An early look at who could make Boston's Opening Day roster

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It is going to be an interesting Spring Training in Fort Myers, Fla., as manager Alex Cora will have plenty of evaluating to do in the infield and a deep starting rotation. There’s also the matter of how to keep everyone happy in a loaded outfield.

Even more intrigue was added on Monday’s eve of the first pitchers and catchers workout, as the Sox added infielder Caleb Durbin, who finished third in last year’s NL Rookie of the Year Award voting, in a trade with the Brewers.

Few managers are as adept at maneuvering a roster as Cora, and he’ll have a chance to prove that again in ‘26. Here is the first -- but not last -- projection of the 26 players who will open the season with the Red Sox in Cincinnati on March 26.

Catcher (2): Carlos Narváez, Connor Wong
When Wong got injured on the first homestand of last season, Narváez, a veteran Minor Leaguer for years with the Yankees, unseated him as the starter. Pitchers loved throwing to Narváez, who had some of the best catching metrics in the game as a rookie. He also proved to be a decent hitter. Wong, meanwhile, had a tough time all season offensively as he played through injuries. The duo is set to return, with Wong hoping to regain some production at the plate.

First baseman (1): Willson Contreras
Just before Christmas, the Sox swung a trade with the Cardinals to get a solid run producer in Contreras, who adapted well with his switch from catcher to first base. Cora expects Contreras will hit cleanup. Triston Casas is recovering from a torn left patellar tendon and could miss time at the beginning of the season. It’s hard to see his fit on the current roster.

Second baseman (1): Marcelo Mayer
Considering that Durbin played almost exclusively at third base last season, second base appears to be the best fit for Mayer, a strong defender wherever he is positioned. It’s likely Mayer will sit against his share of lefties, at least early in the season.

Shortstop (1): Trevor Story
The widely respected veteran stayed healthy for all of ‘25 after an injury-plagued first three seasons in Boston. Not only that, but he had 91 runs, 25 homers, 96 RBIs and 31 stolen bases, looking like the Colorado Story. The Sox are hoping for more of the same in ‘26 with continued steady defense at short.

Third baseman (1): Caleb Durbin
Hard to believe that roughly a year after the debate raged over whether Alex Bregman or Rafael Devers should be Boston’s starting third baseman, both multi-time All-Stars are no longer with the club. That opens up a shot for Durbin to thrive and take full advantage of Fenway with his pull-side power in his move to the Red Sox. He also offers speed and plate discipline.

Outfielders (4): Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu
What a stacked outfield. So stacked, in fact, that it will create a challenge for Cora to find enough at-bats for everyone. Anthony is a star in the making. Duran hopes to bounce back from a regression last year at the plate. Rafaela is a spectacular Gold Glover on defense but needs to be more consistent on offense. Two-time Gold Glove Award winner Abreu’s goal is to prove he can hit lefties.

DH (1): Masataka Yoshida
The left-handed hitter from Japan has shown flashes in his first three Major League seasons, but he hasn’t been able to reach expectations, largely due to health issues. Yoshida enters this camp healthy, and hopes to at last put it all together. Will he get enough playing time to do so?

Bench/Utility (2): Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Romy Gonzalez
Look for Kiner-Falefa, fresh off his ride with the AL pennant-winning Blue Jays, to be used as a super-utility player. Cora hopes to give Story more rest than he did last season, which will open up time for Kiner-Falefa at short. Look for IKF to also play third and second, and he has experience in the outfield. Gonzalez is an underrated right-handed hitter who destroys lefties and has the versatility to play all over the diamond. But he comes to camp battling a left shoulder issue that recently required a PRP injection. That situation bears watching.

Starting Pitchers (5): Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello, Johan Oviedo
Crochet was elite and durable in his first season in Boston, finishing second to Tarik Skubal in the AL Cy Young Award race. Breslow has massively upgraded the rotation behind Crochet, adding two battle-tested winners in Suárez and Gray, and a pitcher whose potential the club loves in Oviedo.

Relief Pitchers (8): Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten, Greg Weissert, Zack Kelly, Jovani Morán, Kutter Crawford, Ryan Watson
Chapman is coming off one of the finest years by a closer in Red Sox history, and he will try to continue that momentum in his age-38 season. Whitlock was as dominant as any setup man in the game last season. Things will get interesting in the competition for the final couple of spots. Crawford missed all of last season, and building back up as a long man could be a way to acclimate. Watson will try to continue Boston’s recent trend of hitting on Rule 5 picks.