Red Sox Opening Day Roster
- Zak Drapeau
- 4 minutes ago
- 5 min read
by Zak Drapeau
Sportz Nation - 3/25/2026
Red Sox Projected Starting Lineup
1. Roman Anthony LF
2. Trevor Story SS
3. Jarren Duran DH
4. Wilson Contreras 1B
5. Wilyer Abreu RF
6. Caleb Durbin 3B
7. Marcelo Mayer 2B
8. Carlos Narvaez C
9. Ceddane Rafaela CF
Projected Platoon
Masataka Yoshida OF
Connor Wong C
Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS
Andruw Monasterio 2B
New Additions
The Sox added a few hitters and a few pitchers this offseason which has led to only 2 changes in their lineup; Contreras and Durbin.
The former-Cardinal, Wilson Contreras is a veteran and 20 home run, .260 hitter that will more or less only be used until Tristan Casas is ready to return. A solid fielder and consistent on base threat, (.361 OBP average over last 3 years) Contreras should bring a level of consistency to the position the Sox have not seen since Mitch Moreland from 2017-2019.
Caleb Durbin is the complete opposite, a slick bat and solid glove on the other side of the infield and only 26-years old. Coming in at 3rd in 2025 Rookie of the Year voting in Milwaukee, Durbin was brought in along with other players of less note for Kyle Harrison and David Hamilton this offseason in a move the Red Sox likely pulled the trigger on as Kristian Campbell's progression continues to be slower than anticipated.
Lineup Changes
The big focal point for the 2026 season will be the newest star in Boston Roman Anthony expected to be batting leadoff. Taking Duran's place in the lineup who will now move to the 3rd spot, Anthony showed his unreal potential from the plate last season in 71 games after being called up as the MLB's #1 prospect. His ability to get on base is elite already and with raw athleticism, could look for extra bags or stolen bases right from the rip.
Jaren Duran moving to the 3rd spot in the order is the other notable change this season even though I assume this will be a rotating door especially once the season gets going and some hitters separate themselves from others. Duran's 2025 saw an increase in Hard Hit % and Fly Ball % which shows promise for the 3rd hitter. While 2025 was a slightly down year from his 2024, Duran has proved to not only be a leader on the field but in the clubhouse and I assume that's where this lineup promotion has really come from.
Platoon Expectations
Gone are Refsnyder and Hamilton from last season and in are Kiner-Falefa and Monasterio on the Red Sox bench.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa is a career-utility player at 2B/SS/3B and a decent glove in the field but just turned 30 and hasn't been a great bat for a few years. His baserunning has lost a step or two as well so he'll primarily be used in defensive situations.
Andruw Monasterio came over from Milwaukee in the Durbin trade and should be the first man up in the platoon for defensive substitutions. Monasterio had a decent bat last season in 135 PAs with a .437 SLG%. His fielding has been very good in limited appearances and he has exceptional versatility, lining up at every position besides Catcher.
Connor Wong and Masataka Yoshida are returning for 2026 and will have the same roles, a defensive Catcher in Wong who will need to improve his swing and a power-swinging DH, who can be useful as a corner fielder when needed in Yoshida.
Top Prospects
Nate Eaton OF AAA
Kristian Campbell 2B AAA
Franklin Arias SS AA
Justin Gonzalez OF A+
Dorian Soto SS Rookie
Mikey Romero INF AAA
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Projected Starting Rotation
1. Garrett Crochet LHP
2. Sonny Gray RHP
3. Ranger Suarez LHP
4. Brayan Bello RHP
5. Johan Oviedo RHP
Projected Bullpen
LR Connelly Early LHP
MR Greg Weissert RHP
MR Justin Slaten RHP
MR Ryan Watson RHP
RP Danny Coulombe LHP
RP Jovani Moran LHP
SU Garrett Whitlock RHP
CL Aroldis Chapman LHP
Starting Rotation
The Rotation was clearly the biggest focus of the 2025/26 offseason and I think the Red Sox did a great job.
Garrett Crochet returns as the Red Sox Ace after an unbelievable first season in Boston in 2025. His 2.59 ERA and 255 strikeouts in 205 innings were good enough for 2nd in the AL Cy Young race. Also returning is Brayan Bello who had a decent season in 2025 and is looking to improve even more in his age 27 season.
Additions of Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez and Johan Oviedo are replacing Lucas Giolito, Walker Buehler and other infrequent starters such as Hunter Dobbins, Richard Fitts and Dustin May.
Another name to watch for his return is Tanner Houck, who is still recovering from Tommy John in August. His 2025 was inconsistent at best and when he does return is likely to spend a good amount of "rehab" in Triple-A, but should return as a needed arm this season and has the potential to be another work horse in the rotation.
Bullpen
After his Cy Young-voted season, Aroldis Chapman returns as the Closer for the Sox. Also returning will be Garrett Whitlock, Greg Weissert and Justin Slaton, all of whom had pretty good seasons out of the pen, as well as Connelly Early, who was part of the September Call-Ups used mostly in the rotation who really impressed and will be the prospect to watch in this group.
Jovani Moran will also return to the pen after missing almost 2 seasons due to Tommy John surgery in November of 2023. Playing 2 games in August for the Sox has been his only appearances since 2023 in Minnesota where he greatly struggled. Moran will be on a tight leash to start the season and will likely be the first name to be sent down for a player like Crawford, Houck or Tolle.
Being added will be Danny Coulombe who spent 40 games of 2025 in Minnesota with a 1.16 ERA then 15 games in Texas with a 5.25 ERA.
Top Prospects
Payton Tolle LHP AAA
Zack Kelly RHP AAA
Kyson Witherspoon RHP Rookie
Juan Valera RHP A+
Jake Bennett LHP AAA
Marcus Phillips RHP Rookie
Anthony Eyanson RHP Rookie
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Injury List
1B Tristan Casas 60-IL INF Romy Gonzalez 60-IL
SP Patrick Sandoval 15-IL
SP Kutter Crawford 15-IL
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Check out fansonlysportz.com/news for more sports media content posted daily.
Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage of the Boston Red Sox.
-Z.D. (@DrapeauZak)