My 2015 Roster

Here's my assumptions. The Red Sox will go all out to win another World Series in 2015 while David Ortiz is still a productive force at the plate. I keep Yoenis Cespedes to play out his contract & see if we can extend him during the year. I give the big money to bring back Jon Lester. Tough decisions, but I give up on Will Middlebrooks, Allen Craig, Daniel Nava & Jackie Bradley, Jr. & use them as chips in a trade. I have only 2 free agent signings & I use our surplus of pitchers & outfielders to effect 2 big trades. My free agent signings & trades amount to about $45 million which the Red Sox can handle. Starting Pitchers (5) - Jon Lester, free agent signing for 5 years & $125 million; Chris Sale, trade with White Sox, $6 million & under control until 2018; Johnny Cueto, trade with Cincinnati, $10 million next year & free agent in 2016; Clay Buccholtz & Joe Kelly return from last year. I keep Steven Wright & Rubby De La Rosa as extra starters in Pawtucket. Bullpen (9) - Koji Uehara, re-signed for 2 years; Junichi Tazawa, Edward Mujica, Alex Wilson, Drake Britton, Brandon Workman, Tommy Layne, Matt Barnes & Heather Embree all returning. Catchers (2) - Javier Vazquez, returning; free agent signing of Geovani Soto or David Ross, 1-year $3.5 to $4 million. Outfielders (4) - Rusney Castillo, signed; Yoenis Cespedes, Shane Victorino & Mookie Betts returning. Infielders (4) - Mike Napoli, Dustin Pedroia, Xanders Bogaerts, Brock Holt all returning. Keep Garin Cecchini &/or Deven Marrero at Pawtucket for insurance. Betts can move to the infield if needed in case of injury. DH (1) - David Ortiz, returning. Players available in trades for Sale & Cueto - Will Middlebrooks, Jackie Bradley, Jr., Allen Craig, Daniel Nava, Henry Owens, Anthony Ranaudo, Allen Webster, Dan Butler, Ryan Lavarnway, Travis Shaw, Bryce Brentz & others. Some tough decisions to be made for sure. But that's my 25 man roster for the 2015 Red Sox.