Sorting Through the Red Sox Crowded Roster

After signing slugging outfielder, JD Martinez, to a five-year, $110 million dollar deal last week, the Boston Red Sox now have a crowded roster and one that will likely require a bit of sorting. However, while the move created a bit of a problem roster wise, it was arguably needed given the lack of offense that Boston had last season.

Although the signing has created a log jam, depth is never a bad thing to have and Boston will have plenty of it this coming season especially. Many times in the game today, teams get through a regular MLB season relying on more than just 25 players because of injuries and this is a perfect example of a team that is well equipped to handle any obstacles that come up throughout the season.

Looking at the Red Sox depth chart on paper, Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley, Jr., and Mookie Betts will likely make up the outfield core everyday this coming season assuming all three stay healthy. JD Martinez, has the ability to play both right field and be a Designated Hitter, which gives Boston another weapon on days that they need to rest Mookie Betts or if Betts happens to go down with an injury.

Beyond those four, Boston also has Hanley Ramirez, who can be a Designated Hitter or play first base, as well as Mitch Moreland, whose profile is a carbon copy of Ramirez. If you want to keep going further down the line, then you will find two other pieces that the Red Sox have in, Brock Holt and Blake Swihart, both versatile players who can play all over the field. In fact, the only position that Holt can't do is catcher, while Swihart can be a catcher, play first base, or slide into left field.

All of this sure sounds complicated, but in reality, it's not and it's better that Boston has too many players for 25 spots compared to a situation where they lack depth and desperately need it in the event of an injury or something else.

Jackie Bradley, Jr., Andrew Beintendi, and Mookie Betts. 

Let's take a look at the outfield once again which is arguably one of the Top 5 outfields in the game currently. Benintendi, who is still only 23 years of age, hit 20 home runs and recorded 90 RBI over 541 plate appearances last year. In addition, Jackie Bradley, Jr., had a down offensive season last year, but continues to impress on both sides of the ball and makes an annual case of being one of the elite centerfielders in the game right now. Furthermore, Mookie Betts, has a career .839 OPS over 2,309 plate appearances and provides a ton of value to the Red Sox as illustrated by his career 24.1 WAR.

Those three alone, are huge weapons for a team like the Red Sox to have on an everyday basis, but when you add JD Martinez to the mix, things look even brighter and will help Boston compete with the Yankees, who now have Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge in their outfield. Up to this point, JD Martinez has sort of been an overlooked player to some regard, but really captured the industries attention during the second half of last season when he just lit it up with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Over 3,118 career plate appearances, Martinez has a slugging percentage of .514 and an offensive rating of 17.0. Martinez does have a negative defensive rating and metrics are never friendly to him in that regard, but that's exactly why this role is perfect for him. He can be a Designated Hitter a majority of the time and fill in out in right field as needed.

Moving past those four, the Red Sox also have an interesting duo in both Hanley Ramirez and Mitch Moreland. Ramirez hasn't been the player that he once was, but he still had a .320 on-base percentage along with 23 home runs and 51 walks over 553 plate appearances last season. On the other hand, Moreland, who reunited with the Red Sox on a two-year deal this winter, finished last season with a 2.0 WAR, the second highest of his career, and has over 20 home runs the past three seasons. Both Ramirez and Moreland will likely split time at first base unless something else happens between now and Opening Day.

Knowing all of this, let's try to sort out how the Red Sox roster should be configured. Assuming the Red Sox go into the season with both Blake Swihart and Brock Holt on their roster, they would have 13 offensive players on their roster. Swihart and Holt should both open the season on the 25-man roster because both provide value to any team and it's always a good thing to have more than one player that can play multiple positions.

If both remain on the 25-man roster, that would leave 12 spots for pitching, 5 for the rotation and 7 for the bullpen. The one wildcard in this scenario would likely be, Blake Swihart, given the depth that the Red Sox have behind the dish as well as at first base and in left field.

In addition, Eduardo Nunez, will likely open the season as the primary second baseman as Dustin Pedroia is still recovering from knee surgery. Nunez gives the Red Sox another versatile piece as he can play second and third base as well as shortstop which is one of the reasons why Boston reunited themselves with Nunez this winter.

Rafael Devers 

Furthermore, for now, it would appear that Boston will likely go with 21-year old, Rafael Devers, as their Opening Day third baseman. Devers, who finished the year with 10 home runs and 30 RBI over 58 games last year, has an extremely bright future and continues to be viewed as an anchor of the Red Sox infield moving forward. With that being said, Devers, could always start the season at third base and if it appears as though he needs more seasoning, the Red Sox could option Devers down to Triple-A and slide Nunez into the picture once Dustin Pedroia returns which would give Boston an infield consisting of Moreland/Ramirez, Pedroia, Bogaerts, and Nunez.

Regardless of how confusing the roster and depth chart might look at the moment, Boston is in a tremendous position because it possesses an extraordinary amount of depth and is well prepared for any scenario that might arise during the regular season. In fact, many teams would be envious of the depth the Red Sox have, and if everything is going smoothly come July and Boston is in the heat of a pennant race, that depth could always turn into valuable trade chips as they look to make another acquisition or two.

Heading into this offseason, some were worried that the Red Sox might not do much, but considering that they were able to sign, JD Martinez, and reunite themselves with, Mitch Moreland and Eduardo Nunez, it was quite a successful winter and that should pay off considerably this coming season as Boston looks to return to the Fall Classic since 2013.