Recently, Red Sox beat reporter Ian Browne held an Ask Me Anything on Reddit with fans at r/redsox. This mailbag features questions and answers from there. You can read the full transcript here. Questions and responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
As of today, do any of Payton Tolle, Connelly Early or Marcelo Mayer start in the bigs? Or are they all in Triple-A as depth to start?
I think Mayer is the starting second baseman on Opening Day. Tolle and Early are in competition to be the fifth starter, but I think ultimately, [Johan] Oviedo, who has more experience, lands that job. Thus far, Alex Cora has indicated that Tolle and Early will both start the season as starters, be it in Boston or Worcester.
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When do you think Mayer becomes the starting shortstop? In 2027, or when [Trevor] Story’s contract expires?
Let’s see how Mayer performs this season, and if he can have a fully healthy year and be consistent at the plate. The team is confident Mayer can be a solid defender at second, short or third. The Sox also have Franklin Arias in the Minors as possibly their shortstop of the future.
Story is in a good place right now, coming off a good year last year. And he’s healthy. He will be the team’s shortstop through the end of his contract -- which has two seasons left on it -- as long as he is performing.
Who is the shortstop of the future, Mayer or Arias?
That is for them to prove. Both players could be shortstops in MLB right now. Mayer is working to demonstrate that his swing can play at the highest level. Arias is still developing physically and with his swing.
I saw recently that there was still smoke regarding Jarren Duran for Isaac Paredes despite now having a glut of infielders. Do you think that happens?
I don’t see the Red Sox trading Duran for Paredes. It’s not an even swap. Duran is one of the most dynamic players in the league when he’s right. And there are indications that some of the work he did on his swing and setup in the offseason could get him closer to 2024 levels than what he did in ‘25. My feeling is that the Red Sox want to see how their current lineup plays out and any eventual swap for Paredes wouldn’t include Duran, who is under club control through the ‘28 season.
What are your impressions thus far from this Spring Training? Any standouts?
Always tough to say this time of year. Duran certainly stood out in his pre-WBC stint. He was killing the baseball. I think Caleb Durbin is going to be a fan favorite at Fenway in short order. He really has a nice, all-around game and has that "dirt dog" mentality Red Sox fans love. Mayer looks really smooth at second base. Wilyer Abreu is in markedly better shape. Those are some things that jump out so far.
Which pitcher outside of Crochet/Suárez/Gray/Bello/Oviedo makes the most starts for the Red Sox in 2026?
Looking into my crystal ball, I see Early as the guy who fills in when the need arises. While Tolle has the most upside, Early looks more polished at this point. Don’t sleep on Kutter Crawford either. He led the team in starts and innings two years ago and could be reasonably close to getting into a game.
I have several questions:
When Triston Casas returns, how will he get into the lineup with injuries happening to other players?
Is the starting rotation better than last year, and are Tolle and Early doomed to be in AAA until injuries?
Finally, is Kristian Campbell stuck in limbo now with the current outfield? Is he [Vaughn] Grissom 2.0 and will be traded?
1. I’m not seeing it at this point. The team is already lefty-heavy, so it’s not like he would come off the bench. What Casas is most focused on right now is getting back to full health. In my conversations with him this spring, he has supreme confidence in his abilities when he’s healthy.
2. Yes, the rotation should be better than last year simply because they added Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez two established veterans who know how to pitch.
3. Campbell is clearly still figuring some things out offensively and defensively. That said, I think it’s premature to call him Grissom 2.0. Give it some more time. He still doesn’t have a ton of at-bats in the Minors. I think he needs more, especially while there is no clear path for him on the roster.
Where do you see Jake Bennett fitting into the 2026 roster? SoxProspects were glowing about him and his velo increase during their latest pod. They could really use another impact LH arm in the bullpen, but everything I've heard indicates they want him to be a SP long term.
I think he starts at Triple-A and is one of the depth options should a need arise. That said, the Red Sox are very high on him. Craig Breslow likes him a lot. At this point, they view him as a starter. He hasn’t pitched above Double-A yet.