Boston Red Sox 2020 Season: 5 Questions For The Fans

The Red Sox can't wait to get on the field and put a disastrous offseason behind them.

Boston gets that chance Friday — sort of — when it plays its first exhibition game of the season against Northeastern University at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Fla. (1:05 p.m., NESN.) The way things are going lately, you just hope they can conquer the Huskies.

The Sox then start MLB spring training schedule Saturday, playing 34 games in 32 days.

The season opener is Thursday, March 26, in Toronto. The home opener is Thursday, April 2, against the Chicago White Sox.

Here are 5 things to watch:

Did the Red Sox keep enough talent to compete?

Boston rid itself of a former MVP entering the prime of his career, two former Cy Young winners and even a former All-Star (Brock Holt!) The lineup, anchored by Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers, should remain formidable without Mookie Betts. But the pitching staff is going to struggle making up for the loss of David Price and Rick Porcello. A lot will be riding on lefthanders Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez to stabilize the rotation.

Will we ever see Dustin Pedroia again?

It's almost hard to imagine, but the Red Sox have won a World Series more recently than Pedroia was a regular contributor. He played three games in 2018 and six in 2019, and in January suffered what The Boston Globe reported was a "significant setback" with his injured left knee. Pedroia is due to get paid $13 million this year and $12 million next year, one of the many reasons ownership found itself trying to cut payroll. It's a very real possibility — maybe even a probability — that Pedroia never plays again. Boston signed Jose Peraza to play second base.

Will it ever get better for ownership?

Yes, but only winning will soften some of the blows John Henry and Co. have been taking this offseason. Ever since talk of one of the world's richest franchises (with the league's highest ticket prices) looking to cut payroll, fans and media have been at the team's throat. Trading Betts and Price for what is regarded as a weak return baffled supporters, and ownership's multiple attempts to assuage fans have missed the mark and dug a deeper hole. The team has won four World Series since this ownership group took over — that's four more than in the prior 86 years — but they are getting the full brunt of the fans' fury. If the Sox stumble into the summer, it will be interesting to see how Fenway fills up.

Are the Red Sox going to be punished?

MLB is expected to wrap up its investigation of the Red Sox before spring training ends. Fortunately for Boston, the entire baseball world is angry at the Houston Astros, and recent reports indicate the punishment for Boston's alleged cheating scandal won't be nearly as severe. The team has already parted ways with manager Alex Cora in advance of what is expected to be a harsh punishment for him — the Sox are rolling with former bench coach Ron Roenicke as interim manager. Discipline could still come down from Commissioner Rob Manfred.

What can we look forward to?

It's still baseball in Boston, and the Sox only need a few breaks to give the city a reason to follow along. Rafael Devers emerged as one of the game's best young hitters, Xander Bogaerts could take Betts' place as the team's top all-around talent and J.D. Martinez is the team's best pure hitter since Manny Ramirez. Chris Sale, when healthy, could strike out 10 on any given night. Eduardo Rodriguez's continued ascent could net him an All-Star nod. The outfield could have the best two defensive center fielders in baseball (Jackie Bradley Jr. and newcomer Kevin Pillar) patrolling it at the same time. And you never know what Andrew Benintendi's hair will look like.