Who Will Be Odd-Man Out? Two Red Sox Fan-Favorites May Not Make Opening Day Roster
With just over a week until Opening Day, things are going to be extremely busy for the Boston Red Sox.
Before the first pitch is thrown at Fenway Park on March 30, the Red Sox will have to decide who will be on the team's 26-man active roster and the club certainly has some tough decisions to make.
With so many new faces joining the club, some old ones may get caught up in the roster crunch that's sure to happen. Two players that are on Boston's bubble are infielder Bobby Dalbec and outfielder Jarren Duran.
The two Boston fan-favorites at one point were highly rated prospects in the Red Sox farm system but both have been marred by inconsistent play at the big league level. Both Dalbec and Duran certainly still are young and have high upside, but with Triston Casas set to take over first base and Adam Duvall in center field, there may not be room for the duo.
Boston flirted with the idea of dealing Dalbec and Duran throughout the offseason but never was able to come to terms on a deal. There's certainly a chance that at least one of the duo makes the club as a bench option, but the chance of both of them making the team out of spring training may not be high.
Dalbec has been impressive throughout spring training and has slashed .275/.356/.550 to go along with one home run, four doubles, and two triples and has played all over the diamond. He's not only seen time at first base but third base and shortstop as well.
Duran shined with the Red Sox in Grapefruit League action and slashed .500/.700/1.333 in four games to go along with a home run and two doubles before leaving for the World Baseball Classic.
Both Dalbec and Duran have showed promise throughout spring training, but if only one were to make the team it likely would be Dalbec. Duran has shown progress, but newcomer Raimel Tapia has had one of the best spring trainings of any player on the team and at this point seems poised to nab the backup outfielder spot. Dalbec has been impressive and his ability to play all over the infielder could help out a Boston club that lacks infield depth.
All in all, both Dalbec and Duran could still be traded at any point, but at this point it seems likely that only one will make the big league roster out of spring training and it should be the hulking infielder.
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