Spring training is underway, and the Red Sox began their preseason action with a game against Northeastern University on Friday, followed by a matchup with the Rays on Saturday.
With the season approaching, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and the Red Sox front office will soon face tough roster decisions as they trim down to the final 40-man squad for 2025.
With that in mind, here are four Red Sox players who could be at risk of losing their roster spots ahead of the upcoming season.
4 Red Sox players in danger of losing their roster spot
Nick Sogard
First on the list is middle infielder Nick Sogard. The 26-year-old saw limited action in 2024, appearing in just 31 games for the Red Sox. He posted a respectable .273/.326/.325 slash line but had an underwhelming 82 OPS+ and 81 wRC+.
While his numbers aren’t disastrous, Sogard faces stiff competition in Boston’s crowded middle infield. With top prospects like Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell poised to make an impact, Sogard could find himself on the outside looking in as the Red Sox finalize their roster.
Romy González
Romy González finds himself in a similar predicament to Nick Sogard as he heads into the 2025 season. The 28-year-old played a solid role for the Red Sox in 2024, appearing in 89 games and posting a respectable .266/.306/.417 slash line with a 99 OPS+ and 97 wRC+.
While González never put up elite numbers, he was a reliable utility player for a Red Sox team that battled injuries throughout the season. However, with a healthier roster in 2025, his role becomes less certain. The impending arrivals of Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell, along with the addition of veteran Abraham Toro on a minor-league deal, put González’s roster spot in jeopardy—especially if Toro impresses in spring training.
Cooper Criswell
The first pitcher on the list is Cooper Criswell. The 27-year-old became a reliable presence in an injury-plagued Red Sox rotation last season, making 18 starts. Over 99 1/3 innings, he posted a 4.08 ERA, 4.15 FIP, and a 105 ERA+.
While Criswell proved to be a solid back-end starter, his role is now uncertain following the offseason acquisitions of Patrick Sandoval, Garrett Crochet, and Walker Buehler. With his rotation spot effectively gone, his future in Boston remains in question. However, he could still carve out a role as a multi-inning reliever if the Red Sox choose to keep him on the roster.
Josh Winckowski
Josh Winckowski might be a surprising name on this list, but he could be in danger of losing his roster spot this spring. After an outstanding 2023 season in which he posted a 2.88 ERA out of the bullpen, Winckowski regressed in 2024, finishing with a 4.14 ERA, 4.48 FIP, and a 103 ERA+ over 76 innings.
While his performance wasn’t disastrous, the Red Sox have a crowded bullpen heading into 2025. With options like Cooper Criswell, Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert, and now Garrett Whitlock in the mix, Winckowski’s place on the roster is far from guaranteed.