FORT MYERS — With two starting pitchers heading for the disabled list, two left-handed relievers sent to minor league camp, and a utility infielder traded to Arizona, the Red Sox nearly set their Opening Day roster yesterday.
Most significant of the moves was Deven Marrero being traded to the Diamondbacks for a player to be named. Marrero, a defensive standout and former first-round pick, was out of options.
“I’m going to miss my boys here, that’s for sure,” Marrero said. “These are my brothers, and growing up with these guys, they’ve become my best friends. It’s going to be tough leaving them, but I’m excited to start the next chapter of my career.”
Marrero, 27, was the Red Sox’ top draft pick in 2012. Long considered an elite fielder, he’s a career .227 hitter in Triple A. Marrero spent parts of three years in Boston and played his most significant role last season when he helped solidify third base and hit lefties well enough to start a Division Series game.
This spring, Marrero was competing with Brock Holt and Tzu-Wei Lin for a utility infield role. Being out of options meant the Red Sox had to either keep him, trade him or risk losing him on waivers. Lin was optioned to the minor leagues, leaving Holt as the last utility infielder standing, suggesting the Sox are comfortable with him backing up at second base and shortstop.
“We’ve been comfortable with him the whole time,” manager Alex Cora said. “He’s a good hitter. He can play multiple positions. The more reps he gets at short, the better for him.”
Holt likely completes the Red Sox bench alongside Sandy Leon, Mitch Moreland and third catcher Blake Swihart.
Rotation uncertain
One uncertainty about the Red Sox bench: Carrying four extra players would keep them from carrying an extra reliever. Cora has said making sure the Red Sox have enough pitching to get through the first six games is a priority.
Cora announced that Drew Pomeranz and Eduardo Rodriguez will open the season on the disabled list because of forearm and knee injuries. Steven Wright is out of the rotation because of his domestic violence suspension.
Hector Velazquez remains the presumptive final Red Sox starting pitcher alongside Brian Johnson, who was informed Friday that he’d earned a rotation spot. Cora, though, said Justin Haley and Marcus Walden — minor leaguers who have pitched well this spring — are also being considered.
Haley, 26, made 10 major league relief appearances as a Twins Rule 5 pick last season. Walden, 29, has pitched 218 minor league games without ever reaching the big leagues.
Ups and downs
Haley and Walden stand out as unlikely Opening Day possibilities, but they’re not the biggest surprises left in camp. The Red Sox optioned Robby Scott and Roenis Elias to Triple A, leaving relatively unheralded prospect Bobby Poyner as the only remaining left-handed reliever.
Poyner, 25, has never pitched above Double A, but he had a 0.78 WHIP at that level last season, and he’s allowed just three hits through 91⁄3 innings this spring. Cora has raved about him since camp opened.
He’s one of seven relievers left in camp along with Craig Kimbrel, Joe Kelly, Carson Smith, Matt Barnes, Heath Hembree and Brandon Workman.
Wright away
The Red Sox are sending Wright to have his surgically repaired knee examined one last time, but they expect him to be cleared and placed on the active roster so that his suspension can begin right away.
Barring an unexpected setback, team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said he expects Wright to be activated when he’s eligible on April 16. The Red Sox will need their fifth starter only twice in that span.
Wright was suspended because of a December incident involving his wife. Although the case was retired by the courts, and Wright insists there was no physical harm done, he also acknowledges the incident occurred and that he was in the wrong. Wright and his wife are in counseling, and Wright will begin working with domestic violence groups in Boston.
“It’s avoidable if you use the outlets,” Wright said. “MLB has that domestic hotline. I refused to use it. I was a little too prideful in that. So, right now, if I can help somebody else out to avoid this, I will.”
Odds and ends
Tyler Thornburg threw 15 pitches of live batting practice, his most significant step since last year’s surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome. Thornburg missed all of last year, but the Red Sox are hopeful he’ll return this season. . . .
Sam Travis continued his red-hot spring with his fifth double in a 6-0 win against the Astros. Eduardo Nunez had three hits in the game. …
Rodriguez pitched three scoreless innings in a minor league game. He struck out three and walked none.
