Key storylines are included with every Spring Training. Here are three notable ones related to the Red Sox.
Which starters are prepared to make the move?
In addition to losing James Paxton to the Dodgers via free agency and dealing Chris Sale to the Braves, the Red Sox also added Lucas Giolito as a free agent. If Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery don’t sign deals soon, Boston will rely largely on its core of righties in their mid-20s to advance, barring an unexpectedly large addition.
The most talented member of the group is Brayan Bello, who has stated that he wants to be selected for Opening Day. Bello was erratic over parts of the previous season, but he also threw like an ace at times, concluding the
Kutter Crawford started 23 of his 31 games last year, showing that he was largely reliable. Pitching farther into games is his next developmental step.
After being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, Garrett Whitlock was a dominant rookie reliever in 2021. However, he has struggled with injuries in the last two seasons, which has made it difficult for him to transition from swingman to a full-time rotation member. Anyone who saw Whitlock during Winter Weekend could see that he had worked out hard during the offseason and was in good health going into camp.
Whitlock’s best friend Tanner Houck was the only starter in the previous campaign. I had two problems with that. The first was that he kept having trouble after the third order. The second incident was unlucky on June 16 when he was hit by a batted ball, which resulted in a facial fracture and restricted his 21st season of starts. Although Houck is built like a starter, he needs to exert greater control over the ball more often to keep from being sent back to the bullpen.
If Vaughn Grissom is prepared for a daily games?
Since the Braves are overabundant in position players, Grissom didn’t have much of a chance to earn a regular Majors berth with the team. That’s not the case for the Red Sox, who have spent the last few seasons trying to find a long-term replacement at second base.
- Let me introduce you to Grissom, a 23-year-old with a proven offensive track record in the Minor Leagues. The Sox believe Grissom will develop into a more potent player because they traded Sale for his powerful right-handed bat. Grissom is built robustly yet lankily. How capable he is as a defender is one of the main concerns. Grissom will undoubtedly be one of the players to watch out for throughout Spring Training.
How will the players in the outfield combine?
The outfield must produce for any team to succeed. Boston’s outfield is, to put it simply, untested. In his first season since arriving from Japan, Masataka Yoshida was dominant at the plate through July, but his bat faltered in the latter part of the game. The Red Sox believe he will improve.Now that he’s in his second year, he’s had time to become adjusted to the more demanding travel schedule and culture than he was in Japan. Yoshida may find himself playing designated hitter far more frequently than he did during his rookie season now that Justin Turner is not there.
In his first season with the Majors last year, 24-year-old Abreu flourished, amassing an.862 OPS in 85 plate appearances. To show that wasn’t just someone keeping warm over a short sample size is Abreu’s mission. The Red Sox appreciate his patient approach, so more playing time should be in store for him. Before Opening Day, it wouldn’t be shocking if Boston added another right-hander, ideally one who could play first base as well as outfield.