Resetting the Red Sox roster ahead of the offseason

The World Series is in the books, which means the offseason is officially underway. Typically it takes at least a few days for things to really get going, but the Red Sox could be fairly active right off the bat, at least with their managerial search. Today, Alex Cora’s suspension is over and he is eligible to be re-hired by anyone. The Red Sox haven’t exactly tipped their hand here, but the expectation remains that they will bring back their former manager for another run. That is the number one thing Red Sox fans will be watching for to start this winter.

Once the managerial decision is made, though, there is still plenty of work to do with the roster. That is the focus for today. As the offseason gets underway, I figured it’d be helpful for a quick roster reset to remind us where the team stands in terms of contract situations and just who is on the roster as the building for 2021 gets underway.

Under Contract (6)

The following players are under a guaranteed contract already for at least the 2021 season.

• Andrew Benintendi (OF): $6.6 million salary for 2021; Arbitration-eligible for 2022. Benintendi is a potential trade candidate this winter.
• Xander Bogaerts (SS): Six years remaining for $120 million; Can opt-out after 2022 season; Final year is a vesting option requiring 535 plate appearances in 2025.
• Nathan Eovaldi (RHP/SP): Two years remaining for $24 million.
• Dustin Pedroia (2B): One year remaining for $12 million; Hasn’t played since 2018; Could potentially retire at some point this winter.
• Chris Sale (LHP/SP): Five years remaining for $135 million; Can opt out after 2022 season; Final year is a vesting option requiring a top-10 Cy Young finish; Will not play until mid-season 2021 after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.
• Christian Vázquez (C): Two years remaining for $13.25 million; Final year is a team option for $7 million with a $250,000 buyout.

Arbitration Eligible (9)

The following players will be eligible for arbitration this winter. MLB Trade Rumors projections used three methods for projecting 2021 salaries this year. I’m using method number one in which they simply use this season’s numbers, but all three can be found following the link above. Teams have until December 2 to decide whether or not they will tender a contract to these players. Players are typically eligible for arbitration three times in their career, though there are some exceptions to that.

• Matt Barnes (RHP/RP): Projected for a $3.7 million salary; Final year of arbitration eligibility.

Update (12/2): Barnes received a salary of $4.5 million to avoid arbitration.

• Ryan Brasier (RHP/RP): Projected for a $1.0 million salary; First year of arbitration eligibility.

Update (12/2): Brasier received a salary of $1.25 million to avoid arbitration.

• Austin Brice (RHP/RP): Projected for a $700,000 salary; First year of arbitration eligibility.

Update (12/2): Brice received a salary of $870,000 to avoid arbitration.

• Dylan Covey (RHP): Not listed on MLB Trade Rumors’s list, but I believe he should be eligible for the first time this winter. Will update this if/when I get clarification.

Update (10/28): Covey was outrighted to Triple-A and taken off the 40-man roster.

• Rafael Devers (3B): Projected for a $3.4 million salary; First year of arbitration eligibility.

Update (12/2): Devers was tendered a contract but has not yet agreed to a deal.

• José Peraza (UTL): Projected for a $2.9 million salary; Third year of arbitration eligibility; He was a Super Two player, meaning he will be eligible four times before hitting free agency.

Update (10/28): Peraza was outrighted off the 40-man and elected free agency.

• Kevin Plawecki (C): Projected for a $1.6 million salary; Third year of arbitration eligibility; Like Peraza, he will have a fourth year of eligibility.

Update (12/2): Plawecki received a salary of $1.6 million to avoid arbitration.

• Eduardo Rodriguez (LHP/SP): Projected for a $8.3 million salary; Final year of arbitration eligibility.

Update (12/1): Rodriguez received exactly the projected $8.3 million salary to avoid arbitration.

• Ryan Weber (RHP/SP): Projected for a $900,000 salary; First year of arbitration eligibility.

Update (11/20): Weber was designated for assignment, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A.

Pre-Arbitration (23)

The following players will not yet be eligible for arbitration. Salaries are determined by the team and are generally right around the league minimum, though higher caliber players do sometimes get raises above that. Like arbitration-eligible players, they can be non-tendered.

• Jonathan Araúz (INF)
• Christian Arroyo (INF)
• Yoan Aybar (LHP/RP)
• Colten Brewer (RHP/RP)
• C.J. Chatham (INF)
• Michael Chavis (UTL)
• Bobby Dalbec (1B/3B)
• Matt Hall (LHP)

Update (11/20): Hall was designated for assignment, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A.

• Kyle Hart (LHP)

Update (11/20): Hart was outrighted off the 40-man roster to Triple-A.

• Darwinzon Hernandez (LHP/RP)
• Tanner Houck (RHP/SP)
• Deivy Grullón (C)
• Chris Mazza (RHP)
• Yairo Muñoz (UTL)
• Joel Payamps (RHP)

Update (11/25): Payamps was claimed off waivers from Arizona.

• Nick Pivetta (RHP/SP)
• César Puello (OF)

Update (10/28): Puello was outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.

• Jeffery Springs (LHP/RP)
• Robert Stock (RHP/RP)

Update (11/25): Stock was designated for assignment.

• Josh Taylor (LHP/RP)
• Phillips Valdez (RHP/RP)
• Alex Verdugo (OF)
• Marcus Walden (RHP/RP)
• Marcus Wilson (OF)

Options (2)

The following players have either team or player options that must be acted upon within the next five days.

• Martín Pérez (LHP/SP): Team option worth $6.25 million; For most of the year it was seen as a no-brainer that the Red Sox would pick it up, but that is no longer considered a given; Buyout is worth $500,000.

Update: Pérez had his option declined and he becomes a free agent.

• J.D. Martinez (DH/OF): Can opt-out; Has two more years each worth $19.35 million remaining on contract; Has already indicated he will not use the opt out and will return for 2021, which will likely be made official soon; Can also opt out after next season.

Update: Martinez did not opt-out and will remain on the roster as free agency begins.

Free Agents (1)

The following players officially become free agents the same time this post is published at 9:00 AM the day after the World Series. They cannot sign with another team for five days.

• Jackie Bradley Jr. (CF): Could potentially come back, though will certainly explore the market, which is not very strong at his position.

Rule 5 Additions (7)

The following players are most likely to be added to the 40-man roster in order to protect them from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft. The deadline to do so this year is December 10.

• Jay Groome (LHP)
• Bryan Mata (RHP)
• Hudson Potts (3B)
• Jeisson Rosario (CF)
• Connor Seabold (RHP)
• Connor Wong (C/INF)
• Eduard Bazardo (RHP)

Update: All seven were added to the 40-man. Bazardo was added to the list after the original publish.

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With everything all settled, the Red Sox have a full 40-man roster at the start of the offseason, which does not include the six prospects who need to be added before the Rule 5 protection deadline. We will have this pinned on the front page throughout the offseason and keep it updated as moves are made.