The Boston Red Sox will have some healthy competition in spring training over the next month or so. Assuming Shane Victorino is healthy and will be the Opening Day starter in right field, it looks as if two other talented outfielders will battle for the center field job.
Rusney Castillo and Mookie Betts are those two candidates. Castillo signed a seven-year, $72.5 million deal with the Red Sox last August and Betts was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket in 2014 and played 52 games with Boston. Both had success during their short stints at the major league level, but who starts on Opening Day?
What's interesting is that Betts was wildly impressive as a 21-year-old last season and slashed .291/.368/.444 with 34 runs scored, five home runs, 18 RBIs and seven stolen bases with the Red Sox. He has the capability to be the team's future leadoff hitter and general manager Ben Cherington has refused to include him in a trade package for Phillies' ace Cole Hamels.
On the other hand, Castillo is 27 years old and just signed a fairly lucrative deal, so it's likely Boston won't want him wasting away on the bench or spending time at Triple-A Pawtucket while he earns $11 million in 2015. In 360 career games in Cuba's Serie Nacional, Castillo batted .319/.383/.516 with 256 runs scored, 51 home runs and 226 RBIs.
"They're going to get equal playing time," manager John Farrell told The Boston Herald. "But I think it's important they both get the combination of the guys on the flank because of communication, the responsibilities for balls in the gap, fly ball communication and those priorities."
They might be getting equal time, but the starting lineup posted earlier today for the team's first spring training game might foreshadow who is going to earn the starting job.
"Batting leadoff with the rest of the Red Sox regulars was none other than Mookie Betts. Castillo, meanwhile, is slated to start the nightcap with the backups and minor leaguers," writes John Tomase of WEEI.com.
"A case can certainly be made for Castillo opening the season in Pawtucket. There are six years remaining on his deal, and he's still only played only 50 or 60 competitive games in the last two years. Spending a little time at Triple A might actually help, and it wouldn't make him a bust."
Let's not forget Shane Victorino will be a free agent after the 2015 season and could still even be traded before the July 31 deadline, which will open up a spot in right field and ensure a spot for whoever starts the season in the minors. Both Castillo and Betts will remain with the Red Sox for years to come, so there probably isn't a sense of urgency to have them both on the 25-man roster on April 6.
