CONFIRMED DEAL: The Boston Red Sox formally confirm that their best seasoned catcher, who signed a three-year, $80 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, is leaving. However…

These Red Sox are in danger of getting squeezed off 2024 Opening Day roster

The Boston Red Sox season opens in less than a week. The 26-man roster is far from final — the starting rotation wasn’t determined until Friday afternoon.

But before Thursday, the Red Sox need to narrow their Opening Day squad down to 26 players. The roster is bound to go through many changes throughout the season, especially with all the current injured Red Sox.

The Opening Day roster will feature depth options in the infield as Vaughn Grissom rehabs from a groin issue. Rob Refsnyder is also sidelined with a fractured toe and he’s likely destined for the major league roster upon his return. Changes are imminent all over.

Fans and reporters have been pleasantly surprised with the Red Sox’s play this spring. Their pitching is better than imagined and their offense has recently taken off at a run. Unforeseen successes for players up and down the roster will make final cut decisions exceptionally hard, but only 26 active players can travel to Seattle to start the season.

These Red Sox are currently in danger of getting squeezed off 2024 Opening Day roster

The Red Sox’s pitching staff is shockingly low on lefties, and a possibly season-ending injury to promising lefty reliever Chris Murphy doesn’t help matters. Brennan Bernardino is Boston’s only lefty who’s a lock for the roster, but the Sox invited two others to camp to give them a chance show off their stuff.

Lucas Luetge and Joely Rodríguez have been pitching well for Boston in Grapefruit League play. Both have the chance to opt out of their contracts with the Red Sox if they don’t make the Opening Day roster, so the team needs to make the right decision. And Luetge has pitched more innings and has better numbers than Rodríguez. On Friday, Rodriguez opted out of his deal, so the clock is ticking. But he may have made the Red Sox’s decision a bit easier.

Luetge has pitched to a 2.25 ERA with 10 strikeouts and a 0.88 WHIP over eight innings. Rodríguez has posted a 2.57 ERA with nine strikeouts and a 1.71 WHIP over seven innings. While the sample size of innings for each pitcher is small, Luetge has the edge.