FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Some decisions had been made weeks ago. Others came down to the final days of camp.
The way it has all come together, Red Sox manager Alex Cora has a 26-man roster that gives him great enthusiasm going into the ‘26 season, all the while knowing there will be changes to the group along the way.
“We’re going to be athletic. We’re going to hit homers. We’re going to play good defense. And we’ll see how the bullpen pans out,” Cora told reporters in Fort Myers, Fla. “I think the guys we have here, they’re really good. Now that we went this route, there are some guys in Triple-A that whenever their name gets called, it’s going to keep this intact. That was my biggest fear coming into camp and throughout camp: Do we have enough that if somebody gets banged up here, we’ve got quality arms in Triple A? And we do.”
Without further ado, here is the 26-man roster Boston expects to submit to MLB for Opening Day in Cincinnati on Thursday:
Catcher (2): Carlos Narváez, Connor Wong
Narváez continues to be more of a presence on the team after his breakout 2025 season, when he came into the spotlight after spending the better part of a decade in the Yankees’ farm system. Wong wasn’t healthy all season, and it showed in his offensive numbers. If he can get back to what he was in ’24, he could be a premier backup.
First baseman (1): Willson Contreras
In short order, Contreras has become a leader in the clubhouse, even though he missed several weeks of camp playing for Team Venezuela’s championship squad in the World Baseball Classic. Contreras should be a significant contributor with his bat, glove and non-stop energy. Triston Casas is recovering from a torn left patellar tendon and likely won’t be ready until May. His first at-bats will come in a Minor League rehab assignment.
Second baseman (1): Marcelo Mayer
Cora made it a point to challenge Mayer to earn his spot on the team, and that he did. Mayer adapted seamlessly to playing second base and showed improved discipline at the plate.
Shortstop (1): Trevor Story
The widely respected veteran stayed healthy for all of 2025 after an injury-plagued first three seasons in Boston and is considered the captain of the infield.
Third baseman (1): Caleb Durbin
Durbin, acquired just before Spring Training, will bat sixth against righties and probably higher against lefties. His tenacity in all facets of the game sets him up to become a fan favorite in short order.
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 swung a hot bat all spring in his quest to get back to his form of two years ago. Rafaela is a spectacular Gold Glover on defense but needs to be more consistent on offense. Two-time Gold Glove Award winner Abreu has a goal of proving he can hit lefties.
DH (1): Masataka Yoshida
Cora is a big believer in Yoshida’s hit tool, especially now that he is finally healthy again. But where is his fit in the lineup? The DH spot will often be used to alleviate the log jam in the outfield.
Bench/Utility (2): Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Andruw Monasterio
Kiner-Falefa, fresh off his ride with the AL pennant-winning Blue Jays, will be used as a super-utility player. He is expanding horizons as a backup option at first base due to the indefinite loss of Gonzalez. While Monasterio was overshadowed by Durbin when they came over in the offseason trade with the Brewers, the right-handed hitter gives the Sox a versatile defender who can hit lefties.
Starting Pitchers (5): Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello, Connelly Early
The rotation was set except for the final spot, which Early, Boston’s No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, won in a close competition with Johan Oviedo and No. 1 prospect Payton Tolle. Crochet was elite and durable in his first season in Boston, finishing second to Tarik Skubal in the AL Cy Young Award race. In Gray, Bello and Suarez, the Sox think they have three pitchers who could be a No. 2 or 3 in just about any rotation.
Relief Pitchers (8): Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten, Greg Weissert, Danny Coulombe, Jovani Morán, Ryan Watson, Johan Oviedo
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. The recent addition of Coulombe gives the Sox the experienced lefty they lacked in a setup role. Watson joins recent success stories Whitlock and Slaten as Rule 5 Draft relievers to break camp with the Red Sox.