Rafaela is told he’s made team
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Ceddanne Rafaela will take center stage for the Red Sox at the outset of the season.
The defensively gifted outfielder has made the Opening Day roster.
The 23-year-old hit .241/ .281/.386 in a 23-game big league cameo at the end of 2023. This spring, he’s hitting .275/ .327/.569 with three homers in 19 games, while also flashing elite defense.
Though Rafaela had impressed throughout the spring, he still felt a pang of uncertainty when manager Alex Cora summoned him for a conversation Saturday afternoon.
“I was kind of nervous. I didn’t know what was going to happen in that moment. I’ve been waiting for it all spring. Obviously, I was excited [for the news],” said Rafaela, who called his parents, his wife, and his brother upon being informed. “To see the [offseason] work pay off, obviously it’s good. But I’ve got to keep working, keep getting better. I want to have a long season through October.”
Cora praised Rafaela for his work during the offseason and spring training.
“He’s very dynamic, athletic, versatile, and he’s a good kid, too,” said Cora. “He’s going to get a lot of at-bats, and most of the time he’s going to play center field. I do believe he makes us better, more dynamic . . . . It should be fun to watch him go out there and perform.”
At the end of 2023, Rafaela’s undisciplined approach at the plate in the big leagues made it seem as if he might need more offensive seasoning in Triple A to begin this season. But ultimately, the Sox — the worst defensive team in baseball last year — viewed Rafaela’s glove as a difference-maker, and believe that its value overrides the unavoidable offensive inconsistency of a rookie transitioning to the big leagues.
“If we don’t play [better] defense, then we’re going to be in the same spot [as 2023]. With him in center field, him at second, him at short, we’ll be good defensively,” said Cora. “[As a hitter] it’s not the final product. We know that. He knows it. But the development of the player is not over in Triple A.”
Anderson added
With their five-man rotation set for the start of the season, the Red Sox nonetheless wanted to improve their depth with a multi-innings reliever who could also help them as a starter. They filled that spot by reaching agreement on a big league deal with veteran righthander Chase Anderson.
Anderson, 36, was at JetBlue Park on Saturday working to finalize his deal. He’s spent parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues, forging a 59-56 record and 4.35 ERA, primarily as a starter. He struggled to a 1-6 mark and 5.42 ERA with the Rockies and Rays last year, and had been in Pirates camp as a minor league free agent this spring.
In 11 Grapefruit League innings this spring, Anderson had a 2.45 ERA with nine strikeouts and three walks, getting stretched out to as many as four innings.
He exercised his right to opt out of his minor league deal Friday, and Pittsburgh released him, opening the door for Anderson to sign with the Sox.
While the Red Sox are encouraged by the potential of the five-man rotation of Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock, and Tanner Houck, they have acknowledged concerns about their big league-ready starting depth. Cooper Criswell will open the year in Triple A.
“I would love to add more depth. After maybe six, seven starting pitchers, there is a gap in terms of just who we think is ready if needed early on,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said recently. “We need to constantly scour the landscape and try to amass more.”
Going to the bullpen
Josh Winckowski will contribute in a multi-innings bullpen role in the big leagues. Cora’s message to the righthander, who was disappointed not to be given a chance to start? “We expect you to be dominant,” Cora relayed. Winckowski is wearing a brace on his right ankle. He said he’s been pitching with a bone chip, but it was discovered too late this offseason to have surgery, go through a threemonth rehab, and be ready for the season. He’ll pitch through it this year — as he did in 2023, when it was undiagnosed — and expects to have it addressed next offseason . . . The final shape of the pitching staff is likely to remain unsettled until the Sox get to Texas for a pair of exhibition games. But two decisions must be made before they leave Fenway South: whether to add first baseman C.J. Cron or lefthander
Joely Rodriguez to the roster. Both exercised opt-out clauses in their minor league deals Friday, giving the Sox until Sunday to add them or let them leave as free agents. If Cron isn’t added,
Bobby Dalbec would likely win that bench role. Cora praised Dalbec for a “great spring.” Dalbec has played first, third, and the outfield while hitting .250/ .353/.477 . . . Cora informed outfielder Jarren Duran that he’ll be on the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career.