Red Sox Roster Projection 2.0: How MLB Winter Meetings Could Shape 2025

The Boston Red Sox enter the MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas, Texas in need of a splash.

They remain in the Juan Soto sweepstakes and the slugger could start a domino effect of major additions around the league once he signs. That’s when the Red Sox can pounce on a few needs with impact moves to deliver a playoff-caliber team in 2025.

Here’s how potential moves at the Winter Meetings could impact Boston’s roster next season.

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Red Sox 2025 Roster Projection: How Boston Could Tackle Huge Offseason

by Tim Crowley 4 Min Read

CATCHERS
Connor Wong
Kyle Teel

We’ll stick with the original catching tandem from our first roster projection of the offseason. The Red Sox probably should be pursuing a backup catcher for Wong to start the season on a one-year deal.

For now, let’s say Teel tears it up in spring training and Alex Cora gives him the nod for the 26-man roster. That allows the present and the future of the Red Sox to work in unison in 2025.

INFIELDERS
Triston Casas
Kristian Campbell
Trevor Story
Rafael Devers
Romy González

The group mostly stays the same from 2024 while finally finding the long-needed answer at second base as Campbell makes his MLB debut after a monster season through three levels of the minor leagues.

OUTFIELDERS
Jarren Duran
Ceddanne Rafaela
Teoscar Hernández
Rob Refsnyder

Boston’s outfield mostly stays the same in this scenario with the exception of an addition that should have come a year ago. The Red Sox right their wrongs and bring Hernández in on a multi-year deal. He fits in smoothly in the No. 3 hole as the right-handed balance between left-handed sluggers Devers and Casas.

DESIGNATED HITTER
Tyler O’Neill

O’Neill very well will probably find a better deal on the open market, but he expressed “mutual interest” in a return to the Red Sox at the end of the regular season. This deal to have him as the primary designated hitter makes all the sense in the world.

He slugged 31 home runs in his first season playing half his games at Fenway Park. He keeps the lineup balanced with his right-handed power and can stay off his feet after some injuries in 2024.

STARTING PITCHERS
Max Fried
Garrett Crochet
Tanner Houck
Lucas Giolito
Brayan Bello

This is where the Red Sox strike.

Houck and Bello both took steps forward in 2024. Giolito returns after an injury in spring training robbed him of his 2024 campaign. The Red Sox make their mark with major additions, signing Fried to a long-term deal and close the deal with the Chicago White Sox to trade for Crochet.

That’s the legitimate rotation that can return the Red Sox to playoff baseball for the first time since 2021.

BULLPEN
Liam Hendriks (Closer)
Justin Slaten
Tanner Scott
Josh Winckowski
Garrett Whitlock
Aroldis Chapman
Justin Wilson
Luis Guerrero

Boston already made a pair of additions to this group this offseason with the signings of Wilson and Chapman. Whitlock and Winckowski should respond well to work in the middle innings.

The Red Sox could use one more leverage arm to help Hendriks (in his team debut) and Slaten in late innings. That arm should absolutely be Scott.