Chaim Bloom and the Boston Red Sox front office have plenty on their plate heading into the 2023 MLB season.
There are holes all over the roster with several players, including star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, becoming free agents. The pitching staff needs an overhaul, J.D. Martinez leaves a void at the designated hitter spot, and there is a lack of outfield depth behind Kiké Hernandez and Alex Verdugo.
MLB Free Agent Rankings: Top 25 overall | Top 10 SP | Top 5 RP | Top 10 OF | Top 5 C | Top 5 1B | Top 5 2B | Top 5 SS | Top 5 3B
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Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on Rafael Devers. The slugging third baseman is expected to be on the 2023 roster, but he'll follow in Bogaerts' footsteps as a free agent next winter if Boston fails to re-sign him. The uncertainty surrounding the two franchise cornerstones has cast a dark cloud on the organization with the offseason underway.
So, who will be on the team next season barring any surprises? Here's what the Red Sox' projected depth chart looks like -- including contract situations for each player -- with plenty of work to be done over the next few months.
Rotation
Chris Sale
Boston Red Sox
Sale recently opted into the remaining two years, $55 million left on his Red Sox contract. The injury-prone southpaw has pitched in only 14 games (including playoffs) over the last two seasons.
Nick Pivetta
Pivetta is arbitration-eligible through the 2024 season and will become a free agent in 2025.
Brayan Bello
Bello should be a key piece of the Red Sox staff going forward after showing flashes during his rookie campaign.
Garrett Whitlock
Whitlock signed a four-year, $18.5 million extension with Boston during the 2022 season. It remains to be seen whether the right-hander will be used out of the rotation or the bullpen in 2023.
James Paxton
Paxton exercised his $4 million player option for 2023 after missing the entire 2022 season.
Bullpen
Tanner Houck
Houck is under team control through 2024. Similar to Whitlock, it is unclear whether the righty will serve as a starter or a reliever next season.
Matt Barnes
Barnes signed an extension with Boston in 2021 that goes through the 2023 season with a club option for 2024.
Ryan Brasier
Brasier is in his last year of arbitration eligibility.
Kutter Crawford
Crawford is under team control through 2024.
Josh Taylor
Taylor is arbitration-eligible through 2025.
John Schreiber
Schreiber was a breakout star in the Red Sox bullpen last season and is arbitration-eligible through 2026.
Catcher
Reese McGuire
McGuire was acquired from the Chicago White Sox before the 2022 MLB trade deadline and was stellar for Boston down the stretch. He projects as the team's starting catcher in 2023 and is arbitration-eligible through 2025.
Connor Wong
Wong took advantage of his opportunity with the big-league club following Christian Vazquez's departure and should have a role on the 2023 roster. He is under team control through 2025.
First base
Triston Casas
The Red Sox' top prospect will retain his rookie status in 2023.
Eric Hosmer
Hosmer exercised his $13 million player option for 2023.
Bobby Dalbec
Dalbec is arbitration-eligible through 2026. With Casas and Hosmer on the roster, Dalbec could be moved this offseason or sent down to Triple-A Worcester.
Second base
Story is entering the second season of his six-year, $140 million contract. If Bogaerts leaves in free agency, Story could slide over to shortstop.
Christian Arroyo
Arroyo is arbitration-eligible through 2024.
Shortstop
Yu Chang
Chang was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox in Sept. and is arbitration-eligible through 2025. The Red Sox will look to upgrade their middle infield this offseason.
Third base
Rafael Devers
Devers is entering the final year of his Red Sox contract.
Left field
Alex Verdugo
Verdugo is arbitration-eligible through 2024.
Center field
Kiké Hernandez
Hernandez signed a $10 million contract with the Red Sox for 2023.
Right field
Rob Refsnyder
Refsnyder re-signed with the Red Sox on a one-year deal, per The Athletic's Chad Jennings.
Franchy Cordero
Cordero is far from a lock to make the Red Sox roster in 2023. The 28-year-old is arbitration-eligible through 2024.
Free agents
Xander Bogaerts, SS
J.D. Martinez, DH
Nathan Eovaldi, RHP
Michael Wacha, RHP
Rich Hill, LHP
Matt Strahm, LHP