Red Sox Roster Breakdown

The offseason officially gets underway today, and we all know the Red Sox have a busy winter ahead of them. I would probably argue the team doesn’t need as much of a facelift as it seems they are going to get, but believe it or not they don’t care much about what I think. So, given the amount of change we are anticipating it probably makes sense to get a baseline of what exactly the Red Sox roster looks like as things get started.

Free Agents (6)

We’ll start with the players who are now officially off the roster, at least for the time being.

Andrew Cashner

Cashner has virtually no chance of coming back to Boston this year. He did look solid enough out of the bullpen at the end of the year and will likely get some sort of offer from a major-league club to pitch in relief. He is ineligible for a qualifying offer.

Jhoulys Chacín

Chacín could be in play for a return to Boston. The odds are against it and one would hope their sights are set higher than this to fill their vacant rotation spot. If they price themselves out of better options, though, he could be a fall-back. He is ineligible for a qualifying offer.

Brock Holt

To me, Holt is the most interesting free agent here. The Red Sox still have no real solid plan at second base in-house, and Holt obviously adds versatility beyond that. There is also, of course, his immense connection to the city. I’d put it around 45/55 for him coming back. Holt is eligible for a qualifying offer, but he will not receive one.

Mitch Moreland

Moreland is unlikely to be back with the Red Sox next year, but is not totally out of the question. They do not have a clear answer at first base without him, though Michael Chavis and Bobby Dalbec are options. I’d put this at 30/70 for him coming back. Moreland is eligible for a qualifying offer, but he will not receive one.

Rick Porcello

Porcello is the most likely free agent to come back, though I would not call it anything close to a certainty. The Red Sox have a hole in their rotation left by his potential departure, and his price range is likely going to be around what they are looking for. I’d put this at 50/50 for him coming back. Porcello is eligible for a qualifying offer but will not receive one.

Steve Pearce

Pearce is not going to be back with the Red Sox next year. In fact, he may not even play baseball at all in 2020. He will always be loved in Boston for 2018, but there is just no place for him in Boston as they already have right-handed options for first base. Pearce is eligible for the qualifying offer but will not receive one.

Options (1)

These players have either player options or team options for the 2020 season.

J.D. Martinez

This is the first big story for the Red Sox this winter. J.D. Martinez has an opt-out in his contract for this winter with three years and $62.45 million left on his deal. I’ve gone back and forth on this one for a while now, and I think at this point I’m leaning towards him opting out. If that is the case, Martinez will be eligible for a qualifying offer and would certainly receive it. If declined, the Red Sox would receive a draft pick after the fourth round if/when he signed with another club.

Guaranteed Contracts (6)

The following players are under contract for at least the 2020 season.

Xander Bogaerts

Bogaerts is under contract through the 2025 season with a vesting option for the 2026 season and an opt out after the 2022 season. He is not a trade candidate this winter.

Nathan Eovaldi

Eovaldi is under contract through the 2022 season. The Red Sox would certainly consider trading him, but it is not going to happen unless they eat a lot of money and/or attach a valuable player.

Dustin Pedroia

Pedroia re-joins the roster today as he had been on the 60-day injured list. He is under contract through the 2021 season. It is unclear how much, if at all, he’ll be able to play this season. He is not a trade candidate.

David Price

Price is under contract through the 2022 season. Like Eovaldi, he is someone the Red Sox would trade but it is nearly impossible to make happen. He is also better than Eovaldi.

Chris Sale

Sale is under contract through the 2024 season with a vesting option for the 2025 season. Injuries are certainly a concern here, but I suspect the Red Sox aren’t as eager to part ways with Sale as some fans. Either way, it is not going to happen.

Christian Vázquez

Vázquez is under contract through the 2021 season with a team option for 2022. He is not a trade candidate this winter.

Arbitration-Eligible Players (9)

The following players are eligible for arbitration in 2020. The projected salaries are from MLB Trade Rumors.

