For many years, the Boston Red Sox's designated hitter role was held down by one man, David Ortiz. After Ortiz retired, J.D. Martinez assumed the position until his departure following the 2022 season. The last few seasons, the Red Sox have leaned into the growing trend around the league of having a rotating DH. The 2026 season will put that strategy into overdrive.
It didn't always seem like things were going to be this crowded. Jarren Duran was thought of as a likely trade piece. To a lesser extent, Wilyer Abreu was too. But that was the outsiders. On the inside, Craig Breslow never thought trading an outfielder was likely. Now, with the deal for Caleb Durbin completing the infield picture, it seems likely that Breslow was right and everyone will be staying put.
Boston has four outfielders — Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Duran, and Abreu — for three spots. An open DH spot would help alleviate the logjam, but Masataka Yoshida, nominally an outfielder but for all intents and purposes a DH-only player, exists, too. Theoretically, Triston Casas and/or Willson Contreras could see time there, too.
How do the Red Sox manage all of this? Insider Rob Bradford took a stab at breaking it down, but his conclusions were hazy.
Red Sox insider Rob Bradford tries to explain how the team can solve its outfield/DH logjam
"They've said these things work themselves out, and maybe they will. Maybe someone will get injured. But there isn't room for interpretation about how awkward this is," Bradford said during an appearance on the "Jones & Keefe" show on WEEI.
The Red Sox have a logjam in the outfield with Anthony, Duran, Rafaela, and Abreu. Is a trade coming before opening day to resolve this awkward roster situation?
— Jones & Keefe (@JonesandKeefe) February 12, 2026
We asked Red Sox insider Rob Bradford what Boston's plans could be pic.twitter.com/3pSdtysqlJ
"This isn't just about being flexible. This isn't having, you know, different varieties. No, you have guys, you have too many guys at the same position," Bradford continued. "...So it's a weird dynamic. I still would not be shocked if there's a deal before Opening Day if all these guys are healthy because if you go into the season with this dynamic, it's just awkward."
Bradford then compared it to when the Red Sox had a similar logjam with Adrian Beltre, Mike Lowell, Ortiz, and Kevin Youkilis. He then cautioned that this depth isn't a good thing because, as time goes on and it doesn't work itself out, it becomes a very weird and uncomfortable situation as at-bats are divvied up and someone deserving of playing is always sitting on the bench.
The unfortunate reality is that the player the Red Sox would probably most like to be rid of, Yoshida, would be the hardest to move thanks to his limitations and bloated salary. It also truly begs the question of what happens with Casas. He's got to be the lowest guy in the pecking order, but with his injury history and other issues, his value is at its lowest point.
The easiest answer seems to be the one that Breslow has avoided. Trading a talented outfielder to balance out the roster made a ton of sense. Now, though, with spring training underway, most of those opportunities have dried up.