Boston Red Sox

Red Sox ace Chris Sale will undergo Tommy John surgery, the team announced on Thursday. (Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This is the news that everyone was afraid of, and it is something that Sale and the Red Sox were trying to avoid since last summer. Sale will now miss the entire 2020 season (whenever it starts) and likely the beginning of the 2021 season. In 2019, Sale struck out 218 batters over 147 1/3 innings with a 4.40 ERA.

Ryan Brasier set down the side in order, striking out one, in the fifth inning of Wednesday's spring game against the Rays.

Fantasy Impact: Brasier has now allowed three hits and one run while striking out four without a walk over five spring innings. The veteran reliever is fighting for a spot in the bullpen and is coming off a 2019 season when he finished with seven saves games but had blown four others.

Jonathan Lucroy went 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI in Wednesday's spring game against the Rays.

Fantasy Impact: Lucroy is now 6-for-20 at the plate in Grapefruit League action this spring. The veteran catcher is battling Kevin Plawecki for the backup job behind Christian Vasquez and if he does win the job will not play enough to be worth owning in fantasy.

Xander Bogaerts went 1-for-1 with a run scored and a walk in his Grapefruit League game against the Rays on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Bogaerts had been dealing with a sore ankle early in camp and got a late start to spring action. The 27-year-old slugger had a career year in 2019 with 33 home runs and 117 RBI and should be one of the first shortstops drafted in fantasy drafts.

Jackie Bradley Jr. went 2-for-3 with two RBI on Wednesday in a Grapefruit League battle against the Rays.

Fantasy Impact: Bradley has been red hot at the plate this spring for the Red Sox hitting .414 with a .452 on-base percentage. The veteran outfielder can be streaky but if he is hitting like this to start the season he would be worth adding in deeper fantasy leagues.

Eduardo Rodriguez gave up six hits and struck out 10 batters over four scoreless innings against the Rays on Wednesday in his Grapefruit League start.

Fantasy Impact: Rodriguez is emerging as the leading candidate to start on Opening Day against the Blue Jays. The left-hander has lowered his ERA to 1.64 in spring training and is coming off a 19 win season and should be drafted early in all fantasy leagues.

Kevin Pillar went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and two runs scored as the Red Sox edged the Cardinals on Tuesday in Grapefruit League action.

Fantasy Impact: Pillar looks like he will get a starting role in the outfield to begin the season with Alex Verdugo on the injured list. The long term plan is to have the veteran outfielder platoon with Verdugo which will limit his fantasy value.

Alex Verdugo (back) took 20 swings in a batting cage Monday and took part in on-field agility drills, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports. (Source: Julian McWilliams on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This is the first time Verdugo has done any swinging since arriving in Red Sox camp. The stress fracture in the outfielders back means he will begin the season on the injured list, but the hope is he could return before the end of April. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on updates.

Martin Perez struck out seven batters across four scoreless innings Sunday in Grapefruit League play against the Twins.

Fantasy Impact: Perez, who was unable to get out of the first inning during his spring debut last Tuesday, was much improved Sunday. The 28-year-old lefty has a definite role in the Sox rotation but is only worth owning in deeper fantasy leagues.

Mitch Moreland (knee) will primarily be used at first base when the Red Sox face right-handed starters, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Moreland will once again primarily be limited to facing right-handed pitchers. Last season, 82% of his 335 plate appearances came against righties. When Moreland is off, Michael Chavis will face lefties, and Jose Peraza will play second base. Moreland is not worth drafting in standard leagues unless he gains a full-time role.

Bobby Dalbec was one of five Red Sox players optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. (Source: MassLive.com)

Fantasy Impact: Dalbec is one of the Red Sox' top prospects and showed some nice flashes in camp, but he was always poised to begin the season back in the minors. However, the 24-year-old figures to make his major league debut at some point in 2020.

Red Sox interim manager Ron Roenicke indicated Monday that Ryan Weber could be pitching his way into the team's rotation according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe.

Fantasy Impact: Weber has looked good and has now allowed just one unearned run with an 11/0 K/BB ratio over nine innings this spring. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on updates concerning Weber's status and if he makes the rotation could be worth a grab in deeper fantasy formats.

Pitcher Hector Velazquez was claimed by the Baltimore Orioles after being designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox late last week. (Source: Jon Meoli on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Velazquez had been a valuable swingman with the Red Sox but pitched to a 5.43 ERA over 56 1/3 innings at the major league level in 2019. With the team adding Colin McHugh, he was the odd man out on the 40-man roster. The rebuilding Orioles will likely give Velazquez a chance to earn a spot in their starting rotation or their bullpen as a long reliever.

Colin McHugh (elbow), who signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox on Thursday, has yet to begin a throwing program this spring and will likely open the season on the 15-day injured list, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. (Source: Pete Abraham on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: McHugh will be a starter in Boston after bouncing between the bullpen and rotation in Houston. The 32-year-old struggled to a 4.70 ERA over 74 2/3 innings last year while battling an elbow issue but posted a stellar 1.99 ERA with 94 strikeouts across 72 1/3 innings for the Astros in 2018.

Brian Johnson gave up two runs and struck out four in 2 1/3 innings of relief Thursday against the Astros.

Fantasy Impact: Johnson has an outside shot of earning a spot in the Red Sox rotation to start the season. The 29-year-old lefty was 1-3 with a 6.02 ERA and 1.88 WHIP over 21 games last season and is not fantasy-relevant if he does find a spot on the team.

J.D. Martinez went 2-for-3 with three-run home run in Wednesday's spring game against the Tigers.

Fantasy Impact: Martinez is off to a good start this spring with two home runs and three extra base hits. The slugger is coming off a 2019 in which he hit .304 with 36 home runs and 105 RBI and should be drafted in the first few rounds of upcoming fantasy drafts.

Andrew Benintendi (quadriceps) will return to the lineup as a designated hitter Tuesday against the Yankees, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. (Source: Pete Abraham on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Benintendi has been battling a minor quad issue over the last few days, and it doesn't sound too serious if the Red Sox have him hitting. Expect the 25-year-old outfielder to be ready for Opening Day with the Red Sox.

Matt Barnes is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League appearance out of the bullpen Monday against the Tigers, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. (Source: Jen McCaffrey on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Barnes is going into the 2019 season as the top setup pitcher in the Red Sox bullpen. The 29-year-old reliever is definitely someone to target in fantasy leagues that count both saves and holds as a category.

Nathan Eovaldi allowed one hit and struck out four over three scoreless innings in Sunday's spring game against the Braves.

Fantasy Impact: Eovaldi allowed three hits and no walks while striking out eight over his two spring starts (five innings). The 30-year-old starter comes into 2019 completely healthy and if that continues then Eovaldi could be a sleeper pickup in deeper fantasy leagues.

Brandon Workman struck out two batters in a 1-2-3 inning Sunday in Grapefruit League play as the Red Sox defeated the Braves by a 4-2 score.

Fantasy Impact: Workman has been named the closer by Red Sox interim manager Ron Roenicke to open the season. The 24-year-old right-hander posted a 2.01 ERA with 13 saves (two blown) during the second half of last season. Workman should be drafted in all fantasy leagues that have the save category.