As Opening Day draws near, the Boston Red Sox is having to make some difficult choices to solidify their lineup roster to prepare for the upcoming season. On the field of spring training games, a fierce battle has unfolded among the pitchers vying for a few available spots. However, in the end, some players are left disappointed as they realize they haven’t made the cut.
On Monday, in an update provided by Chris Cotillo on X, he wrote, “Three roster cuts for the Red Sox who are now down to 52 players in major league camp: Austin Adams, Isaiah Campbell and Noah Davis re-assigned to minor league camp.” The move trims the big-league camp roster to 52, with more cuts expected in the coming weeks. While none of these pitchers were absolute locks for the bullpen, Campbell’s demotion comes as a bit of a surprise.
The Red Sox acquired the Campbell reliever from the Mariners this offseason in exchange for Luis Urías, expecting him to be a key bullpen piece. The 27-year-old player had a decent performance in 2023 while playing for the Seattle baseball team with an ERA of 2.83 and striking out 9.4 batters per 9 innings in a total of 28.2 innings pitched. His fastball reaching the mid-90s and a reliable slider positioned him as a choice for the relief pitcher position.
Three roster cuts for the Red Sox who are now down to 52 players in major league camp: Austin Adams, Isaiah Campbell and Noah Davis re-assigned to minor league camp.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) March 17, 2025
However, his performance during the spring training was up and down which probably decided his future in the team. Instead of heading to Fenway Park, Campbell will start the year in Triple-A Worcester, keeping him on the radar for a midseason call-up if injuries strike the bullpen.
Right-hander Austin Adams entered camp as a longshot to make the roster but still had an outside chance if Boston needed additional bullpen depth. The 33-year-old veteran reliever has bounced around the league, with stops in San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, and has always been known for big strikeout numbers (12.1 K/9 in 2023) but also serious control issues. He’ll now work on refining his command in Worcester.
Meanwhile, Noah Davis also caught many eyes in camp; he’s a 27-year right-handed pitcher who had a stint with the Rockies last season but faced challenges with his command (posting an 8.05 ERA in 19 innings). The Red Sox recruited him for depth purposes due to his potential but required experience before becoming a reliable choice for either the rotation or bullpen.
With the March 28 season opener inching closer, the Red Sox are far from finished making moves.
Red Sox’s second base and outfield decisions still loom
With Opening Day fast approaching, Boston’s second base competition remains wide open, and the final decision could go down to the wire. Vaughn Grissom and David Hamilton are all in contention, each offering different strengths. Grissom, acquired from Atlanta in the Chris Sale trade, is the presumed favorite but has yet to lock down the job due to injury setbacks. On the other hand, Hamilton’s speed and fielding prowess make him a valuable choice for various roles in the team lineup. Without a standout favorite in sight, Alex Cora might lean towards prioritizing versatility and solid defensive capabilities over power.
The outfield picture is just as complicated, especially with top prospect Roman Anthony knocking on the door. The young power hitter has been making quite an impression. Reports suggest that he might earn a spot on the team earlier than anticipated. With talented players like Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafael already on board alongside him in the mix, the Red Sox must decide whether to add another outfielder or let Anthony continue to grow in Triple-A Worcester. It all comes down to how the management team strikes a balance between long-term player development and short-term roster needs as they finalize the team lineup.
In the end, with second base, outfield depth, and bullpen spots still in flux, every remaining spring training game could influence final decisions. As Boston finalizes its 26-man squad, who do you think will emerge as the last roster surprise?
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