Boston Red Sox News

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Triston Casas • 1B • Red Sox

Triston Casas Won't Play in Any Grapefruit League Games

Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (knee) has stated that he will not participate in any Grapefruit League action. The 6-foot-4 slugger had previously indicated that he'd hoped to get some games in before the regular season begins, but this appears to push back his timeline somewhat. The former first-round draft pick is working his way back from patellar tendon surgery on his left knee, but has yet to work on baserunning and sliding as part of the rehab process. Once the left-handed hitter is ready to return to the Red Sox lineup, his powerful bat should have some fantasy appeal, having belted 24 home runs back in 2023 when he logged 132 games, so it's worth keeping an eye on his progress.

7 hours ago

Romy Gonzalez • 1B • Red Sox

Romy Gonzalez Could Require Surgery

Boston Red Sox infielder Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) will be evaluated on Tuesday to determine if he'll need to undergo surgery. Gonzalez hasn't participated in any baseball activities this spring due to left shoulder inflammation. This is something that continues to hinder Gonzalez, which could require surgery as the only solution. Gonzalez was already a long shot for Opening Day, but now he's looking at being on the shelf much longer. Last season, Gonzalez slashed .305/.343/.483 with nine home runs and 53 RBI in 96 games with the Red Sox. If he misses significant time, Kristian Campbell and Andruw Monasterio are candidates to see more at-bats to start the season.

2 days ago

Connelly Early • SP • Red Sox

Connelly Early Ticketed to Begin Season at Triple-A?

Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Connelly Early will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Worcester. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Johan Oviedo is the current favorite to claim the starting position, which will push Early and fellow prospect Payton Tolle to Triple-A. The 23-year-old looked quite comfortable in his first taste of MLB action, logging 19 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 29:4 K:BB. He struck out at least seven batters in all but one of his outings, and even hit the double-digit strikeout mark in his first career start against the Athletics. At Triple-A, the southpaw tossed 28 2/3 innings with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Even if Early were to begin the season in the minors, he is a worthy stash target in deeper formats given the high strikeout upside he flashed in his first taste of MLB action.

4 days ago

Brendan Rodgers • 2B • Red Sox

Brendan Rodgers to Seek Second Opinion on Shoulder

Boston Red Sox infielder Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) got discouraging MRI results back on his injured shoulder, prompting him to seek a second opinion. The 29-year-old is expected to see Dr. Neal ElAttrache, but manager Alex Cora has already stated that he anticipates that the right-handed slugger is going to need surgery. The former first-rounder was competing for a roster spot this spring, however, it looks like he'll begin the season on the injured list. While the veteran offers some decent pop that could make him interesting for fantasy, he's off the radar until he returns to the big league lineup.

6 days ago

Garrett Crochet • SP • Red Sox

Garrett Crochet Is an Elite Anchor for Your Rotation

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet can be a first-round pick in almost all fantasy baseball formats, and is the No. 10 overall player in RotoBaller's rankings coming into the year. He's the second-highest starting pitcher on the board behind only Tarik Skubal. Crochet put up dazzling numbers last year with a 2.59 ERA, 2.89 FIP, and 1.03 WHIP over 205 1/3 IP in 32 starts. It was his second straight season with 32 starts, and he set a new career-high in innings and strikeouts. He also looked strong in the postseason with an 11-strikeout outing against the Yankees. While pitching his home games at Fenway Park did lead to a few more homers, he continued to limit damage by holding opponents to a .216 batting average and allowing a career-low 37.3% hard-hit rate. Crochet will look to build on that success in 2026 and can serve as the ace of your fantasy staff, just like he will for the Red Sox this year.

