Red Sox make two more roster cuts, settle a position battle in the process

Sox roster movement continued Friday with a couple of early-morning cuts.

The Red Sox informed right-hander Michael Fulmer and catcher Seby Zavala — as well as potentially others — that they will not make the Opening Day roster. Fulmer, who was packing his bags at his locker, will begin the year at Triple-A Worcester and does not have an opt-out clause in his deal. Zavala does have the ability to opt out and has been in touch with his agent. He said he will talk with his agent again later today about his opt-out and the possibility of finding a new situation elsewhere.

The moves bring the Red Sox a little bit closer to a final product as they work to finalize their 26-man group. Zavala being sent out means that the team plans to install Carlos Narváez as its backup catcher behind Connor Wong, pending any last-minute additions. Fulmer was in the mix for a back-end rotation spot or long relief role but instead will provide depth at Triple-A, likely as a starter.

Fulmer, the 2016 American League Rookie of the Year and a 2017 All-Star with the Tigers, is now fully healthy after spending the entirety of the 2024 season rehabbing from elbow surgery. He allowed just one earned run (and three total) in 9 ⅓ innings in Grapefruit League action while striking out nine and issuing three walks. It appears the Red Sox are leaning toward Richard Fitts being the No. 4 starter behind Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck and Walker Buehler to start the year and giving the No. 5 spot to Sean Newcomb, Quinn Priester or Cooper Criswell.

career big league games with the White Sox, Diamondbacks and Mariners, signed a minor league deal over the winter and was in camp as a dark horse candidate to back up Wong. The Sox instead plan to go with Narváez, who is on the 40-man roster and beat out both Zavala and Blake Sabol.

“(Narváez) has been good. The swing is playing lately,” Cora said. “He can shoot the ball the other way. If you ask him, throughout his career, he has been going through the whole revolution. He was on top of the ball, then he was under the ball, then was striking out too much and not doing enough damage so he started hitting the ball the other way. He’s a good one. Very smart behind the plate.”

The Red Sox still have 36 healthy players left in major league camp, so 10 more cuts must be made before Thursday. There are decisions to be made at second base (Kristian Campbell? David Hamilton?), the back end of the rotation (Newcomb? Priester? Criswell?) and the bullpen (Zack Kelly? Adam Ottavino? Matt Moore? Greg Weissert? Brennan Bernardino?) as well as the possibility that the Sox add from the outside. One area the club might be looking to address, according to sources, is adding first base depth and there are some in the organization who believe a reunion with Dom Smith (who opted out of his deal with the Yankees on Friday) may make sense.