5 questions for the Red Sox this offseason

This story was excerpted from Ian Browne’s Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

It is almost time for the Hot Stove season, which means there are pressing issues for the Red Sox and the 29 other MLB teams.

Here are five questions facing the Red Sox this offseason:

Will Bogaerts, Devers get extensions?

The Red Sox will have a better idea which direction they will go in this offseason once they have answers on if they can extend the two pillars on the left side of the infield -- Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers.

Bogaerts has three years and $60 million left on the contract he signed early in the 2019 season, but that includes an opt-out that he can exercise after the World Series. Given the recent contracts signed by Francisco Lindor and Corey Seager, it stands to reason that Bogaerts wants to be paid like the other top players at his position. Though Bogaerts just turned 30, he has the work ethic and athleticism to play at a high level for years to come. He has also been Boston’s team leader for years, and losing him would sting.

Then there is Devers, who has a big bat, a bigger smile and one year left on his contract. When the Red Sox were in this same situation with Mookie Betts, they tried to extend him and traded him when they couldn’t. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has stated multiple times the Red Sox are in a different place as an organization than they were three years ago, and he makes it sound like Devers will be part of the 2023 Red Sox regardless of whether the sides agree to terms on an extension. But the foundation will feel steadier if the Red Sox can extend Devers for the long term, particularly if they do the same with Bogaerts.

Can they get a big bat in the outfield?

The Red Sox lacked power as a team in 2022, and this was particularly true in the outfield, where Alex Verdugo had 11 homers to lead that group. There is a guy named Aaron Judge who is about to become a free agent, and that would spice up the rivalry big-time if the Sox make a play for the Yankees’ star slugger. If not Judge, free agent Mitch Haniger could be an enticing option. Though injuries limited him to 57 games in ’22, he ripped 39 homers for Seattle in ’21.

Who will close?

The Red Sox haven’t had a lot of stability in the closer role since Craig Kimbrel departed as a free agent after the 2018 season. Is this the winter the Sox fix that? There are two enticing free-agent possibilities who can instantly bring credibility to the closing role in Edwin Díaz and Kenley Jansen.

There’s also the chance the Sox could make Tanner Houck the closer, in which case they’d look to upgrade the setup position. Houck converted eight of his nine save opportunities in 2022 and seemed to embrace the adrenaline of the job. But if the Sox got a more proven closer, Houck could be a multi-inning stopper or even a starter. Quietly, Matt Barnes regained his form down the stretch (1.59 ERA, 6-for-7 in save opportunities in final 24 outings). But given his inconsistency in recent years, the Red Sox might shy away from banking on him as the closer.

How will the rotation set up?

The best way to describe the rotation heading into the offseason is unsettled. Chris Sale is under contract for two more years, but a variety of injuries have limited the lefty to a total of 11 regular-season starts in the first three years of his five-year contract. The only other veteran under contract for next season is righty Nick Pivetta, who has proved his durability but not his consistency. Would the Sox extend a qualifying offer to Michael Wacha, who surpassed everyone’s expectations this past season even while being on the injured list twice? It seems less likely Nathan Eovaldi would get a QO given his diminished velocity the final few months of the season. Rich Hill, the ageless wonder at 42 years old, could come back on a modest contract but might fit better as a swingman going forward. The rotation is certainly an area Bloom could add to.

Who will catch?

For years, the Red Sox had stability behind the plate in Christian Vázquez. But the pending free agent was traded to the Astros in August, leaving Bloom with some decisions to make. Reese McGuire, who was acquired the same day Vázquez was traded, hit .337 in 98 at-bats for Boston. He was also strong behind the plate. But the Red Sox can’t put too much stock in his small sample size offensively. Connor Wong also got a chance to play and has a strong arm, but it’s still unclear if he can be productive enough offensively to be one of the team’s two catchers. Willson Contreras, Mike Zunino and Vázquez are all free agents who could draw Bloom’s attention.