FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With another two weeks of Grapefruit League action on tap, the Red Sox need that time to figure some things out.

There are some pressing questions, and the answers will help determine if manager Alex Cora can guide this talented team to the first successful title defense in Major League Baseball since 2000.

Let’s get right to it.

How will Cora handle the closer situation and the bullpen overall?

Who will be the closer? Will the Red Sox even have a set closer? These are still things being debated internally by the club. Cora has said several times he has a “pretty good idea” of what he will do, but he has been coy about it. If the Red Sox don’t feel they have one pitcher suited to dominate the ninth inning, they could instead decide to play matchups.

No matter the scenario, Matt Barnes will likely get the most save chances, but don’t be surprised if he pitches in the eighth inning when the other team has its 3-4-5 hitters coming up. Ryan Brasier should also get some save opportunities.

What Cora would love to see more than anything in these next couple of weeks is for his high-leverage relievers to start getting outs. Tyler Thornburg and Brandon Workman have both been shaky in their appearances. Barnes got hit around in his first outing, and is scheduled to pitch again on Tuesday.

Another important reliever is Heath Hembree, and he hasn’t pitched in a game yet due to paternity leave. Brasier also hasn’t appeared in a game due to an infection in his right pinkie toe. Their debuts should both come this week.

Is Dustin Pedroia healthy enough to reclaim second base?

There isn’t much to go on so far. Pedroia played two-inning stints with one at-bat in his first two Grapefruit League games. He could ramp up to as many as four innings on Tuesday against the Tigers.

Pedroia has passed every test the training staff has given him so far, but the schedule has been conservative. The true test will be how Pedroia’s left knee responds once he starts playing five to seven innings on consecutive days. If he comes out of that OK, the Red Sox can then be reasonably confident he can play second base regularly in 2019. And as Cora has said all along, if Pedroia is activated for Opening Day, he will bat leadoff as a reward for everything he has gone through to get back.

Will Chris Sale sign an extension soon?

Boston’s lanky lefty ace has been in a good mood all spring, showing no signs of stress about entering his free-agent season. Perhaps Sale feels optimistic about signing an extension before the season starts. With Xander Bogaerts and Rick Porcello also entering their walk seasons and Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. up after 2020, it would give Red Sox fans much reassurance if Sale can be locked up long term.

Listening to John Henry talk prior to the team’s first full-squad workout, it was clear how much the owner would love to see Sale in a Boston uniform for many years beyond this one.

What will happen at catcher?

Cora had some praise for Christian Vazquez recently, saying that pitching coach Dana LeVangie and catching instructors Jason Varitek and Chad Epperson all think that this is easily the best camp he’s had with Boston. Vazquez has been engaged in every drill, from what Cora has been told. He is also hitting the ball in the air more after working with a launch-angle guru in the offseason. The guess here is that Vazquez will be Boston’s No. 1 catcher.

The question is whether Sandy Leon or Blake Swihart wins the backup job. The odd man out is likely to get traded. Leon is the safer bet to remain, as the pitchers love working with him. But Swihart has more upside at the plate. It might come down to which catcher the Red Sox can get more from in a trade. If they can get a reliever for one of them, that would be ideal.

Who will bat third against righties?

For a lineup as loaded as the one the Red Sox have, it’s interesting that they are still trying to figure out who will be the primary No. 3 hitter. Star slugger J.D. Martinez will hit in that spot at times, but Cora will more often put one of his lefties third so the lineup has more balance. The candidates are Mitch Moreland, Rafael Devers and Bradley Jr.

Cora is challenging Devers to prove he is consistent enough to win that spot. If so, he could be in for a monster year hitting after Betts and in front of Martinez and Bogaerts. Bradley has typically been more comfortable hitting lower in the order, but perhaps that will change this season. Bradley has completely revamped his swing since the second half of last season and now seems like the type of player capable of doing damage more consistently.