An early look at Boston’s depth chart – NBC Sports Boston

The 2024 Boston Purple Sox are nonetheless preventing for a playoff spot with roughly two months left within the marketing campaign. It is a stunning improvement for a group few anticipated to be value their consideration after one other disappointing offseason.

Even when they do not make it deep into October, this 12 months might mark the beginning of a Purple Sox resurgence. The actual enjoyable might are available 2025 when a number of prime prospects are anticipated to debut and make an impression with the big-league membership.

There needs to be loads of strikes to enhance the roster within the coming months — the commerce deadline is simply days away — however it’s nonetheless value taking a peek at how Boston’s depth chart appears to be like for subsequent season. How will the prospects match into the equation? Which positions should be addressed, and who will likely be accessible in free company to fill these voids?

Under is a way-too-early 2025 Purple Sox roster projection. Word that this submit will likely be up to date after the commerce deadline, which is ready for Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.

Catcher

1. Connor Wong
2. Kyle Teel

With Wong trying like a future All-Star and Teel skyrocketing up the minor-league ranks, this looks like the tip of the Reese McGuire period in Boston. Teel ought to take over because the second catcher on the 2025 roster and provides Sox followers one more reason to be optimistic in regards to the future. The No. 3 ranked prospect in Boston’s system has the instruments to turn into among the finest all-around backstops in baseball.

First base

1. Triston Casas

No have to put a lot thought into this one. Casas is locked in because the Purple Sox’ star first baseman for the foreseeable future.

Second base

1. Vaughn Grissom
2. David Hamilton

Here is the place this train will get tough. The Purple Sox acquired Grissom from the Atlanta Braves final season hoping he would fill a obtrusive gap at second base. That transfer hasn’t gone in response to plan. Grissom has missed many of the season on account of accidents and within the transient time he was wholesome, he was nearly unplayable. That mentioned, it’s miles too early to surrender on the 23-year-old former prime prospect.

Hamilton has earned a spot on the projected 2025 roster together with his efficiency thus far this season and the uncertainty at second base. He most likely will not see a lot time at shortstop subsequent season if the subsequent two names are on the group.

Shortstop

1. Trevor Story
2. Marcelo Mayer

Story will likely be again subsequent season, however will he be wholesome? We will not depend on it. Accidents have plagued the two-time All-Star since he signed his six-year cope with Boston earlier than the 2022 marketing campaign.

If Story misses extra time in 2025, it might open the door for the Purple Sox’ prime prospect to take over because the group’s beginning shortstop. Mayer is on observe to make his big-league debut subsequent season if not later this 12 months. Even when Story is wholesome, Mayer might spend time at second base or shift to 3rd base and transfer Rafael Devers into a delegated hitter function.

Third base

1. Rafael Devers

The three-time All-Star slugger might transfer to DH in some unspecified time in the future, however he is the “set it and overlook it” third baseman till additional discover.

Outfield

1. Jarren Duran
2. Ceddanne Rafaela
3. Wilyer Abreu
4. Rob Refsnyder

Tyler O’Neill is not listed as a result of he is scheduled to hit free company after this season. The Purple Sox might look to both re-sign him, signal one of many different outfielders in the marketplace, or promote the group’s No. 2 ranked prospect Roman Anthony. For now, we’ll depart Anthony off the Opening Day roster as he appears extra like a midseason promotion than somebody who will make the group out of spring coaching. The remainder of the outfield seems fairly set in stone.

Designated hitter

1. Masataka Yoshida

Yoshida could not have gotten off to a a lot worse begin to the season, however he is woken up over the past month. The Purple Sox ought to nonetheless look to improve this spot by way of free company or commerce. Devers is a candidate to take over as DH if the membership brings in a strong defensive third baseman.

Listed here are a few of the prime sluggers scheduled to hit the open market:

• Juan Soto, OF
• Teoscar Hernandez, OF
• Pete Alonso, 1B
• Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
• Alex Bregman, 3B
• Anthony Santander, OF
• Michael Conforto, OF
• Justin Turner, DH/1B
• Jurickson Profar, OF
• Gleyber Torres, 2B

Beginning pitchers

1. Tanner Houck, RHP
2. Kutter Crawford, RHP
3. Brayan Bello, RHP
4. Lucas Giolito, RHP
5. ???

Nick Pivetta and James Paxton are set to grow to be free brokers this winter, however Giolito will fill certainly one of their spots within the rotation when he returns from his elbow harm. That leaves one rotation spot, which is able to seemingly be stuffed by way of free company or commerce.

Listed here are a few of the prime beginning pitchers scheduled to hit free company:

• Corbin Burnes, RHP
• Max Scherzer, RHP
• Walker Buehler, RHP
• Max Fried, LHP
• Jack Flaherty, RHP
• Luis Severino, RHP
• Yusei Kikuchi, LHP
• Andrew Heaney, LHP
• Jose Quintana, RHP
• Charlie Morton, RHP

Reduction pitchers

1. Liam Hendriks
2. Brennan Bernardino
3. Justin Slaten
4. Josh Winckowski
5. Zack Kelly
6. Greg Weissert
7. ???
8. ???

Enhancing the bullpen will likely be a focus of the offseason with Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin turning into free brokers. Hendriks will return from Tommy John rehab however it’s unclear simply how dependable he’ll be. There needs to be a number of strikes made to enhance the aid pitching scenario throughout the offseason.

Listed here are a few of the prime relievers that will likely be accessible:

• Aroldis Chapman, LHP
• Joe Kelly, RHP
• Blake Treinen, RHP
• Paul Sewald, RHP
• Carlos Estevez, RHP
• Scott Barlow, RHP
• Tanner Scott, LHP
• Clay Holmes, RHP
• Jose Leclerc, RHP
• A.J. Minter, LHP

Injured record

1. Garrett Whitlock, SP (Tommy John rehab)
2. Chris Murphy, RP (Tommy John rehab)

Whitlock will seemingly pitch out of the bullpen when he returns. The identical goes for Murphy, who confirmed flashes of potential as a rookie reliever in 2023.