With spring training just around the corner, MLB Network’s “The Shredder” is ranking the top 10 players at each position ahead of the 2026 season.
The rankings for left field were released on Tuesday, and the top two spots were both Boston Red Sox players. Jarren Duran ranked first and Roman Anthony was second, ahead of Cody Bellinger, Riley Greene, James Wood and others.
The rankings are well deserved. Duran has compiled 15.5 WAR over the last three seasons combined, while Anthony was one of the best rookies in baseball last year.
While that may seem like a good thing for the Red Sox, it’s actually not. After all, only one player can man left field at a time.
Boston has done a lot this offseason, but one thing it hasn’t done is clear up its outfield logjam. With Anthony, Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu, the Red Sox have four guys for three spots. And with Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida likely splitting DH duties, there’s nowhere else to put them.
Story continues below advertisement
Boston has tried Rafaela in the infield before, but he’s a Gold Glove-winning outfielder and one of the best defensive center fielders in the sport. Moving Duran to center and Rafaela to second doesn’t make a lot of sense.
The Red Sox have had a whole offseason to figure this out, but the problem remains. There’s still time to sort it out before Opening Day, but if they don’t, it’s going to create a lot of headaches for Alex Cora.
Story continues below advertisement
Featured image via Ken Blaze/Imagn Images
