3 players in Red Sox Opening Day lineup who won’t be on the roster next season

The Boston Red Sox Opening Day lineup is out, but we can’t help but look forward to 2024, and how different this squad might look.

Not much is expected from Boston this year, which is exactly how they like it. The Red Sox are projected to finish as low as last in the AL East by some prognosticators, including PECOTA, but that’s never stopped them before.

Opening Day is a time of hope for every fanbase. For most, that’s false hope (sorry, Pittsburgh Pirates). But in Boston, the Sox have real talent on the roster if they can all stay healthy. Sure, this team needs a few breaks — Chris Sale making more than 20 starts would be a good jumping off point — but the potential really is there.

It’s time for a new era of Red Sox baseball. Unfortunately, much of that may not take shape this year, meaning some of this Opening Day lineup won’t make much of an impact on the next great Boston team.

Red Sox Opening Day lineup: Corey Kluber could leave

Corey Kluber was the surprise choice over Chris Sale to start on Opening Day. While a supposedly-relaxed Sale was fine with it, Kluber signed just this offseason in Boston and has made the AL East his long-term home after stints in New York and Tampa Bay.

Kluber is a Cleveland Guardians legend, as he won two AL Cy Young awards with them in the early 2010’s. Sadly, injuries derailed his career, and altered his pitching style significantly. He hasn’t been that type of pitcher since, let alone ace quality.

But, for a Boston rotation with much to prove and full of young talent, he gets the nod on Opening Day. Just last season, Kluber went 10-10 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.213 WHIP with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Kluber could be done in Boston after this season should he underperform. While he signed a multiyear contract, Kluber has a team option after this season. If he’s not worth the $10 million + he’d receive in the 2024 season, the Sox may be better off letting the veteran walk.