With the season starting in a week, it seemed like a good time to empty out the Red Sox Inbox. The topics run the gamut, from projected lineups to biggest camp surprises to Trade Deadline speculation.

I've seen some statistically driven lineups that seem unconventional, but intriguing ... Do you think the Red Sox use a prototypical lineup or something outside the box? What is your lineup prediction for Opening Day?
-- @LeifThulin

With a group of hitters this talented, I don’t see the Red Sox needing to go crazy from an analytics standpoint. You have good hitters up and down this lineup. The club will be facing lefty John Means on Opening Day, so I’m guessing the lineup is something like this: Andrew Benintendi LF, Kevin Pillar RF, Xander Bogaerts SS, J.D. Martinez DH, Rafael Devers 3B, Christian Vázquez C, José Peraza 2B, Michael Chavis 1B, Jackie Bradley Jr. CF.

Against righties, expect something along these lines: Benintendi LF, Devers 3B, Bogaerts SS, Martinez DH, Mitch Moreland, 1B, Vázquez C, Alex Verdugo RF, Bradley CF, Peraza 2B.

There will certainly be days that Chavis plays first or second against a righty, with Peraza or Moreland getting a day off.

Who’s been most surprising thus far? Most impressive?
-- @Coachsully7

I’d say Jonathan Lucroy has been the most impressive. He was just getting his feet under him at the original Spring Training. It is clear he is finally healthy again, thanks to that surgery he had to repair the herniated disk in his neck. Lucroy could be a big bat to have off the bench, and he has also looked solid behind the plate. Most impressive? That would have to be Nathan Eovaldi. He really looks locked in, and he looked that way in February and March also.

Should fans buy in to the José Peraza hype (the team seems to hold him in high regard so far), and if he’s the regular starter at second base, what does that mean for Chavis?
-- @tgkraus

I don’t know about buying into the hype. But he has made some tangible improvements with his setup, both with his hands and his leg kick. Let’s see how it plays out. He was a pretty good offensive player with the Reds two years ago. As far as a playing time split, expect manager Ron Roenicke to go with the hot hand as much as possible in a season this short.

If things go badly, which players on this roster could be dangled to help improve a very weakened farm system from previous trades?
-- @GaryStud94

The obvious answer is Jackie Bradley Jr. He is a free agent at the end of the season. If the Red Sox fall out of contention quickly, any team that is making a playoff push might want a center fielder like Bradley to help put them over the top. The Red Sox would likely see a pitching prospect in this scenario. However, if they feel like Bradley is part of their long-term plans, they might be cautious about moving him.

Any chance the Sox make any moves by the Trade Deadline?
-- @K_DeLa_

I expect far fewer trades this year due to the shortened season. On Aug. 31, you’d think that most teams will still at least have a sniff of being in the race. If the Red Sox get off to a hot start, Chaim Bloom will likely be aggressive in trying to add a piece or two.

Given the state of the rotation and the short season … wouldn’t it be better to just tank? I mean it’s pretty much a lost season anyways and it would secure a high Draft pick for next year.
-- @julioivangc81

You are asking the wrong person. I am extremely anti-tanking. I hate that line of thinking. Play the games, try to win as many of them as possible, particularly in a 60-game sprint like this one. I don’t think that’s fair to Martinez, Bogaerts, Devers, Vázquez and players like that to tank. Those guys want to win.

I guess this is more of a question about 2021, but what do you see the team targeting in the offseason while remaining under the luxury tax threshold?
-- @fadeboggs

First of all, I love your Twitter handle. To answer your question: pitching, pitching, pitching. This team needs more quality starting pitching, especially when you account for the fact that Chris Sale won’t be back until June of 2021 at the very earliest.

On Dustin Pedroia: Assuming he never plays again, how do the Sox get relief from his salary cap numbers?
-- @biggstallion

They don’t -- for now. But Pedroia is only under contract for one more season. So his salary comes off the books after 2021.