Red Sox preseason capsule: Big splash may lead to playoff run

Boston Red Sox

2024 record: 81-81 (3rd place, AL East).

He gone: OF Tyler O'Neill, RHP Nick Pivetta, RHP Kenley Jansen, LHP James Paxton, RHP Chris Martin, LHP Cam Booser, C Danny Jansen.

New faces: INF Alex Bregman, LHP Garret Crochet, RHP Walker Buehler, LHP Aroldis Chapman, LHP Justin Wilson, C Carlos Narvaez, C Blake Sabol.

Biggest question entering Opening Day: How will the Rafael Devers situation shake out? After Bregman reunited with Alex Cora in free agency last month, Devers openly stated he was not interested in DHing if the Red Sox wanted their newcomer to play third. While Devers has since changed his tone on the matter, he has yet to debut this spring as he recovers from shoulder injuries that ended his 2024 season early.

Top prospect: The Red Sox have an embarrassment of riches in the high minors, led by Baseball America's No. 1 overall prospect in Roman Anthony. The highly advanced 20-year-old outfielder led the Double-A Eastern League with an .856 OPS before a late-season promotion.

Breakout player: Luis Guerrero could figure into the Opening Day bullpen. The 24-year-old made the most of his first call-up last September, striking out nine over 10 shutout innings. He touched 98 mph multiple times in a game earlier this spring.

2025 outlook: While chief baseball officer Craig Breslow's offseason probably was slower than most fans wanted, Crochet and Buehler were brought in as veteran rotation pieces before the Bregman acquisition made a big splash. It remains to be seen where Bregman plays, but his big right-handed bat will be key in the middle of the lineup and gives the Red Sox just about everything they need to jump firmly back into the division title conversation.

--Field Level Media