael Devers

This doesn’t require much thought, but it will if the offseason rumors linking the Red Sox to veteran third basemen Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado become reality.

Bregman and Arenado would be huge defensive upgrades at third base, and acquiring either of them would likely result in Devers moving to first base (if Casas is traded) or designated hitter. However, until such a move is made, Devers will retain his role at the hot corner.

Outfield (4)

1. Jarren Duran

2. Ceddanne Rafaela

3. Wilier Abreu

4. Rob Refsnyder

Tyler O’Neill is out of the picture after signing with the Baltimore Orioles, but the Red Sox still have a logjam in the outfield.

Roman Anthony, the number one contender in the competition, looks ready for The Show. To make room for him on the roster, Boston could look to trade Wilyer Abreu or Jarren Duran for a starting pitching package. Simply adding Anthony to the mix would be redundant and make the lineup even more left-handed.

Designated hitter (1)

1. Masataka Yoshida

In a perfect world, the Red Sox would send Yoshida to a team willing to eat some of his salary in an offseason trade. That doesn’t seem likely, however, as the 31-year-old has had an up-and-down campaign that ended with surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder.

Yoshida will reopen the 2025 season as the team’s DH, but he’s not a good fit on the roster as a left-handed hitter who lacks power. Maybe Boston will move Devers to DH or sign one of the best sluggers on the free agent market.

If it’s the latter, here are the top hitters still available in free agency:

• Teoscar Hernandez, OF

• Piet Alonso, 1B

• Paul Goldschmidt, 1B

• Christian Walker, 1B

• Alex Bregman, 3B

• Anthony Santander, OF

• Justin Turner, DH/1B

• Jurickson Profar, OF

• Gleyber Torres, 2B

• J.D. Martinez, DH

Starting pitchers (5)

1. Garrett Crochet, LHP

2. Brayan Bello, RHP

3. Tanner Houck, RHP

4. Lucas Giolito, RHP

5. Kutter Crawford, RHP

The addition of Crochet completely changes the look of Boston’s starting rotation and gives the staff a bona fide asset. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to add another front-end starter to give the Red Sox a 1-2 punch that can go toe-to-toe in any rotation in the league.

Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford each gave the Red Sox 30-plus starts in 2024. Lucas Giolito is a Comeback Player of the Year candidate after undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the entire season. It’s a high-potential group, but Boston’s best course of action would be to sign or trade for a new No. 1 or 2 starter

Rotation depth options include Cooper Criswell, Michael Fulmer, Richard Fitts and Josh Winckowski.

Here are the most attractive starting pitching options left on the free-agent market:

• Corbin Burnes, RHP

• Walker Bühler, RHP

• Jack Flaherty, RHP

• Jose Quintana, LHP

• Sean Manaea, LHP

Relief pitchers (8)

1. Liam Hendriks, RHP

2. Aroldis Chapman, LHP

3. Justin Slaten, RHP

4. Justin Wilson, LHP

5. Josh Winckowski, RHP

6. Zack Kelly, RHP

7. Greg Weissert, RHP

8. Richard Fitts, RHP

With veterans Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin hitting free agency, Breslow has made a noticeable effort to improve the bullpen this season by signing left-handed relievers Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson. It will be a formidable group if Liam Hendriks regains his 2022 form and Chapman can continue to fend off Father Time.

If the Red Sox continue to pursue bullpen upgrades, here are the best options left on the market:

• Jeff Hoffman, RHP

• Tanner Scott, LHP

• Joe Kelly, RHP

• Blake Treinen, RHP

• Kirby Yates, RHP

• Paul Sewald, RHP

• Carlos Estevez, RHP

• Scott Barlow, RHP

• Tanner Scott, LHP

• José Leclerc, RHP

• A. J. Minter, LHP

Injured list

1. Garrett Whitlock, RHP (Tommy John rehabilitation)

2. Chris Murphy, LHP (Tommy John rehabilitation)