Boston Red Sox Stun MLB with Blockbuster Trade: Full Details & What It Means for the 2026 Season

FORT MYERS, Fla.—Boston Red Sox camp is suddenly the busiest corner of the Grapefruit League. Between experimenting with MLB’s new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System and scrambling for healthy depth at first base, manager Alex Cora’s club is treating every February inning like it counts for October. ABS AS A GAME-CHANGER Saturday’s opener against Minnesota offered an instant tutorial when new cleanup hitter Willson Contreras successfully overturned a strike-three call, turning the at-bat into a walk and sparking a rally. Cora has urged hitters to “challenge early and often” this spring; the front office’s research—spearheaded by analysts Dave Miller and Jaxon Mills—shows Boston can steal wins by mastering the higher top-of-zone ABS strike zone. Nobody may benefit more than 21-year-old Roman Anthony, whose elite minor-league plate discipline already produced a 16 percent walk rate. The outfielder believes late-inning challenges will be “a slept-on component” once the regular season begins. Cora plans to give free rein to hitters projecting a 70 percent success rate or better while leaving defensive challenges to catchers Carlos Narváez and Connor Wong. FIRST-BASE FIRE DRILL While the ABS rollout grabs headlines, injuries are quietly gutting Boston’s depth chart. Projected backup Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) and 2024 Silver Slugger Triston Casas (foot) are both behind schedule, forcing the Sox to audition alternatives. Utilityman Nick Sogard started twice at first and drew praise for newfound muscle and zone control. Veterans Andruw Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa—who has logged every position except first—will also get reps this week. The injury list extends to the mound: left-hander Tyler Samaniego (back) throws a bullpen Tuesday, while non-roster righty Hobie Harris is shut down with forearm soreness. Boston’s brass is confident Contreras will shoulder most first-base innings, but Opening Day in Cincinnati looms in barely a month, and roster flexibility is suddenly paramount. KEYWORDS: Boston Red Sox, Spring Training 2026, ABS Challenge System, Automated Ball-Strike, Roman Anthony, Willson Contreras, Alex Cora, Grapefruit League, first-base injuries, Nick Sogard, Triston Casas.