Matt Barnes

Barnes is in his second year of arbitration eligibility. He is set to hit free agency following the 2021 season. He is not a non-tender candidate and is projected to make $3.0 million.

Andrew Benintendi

Benintendi is in his first year of arbitration eligibility. He is set to hit free agency following the 2022 season. He is not a non-tender candidate and is projected to make $4.9 million.

Mookie Betts

Betts is in his third year of arbitration eligibility. He is set to hit free agency following the 2020 season. He is not a non-tender candidate and is projected to make $27.7 million.

Jackie Bradley Jr.

Bradley Jr. is in his fourth year of arbitration eligibility. He is set to hit free agency following the 2020 season. He is likely not a non-tender candidate and is projected to make $11 million.

Heath Hembree

Hembree is in his secnd year of arbitration eligibility. He is set to hit free agency following the 2021 season. He is a non-tender candidate and is projected to make $1.6 million.

Marco Hernández

Hernández is in his first year of arbitration eligibility. He is set to hit free agency following the 2022 season. He is not a non-tender candidate and is projected to make $700,000.

Sandy León

León is in his fourth year of arbitration eligibility. He is set to hit free agency following the 2020 season. He is a non-tender candidate and is projected to make $2.8 million.

Eduardo Rodriguez

Rodriguez is in his third year of arbitration eligibility. He is set to hit free agency following the 2021 season. He is not a non-tender candidate and is projected to make $9.5 million.

Brandon Workman

Workman is in his third year of arbitration eligibility. He is set to hit free agency following the 2020 season. He is not a non-tender candidate and is projected to make $3.4 million.

Pre-Arbitration Players (17)

The following players are not yet eligible for arbitration. Also included is the number of minor-league options they have remaining. Those with zero options left either have to make the Opening Day roster or will be designated for assignment.

Ryan Brasier

Options: 1

Colten Brewer

Options: 1

Michael Chavis

Options: 2

Rafael Devers

Options: 3

Darwinzon Hernandez

Options: 2

Brian Johnson

Options: 0

Trevor Kelley

Options: 2

Travis Lakins

Options: 2

Tzu-Wei Lin

Options: 0

Bobby Poyner

Options: 1

Denyi Reyes

Options: 2

Mike Shawaryn

Options: 2

Josh Taylor

Options: 2

Sam Travis

Options: 0

Hector Velázquez

Options: 1

Marcus Walden

Options: 2

Ryan Weber

Options: 1

Total

With all of that, the Red Sox have 33 players on their 40-man roster to begin the offseason.

Rule 5 Eligible Players

The following minor leaguers are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter. The list comes via Sox Prospects.

Christopher Acosta, Fabian Andrade, Yoan Aybar, Roldani Baldwin, Eduard Bazardo, Gary Calvo, Marino Campana, Pedro Castellanos, Rusney Castillo, CJ Chatham, Jake Cosart, Ricardo Cubillan, Bobby Dalbec, Enmanuel De Jesus, Chad De La Guerra, Jhonathan Diaz, Jerry Downs, Devon Fisher, Matthew Gorst, Kyle Hart, Trenton Kemp,, Matt Kent, Adam Lau, Nick Lovullo, Everlouis Lozada, Tate Matheny, Samuel Miranda, Oddanier Mosqueda, Josh Ockimey, Angel Padron, Yorvin Pantoja, Keibert Petit, Roniel Raudes, Austin Rei, Hildemaro Requena, Jeremy Rivera, Kleiber Rodriguez, Jake Romanski, Jagger Rusconi, Alberto Schmidt, Andrew Schwaab, Nick Sciortino, Kevin Steen, Cole Sturgeon, Kervin Suarez, Luke Tendler, Josh Tobias, Marcus Wilson

Potential candidates to be protected (i.e. added to the 40-man roster) are: Yoan Aybar Eduard Bazardo, C.J. Chatham, Bobby Dalbec and Marcus Wilson.