But manager Alex Cora picked top offseason acquisition Garrett Crochet to be the 2025 Opening Day starter. Houck, who will start the second game of the season, made the decision easy for Cora. “Talked to Tanner. He was our best starter last year. He was an All-Star,” Cora said Saturday. “He just said, ‘Give me the ball whenever.’”

For the Boston Red Sox, they currently have three of the top prospects in all of baseball. Outfielder Roman Anthony is the consensus No. 2 prospect, and shortstop Marcelo Mayer ranks in the top 25 among many different publications.

The Boston Red Sox appear ready to proceed with Alex Bregman as their starting third baseman, a decision Rafael Devers has come around on.