Starting pitchers generally use spring training to build up their arm strength and tweak their repertoire. Hopefully that’s the case with Ranger Suarez, who allowed nine runs (eight earned) over 4 1/3 innings in the team’s final spring training game on Tuesday. He only built up to 69 pitches in the final start, which isn’t that nice, and the Red Sox finished Grapefruit League play at 13-16. (Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald)
Appearing in-game with NESN, Alex Cora said that the platoon pairing with Marcelo Mayer at second base will be “mix-and-match” when facing lefties. With noted lefty-masher Romy Gonzalez on the IL for quite some time, Andruw Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa will both mix in at the keystone. Monasterio hit .273 against LHP in 2025, and Kiner-Falefa hit .227. We will probably see this in action on Thursday against southpaw Andrew Abbott. The Sox had been scheduled to open the season against two lefties, but with Nick Lodolo hitting the IL with a blister, Brady Singer will pitch on Saturday. (Chris Cotillo, Mass Live)
After Chaim Bloom, Dave Dombrowski, and Ben Cherington all failed to last much longer than ~3 1/2 years on the job as the head of Red Sox baseball operations, Craig Breslow knows that success in year three is crucial. (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
The expectations are sky high around Roman Anthony this season for a player who has logged just 71 games in the major leagues. Alex Cora blames Anthony himself for the rhetoric around him. “It’s his own fault, because he’s so good.” says Cora. David Ortiz added, “Look how he came in this year, looking wonderful. Jacked. He looks like a superhero now.” Fortunately, Anthony is saying all the right things and not getting ahead of himself. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
None of the seven Boston Globe writers picked the Red Sox to win the division. One of them picked the Rays, in fact. I have a strange suspicion that the OTM season predictions posting tomorrow will look different. (Globe Staff, Boston Globe)
On the other hand, Fangraphs released their Positional Power Rankings and put the Red Sox on top of the entire MLB in 2026. Don’t tell the Boston Globe staff. (Ben Clemens, Fangraphs)
A lot of rookie position players deservedly made their teams’ opening day rosters, including Kevin McGonigle (Tigers SS), JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals 2B), Carson Benge (Mets OF), and Carson Williams (Rays SS). A ton of things happened yesterday, and MLB Trade Rumors is always an elite option to catch up on news this time of year (MLB Trade Rumors)
