The Boston Red Sox roster is about to get a bit more crowded as several players are set to return from the injured list before the end of the season. Additionally, even some players who make the cut and play in October might find themselves looking for new homes this winter for a variety of reasons.
One thing the Red Sox have is a solid amount of depth. It's what allowed the club to survive so many injuries and mount a rally after such a horrendous start to the season.
On the flip side, sometimes too much depth is a bad thing. There are only so many roster spots to go around, and at a certain point, Boston needs impact players and not just guys who can hold down the fort in case of emergency.
5 players who are entering their final days as a member of the Red Sox
Masataka Yoshida
We'll start with a controversial one. Getting rid of Masataka Yoshida outright would mean eating $18 million in 2027. Even moving him in a trade would likely result in the Red Sox paying down a good portion of his contract. That doesn't exactly sound like something John Henry would go for.
However, there are just too many reasons why the 33-year-old is no longer worth a roster spot. Injuries have played a major role in Yoshida's Red Sox career. On top of that, it's hard to justify a platoon DH without much power and no defensive ability taking up a roster spot, especially given Boston's outfield logjam. There's a chance he's back from the IL prior to the playoffs starting, but it's hard to see how he fits the postseason roster.
Patrick Sandoval
Patrick Sandoval was a worthwhile dart throw as an injury stash when the Red Sox signed him ahead of the 2025 season. With that said, he's shown that he's not much more than a fifth starter at this point. Boston has an abundance of pitching depth, especially of the left-handed variety, making it a near-certainty that the free-agent-to-be is seeking employment elsewhere this offseason.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa
This is a tough one because, in many ways, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has exceeded expectations this season. The utility infielder is having a career season at the plate and has been a spark plug for Boston. However, does his value hold up as well if his bat falls off more in line with his career averages? There is some intangible value to keeping him around, but it's hard to pony up for a cheerleader when the club has other younger and cheaper options.
Triston Casas
Not technically in a Red Sox uniform due to his litany of injuries, but it's fair to say that Triston Casas' days as a member of the organization are numbered. He can't be counted on to stay healthy. It's unclear what his production would look like after so much time away. Finally, Boston could really do without the headaches. This is a clear non-tender case.
Jahmai Jones
It's starting to become clear why Jahmai Jones never got much of an opportunity to carve out a big league role before 2025. Jones is supposed to mash lefties while playing some outfield and DHing, but for much of the season he's done nothing of the sort. Even his breakout 2025 campaign came over just 150 plate appearances. It's not exactly worth going into arbitration with a player who's failing at executing the one skill he supposedly has.
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