Red Sox Exploring Surprise Andruw Monasterio Move

It sounds like the Boston Red Sox are looking to add more flexilbility to the lineup.

Feb 26, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays’ Raynel Delgado (73) steals third base against Boston Red Sox infielder Andruw Monasterio (32) during the fifth inning at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

The Boston Red Sox may have a surplus of outfielders, but it sounds like the club may want even more depth right now.

Boston has five legit outfielders on the roster right now in Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran and Masataka Yoshida. Despite all of this talent in the outfield, The Boston Globe's Tim Healey reported that the Red Sox have begun giving utility man Andruw Monasterio practice reps out in the outfield as well.

"Monasterio takes outfield reps," Healey wrote. "Andruw Monasterio’s outfield flirtation has begun. At the request of Cora, Monasterio has been working with outfield coach Kyle Hudson, something of an experiment to see if the regular infielder can be a viable option there for the Red Sox. 'This is my role: utility,' Monasterio said. 'I have to be ready.' [Red Sox manager Alex Cora] informed Monasterio of this plan at the end of spring training, when the Sox told him he made the team."

The Red Sox want the utility man to learn a new spot

Feb 17, 2026; Lee County, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox infielder Andruw Monasterio (32) poses for a photo during media day at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

On first look, this would seemingly be because of the fact that of the outfield group Boston currently has, Rafaela is the only right-handed hitter of the bunch. Anthony. Abrey, Duran and Yoshida are all left-handed hitters. Monasterio made the team out of camp to specifically give Boston a much-needed right-handed depth bat. The initial expectation was that he would get time at second base in place of Marcelo Mayer when a lefty is on the mound and also over at third base when Caleb Durbin needs a day off.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa plays a similar role, though. So, having Monasterio ready to go as an outfielder as well would only increase his chance of playing time, while giving the Red Sox more flexibility in the starting lineup. So far in his career, Monasterio has gotten a bit of time in left field. In 2025, Monasterio played in two games in left field for the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2024, he played in one game in left field for the Brewers. So, not extensive experience in the outfield, by any means, but he's at least been out there.

So, while the Red Sox surely have a logjam out in the outfield, it certainly sounds like the club wants even more flexibility with the lineup. Boston takes these matchups very seriously. Mayer is not going to see many lefties early on this season, for example. Because of this, it's not too shocking to hear that the club wants to find a way to maximize its matchups even more. If the Red Sox face a lefty on the mound, Kiner-Falefa can fill in for Mayer, Durbin already is a righty and then you can have an outfield with Rafaela and Monasterio when he's ready to go, two righties, along with a third outfielder, like Anthony.