Time is running out for Boston Red Sox players to make their case for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
With only 13 days left before the Red Sox kick off their season on the road against the Texas Rangers, decisions must be made even sooner. The team has an exhibition game in Mexico City from March 24-25, meaning roster cuts are likely to happen by March 23 at the latest.
Injuries and illnesses have been an unexpected theme for the Red Sox this spring. Three of their top six starting pitchers are expected to start the season on the injured list, a virus recently swept through the clubhouse, and right fielder Wilyer Abreu has been sidelined with a gastrointestinal issue.
If Abreu isn’t ready by March 27, the Red Sox will have a hole in their outfield, and a journeyman who didn’t play in the majors last season is doing everything he can to earn that spot.
On Friday, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter highlighted the “biggest roster decision” for all 30 teams before Opening Day. For the Red Sox, that decision revolves around whether they’ll keep outfielder Trayce Thompson, who has unexpectedly impressed since being signed on February 17, the day position players first reported to camp.
“The Red Sox opened camp with a crowded outfield, but an injury to Wilyer Abreu has created an opportunity for non-roster invitee Trayce Thompson to make the team,” Reuter wrote. “Rob Refsnyder is expected to be the primary right fielder while Abreu is sidelined, and Thompson, who is 9-for-24 this spring and leads all of baseball with six home runs, could take his spot on the bench.”
Thompson, 34, last played in the majors in 2023 with the Chicago White Sox, where he hit .171 with a -0.4 rWAR in 36 games. The brother of NBA superstar Klay Thompson, Trayce has never played more than 80 games in a season.
If Thompson does make the team, however, his opportunity may be short-lived. Abreu is expected to return quickly even if he starts the season on the injured list, and top prospect Roman Anthony, who recently hit a 110-mph home run in the Spring Breakout prospect showcase, is waiting in the wings.
Sometimes, a player only gets a couple of weeks to make an impression. If Thompson survives the final roster cuts, he’ll need to continue hitting home runs to stay on the team beyond mid-April.