6 days ago

Ceddanne Rafaela • CF • Red Sox |

Roman Anthony • RF • Red Sox

Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela Fine After Collision, Playing on Saturday

Boston Red Sox outfielders Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela had a scary moment on Friday when they collided in the outfield during the Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves, but the two outfielders both ended up staying in the game. They are back in action on Saturday versus the Minnesota Twins, an excellent sign for Boston. Anthony, who was the top prospect in baseball at this time last year, will join Team USA soon for the World Baseball Classic. The 21-year-old has gone 3-for-16 at the plate with a double and four strikeouts so far in Grapefruit League play. He is set to be Boston's leadoff hitter in his first full year in the big leagues. Anthony looked the part in 257 at-bats in 2025, hitting .292/.396/.463 with eight homers and 32 RBI. He can be a top-10 fantasy outfielder in 2026. Rafaela, 25, is another rising Red Sox outfielder who already has two homers this spring. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 37 fantasy outfielder.

Feb 28

Marcelo Mayer • 3B • Red Sox

Marcelo Mayer Stronger and Faster Entering 2026 Season

Boston Red Sox infielder Marcelo Mayer, who has quickly developed an injury-prone label, "set out on a mission to gain more strength and speed" to withstand the rigors of his first full major-league season, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. The 23-year-old has never played more than 91 games in a season since he was taken fourth overall in 2021 due to back, shoulder, and wrist injuries. Mayer entered camp this year at 220 pounds, the most he's ever weighed, but he also feels "fast and explosive." He has much more to prove this year as he looks to lock down a starting job at either second or third base in 2026. Mayer's rookie season in 2025 ended early in August due to right-wrist surgery, and he hit just .228 with a .674 OPS in 44 games in Boston before the injury. If Mayer can stay healthy, steal more bases, and limit his strikeouts (especially against lefties) in 2026, he could be an excellent sleeper candidate in fantasy baseball with potential multi-position eligibility.

Feb 27

Kutter Crawford • SP • Red Sox

Kutter Crawford Set for Live Batting Practice on Friday

Boston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford (wrist) was scheduled to throw a live batting practice session in camp on Friday, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. It will be Crawford's first time facing hitters since last summer, before he suffered a wrist injury that required surgery. Because the 29-year-old is behind the other pitchers in spring training -- he also missed time due to the flu -- there's a chance he'll open the 2026 regular season on the injured list. The injuries started for Crawford last spring after he threw a career-high 183 2/3 innings in 2024, with the Red Sox shutting him down due to patellar tendon soreness. He ended up not pitching at all in the big leagues for the BoSox in 2025, which means when he's ready to go this year, he'll likely have limited upside in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues while the Red Sox limit his workload.

Feb 27

Brendan Rodgers • 2B • Red Sox

Brendan Rodgers Will Have an MRI Thursday

Boston Red Sox infielder Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) will have an MRI exam on his shoulder on Thursday after he was forced to leave early from Wednesday's spring training game after attempting to make a diving catch. Manager Alex Cora said, "We don't know what's going on, so we'll have more in the upcoming days." Rodgers was in camp on a minor-league contract, but he seemed to have a good chance of making the Opening Day roster if Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) is unable to recover from his injury in time. If Rodgers is also out or not at 100%, the Sox could turn to Andruw Monasterio in a utility role off the bench. Monasterio was acquired in the trade that brought Caleb Durbin to Boston from Milwaukee and has impressed in spring training so far.

Feb 26

Triston Casas • 1B • Red Sox

Triston Casas Thinks he Could be Ready by Opening Day

Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (knee) is holding out hope that he'll be ready to play by Opening Day in late March, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. "I still have a couple benchmarks like sliding and running bases that I haven't tackled yet that I want to feel perfectly comfortable going into a game having done multiple times and recovered from, and then over the weeks felt like I've developed that skill again. But my health right now is in a really good place compared to where it's been in the past," Casas said. A torn patellar tendon limited Casas to 29 games in 2025, and he's likely to either begin this season on the injured list or at Triple-A Worcester as he works his way back to 100%. And when the 26-year-old left-handed slugger is ready, he won't be the primary first baseman after Boston acquired Willson Contreras in a trade this offseason. Casas' fantasy baseball stock has dropped considerably.

Feb 25

Brendan Rodgers • 2B • Red Sox

Brendan Rodgers Injures Shoulder in Spring Training Game

Boston Red Sox second baseman Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) was forced to leave early from his team's Spring Training game on Wednesday after landing awkwardly while attempting to make a diving catch. The team has said that Rodgers is dealing with "right shoulder pain," per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Healey notes that Rodgers has already had surgery on both shoulders earlier in his career, so any potential shoulder ailment is particularly noteworthy. After spending his first six MLB seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Rodgers struggled in a part-time role with the Houston Astros in 2025. Across 128 plate appearances with Houston, the 29-year-old hit .191/.266/.278 with two home runs, 11 RBI, and 12 runs scored. Rodgers' strikeout rate skyrocketed to a career-worst 35.9%, although he did post an impressive 14.3% barrel rate. Boston signed Rodgers to a Minor League contract in early February, and the veteran was expected to compete for a utility job in Spring Training. If this shoulder injury keeps him out of action for an extended stretch, Rodgers may have a hard time breaking camp with the Red Sox.

Feb 25

Patrick Sandoval • SP • Red Sox

Patrick Sandoval has "Eye-Opening" Batting Practice Session

Boston Red Sox left-hander Patrick Sandoval (elbow), who is in the mix for the No. 5 spot in the Opening Day starting rotation, threw what manager Alex Cora called an "eye-opening" live batting practice session in camp the other day, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Cora said that Sandoval's velocity was up to 94-95 mph. The 29-year-old southpaw missed all of the 2025 season after having an internal-brace procedure on his left elbow, which is why he has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game early in spring training. Boston signed Sandoval to a two-year, $18.25 million deal before last season, even though they knew he'd miss all of the 2025 campaign. There's a possibility that he'll begin the 2026 season on the injured list, but if not, there is financial incentive to give Sandoval the fifth rotation spot if he's healthy.

Feb 25

Romy Gonzalez • 1B • Red Sox

Romy Gonzalez Not Expected to be Ready for Opening Day

Boston Red Sox infielder/outfielder Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) does not see himself being ready for Opening Day, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Gonzalez expressed that his ramp-up would be "too quick" if he tried to be ready for Opening Day. Last season, Gonzalez appeared in a career-high 96 games at the MLB level and looked rather comfortable, posting a .305/.345/.483 slash line with nine home runs and six stolen bases. Under the hood, Gonzalez generated a strong .344 xwOBA with an elite .276 xBA, a 12.6% barrel rate, and a 57.3% hard-hit rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he works his way back from shoulder inflammation. While he remains sidelined, Marcelo Mayer could carve out a larger role in the infield.

Feb 25

Trevor Story • SS • Red Sox

Trevor Story a Strong Candidate to Hit Second in 2026

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story is a strong candidate to hit second in the batting order this year, following outfielder Roman Anthony in the leadoff spot, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Story was in the two-hole in his final 10 games of the 2025 regular season and also hit there in all three of the team's Wild-Card games in the playoffs against the New York Yankees. The veteran shortstop hit .294 with a .339 on-base percentage, .497 slugging percentage, and .836 OPS in his final 84 games last year, but overall, he had a .308 on-base percentage (tied for 11th), and his .433 slugging percentage ranked 72nd among qualified hitters. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star stayed healthy and hit 25 homers, drove in 96, scored 91 runs, and stole 31 bases in 157 regular-season games. Story is still a top-15 fantasy shortstop when healthy, but his lengthy injury history suggests volume could be an issue in 2026.

Feb 23

Payton Tolle • SP • Red Sox

Payton Tolle Allows One Run in Spring Training Debut

Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Payton Tolle tossed two innings of one-run ball in his spring training debut on Saturday afternoon. The southpaw was given the starting nod. In the opening frame, he surrendered a solo shot to Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis. In the second inning, he would toss a perfect frame and tally his lone strikeout of the contest, against outfielder Matt Wallner. Tolle is currently in contention for one of the final spots in the starting rotation and will likely need a strong showing in spring training to claim it. Last summer, the left-hander struggled in his MLB debut, posting a 6.06 ERA across his first 16 1/3 innings. However, in the minor leagues, he logged 91 2/3 innings with a strong 3.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 133:23 K:BB. Given his high-end strikeout upside, he is a name to closely watch during spring training as he could be a worthy selection in the final rounds of your draft if he were to emerge as a viable starter.

Feb 23

Tyler Samaniego • RP • Red Sox

Tyler Samaniego Dealing with Back Tightness

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Tyler Samaniego (back) wasn't able to make his scheduled appearance during Saturday's Grapefruit game versus the Minnesota Twins. According to manager Alex Cora, Samaniego is currently viewed as day-to-day with back tightness. Cora said that Samaniego should be able to pitch again in a few days. The 27-year-old posted a 3.99 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 44/11 K/BB ratio across 30 appearances in the minors with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season. He'll attempt to make the big league roster in camp, but will likely head to Triple-A to begin the season. Samaniego should have a decent chance at making his big league debut sometime during the 2026 season.

Feb 21

Roman Anthony • RF • Red Sox

Roman Anthony Expected to Hit Leadoff for Boston

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that he sees outfielder Roman Anthony as the team's leadoff hitter this year, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. True to his word, Cora put Anthony in the leadoff spot for the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday versus the Minnesota Twins. It's not a huge surprise after the 21-year-old former top prospect hit atop Boston's order after making his major-league debut last year. Before an oblique strain cut his season short late in the year, Anthony was as advertised, slashing .292/.396/.463 with an .859 OPS, eight home runs, 32 RBI, 48 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 257 at-bats. The Red Sox could move Anthony down in the batting order when they face left-handed pitchers, but even so, he has the upside of a top-10 fantasy outfielder going into his first full season in the majors. Anthony became one of just two Red Sox players to have 20-plus extra-base hits and 25-plus walks in their first 52 career games, joining the legendary Ted Williams.

Feb 21

Marcelo Mayer • 3B • Red Sox

Marcelo Mayer Likely Out for a Few More Days

Boston Red Sox infielder Marcelo Mayer (wrist) is expected to remain sidelined for a few more days. According to Ian Browne, Mayer isn't expected to make his spring debut for a couple of days. Mayer still needs to do some batting practice and get his wrist more exposed to hitting before moving into live games. The young infielder is currently recovering from wrist surgery that he underwent last August. The 23-year-old is expected to be a major factor in the Red Sox lineup this season. During the 2025 campaign, Mayer slashed .228/.272/.402 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 44 games. The former first-round pick should get a much longer look in a Red Sox uniform this upcoming season.

Feb 20

Johan Oviedo • SP • Red Sox

Red Sox Want Johan Oviedo to be More Explosive

The Boston Red Sox want right-hander Johan Oviedo's delivery "to be more explosive," according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. The team wants him to "create more force down the mound." "The extension," manager Alex Cora said. "And that's kind of key for him. We saw him last year, he did a good job against us, and that's his uniqueness. If the velo goes up, great. But I think just maximize who you are and his extension is elite." If the 6-foot-6, 275-pounder can make the necessary fixes to his delivery that the team is looking for, he could be the favorite for one of the final spots in the starting rotation to begin the 2026 season, with Kutter Crawford (knee, wrist) potentially opening the year on the injured list. Oviedo looked good last year in his return from Tommy John surgery, although he made only nine starts (40 1/3 frames). Durability and walks are the biggest concerns with Oviedo, but if he can generate more force with his delivery, he could see an uptick in velocity and K's in Boston.

Feb 20

Marcelo Mayer • 3B • Red Sox

Marcelo Mayer Not Guaranteed an Opening Day Roster Spot

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora made it clear that it's not a guarantee that infielder Marcelo Mayer will be on the team's Opening Day roster, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Cora said Mayer "needs to earn" a job on the Opening Day roster and needs to "show some things this spring." Specifically, the skipper said Mayer "needs to be better offensively than he was in the majors last year." The 23-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2021 struggled in his first taste of the majors in 2025, hitting .228/.272/.402 with a .674 OPS, four homers, 10 RBI, and a 41:8 K:BB in 136 plate appearances. Mayer is still a good bet to be on the Opening Day roster at either second or third base, but the BoSox will make him work for it. There is a buy-low opportunity for fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues going into Mayer's first full season in the big leagues.

Feb 20

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