With Betts, Sale leading the way, Red Sox will reward fantasy owners

As the 2017 fantasy baseball season approaches, we take a look at the biggest news and story lines from each club. We'll feature one team each weekday ... and we'll finish up on Feb. 15, the first day all teams will have their pitchers and catchers on the field for workouts.

The Boston Red Sox oozed talent at nearly every position last season, but they have a huge void to replace in 2017 with the retirement of designated hitter and inspirational leader, David Ortiz. (Who also just happened to lead the majors with a .620 slugging percentage.) Acquiring a star of almost the same magnitude should help the Red Sox remain one of the best teams in the American League in 2017.

2016 at a glance

Record: 93-69 (1st in AL East)
Hitting: 1st (5.42 R/G)
Pitching: 19th (4.22 ERA)

Arrivals

SP Chris Sale
1B Mitch Moreland

Rather than look to replace Ortiz's offense this offseason, the Red Sox chose to bolster their starting rotation. In Sale, they get an ace to go with Cy Young award winners David Price and Rick Porcello.

Who's up, who's down in early fantasy starting pitcher rankings

Moreland figures to take over the majority of Ortiz's at-bats as Hanley Ramirez slots in mostly at DH. Moreland won a Gold Glove in 2016 and slugged 22 home runs, despite hitting just .233 (with a .298 OBP).

Players to watch

OF Mookie Betts 
SS Xander Bogaerts 
1B Hanley Ramirez
SP David Price
SP Rick Porcello

Betts will be one of the first players drafted after his huge breakout (.318, 31 HR, 113 RBI, 26 SB). He does everything well and is still only 24.

Bogaerts may not be in the elite tier of shortstops, but he's very close. He more than doubled his HR/FB rate from 2015 (but who didn't?) to 11% and tripled his home run total to 21. Like Betts, he benefited from hitting in front of Ortiz so look for their sky-high run totals to decline at least somewhat.

Ramirez had a huge bounce-back season in 2016, hitting .286 with 30 homers and 111 RBI. Injuries have been his biggest drawback, but DH'ing should help reduce that risk.

Price regressed a bit in his first season with the Red Sox -- and his 3.99 ERA hurt fantasy owners who expected better ratios to go with his 17 wins. Still, he's durable and will rack up 200+ strikeouts. And Porcello quieted his critics by pairing his excellent walk rate with a solid ground-ball tendency. The result was a 22-4 record and a Cy Young award.

Sleepers

3B Pablo Sandoval 
SP Eduardo Rodriguez

Sandoval returns after injuries cost him almost the entire 2016 season. Still just 30, he could be an extremely undervalued fantasy pick because he makes frequent contact and has yet to really take advantage of the hitter-friendly environment at Fenway. The big question is whether or not he can he stay healthy.

Rodriguez has a live arm and plenty of upside. After a slow start, he was much better in the second half (3.24 ERA, 9.2 K/9 in 14 starts).

Bullpen

Closer: Craig Kimbrel
Next: Tyler Thornburg

Kimbrel may not be as dominant as he was earlier in his career, but he still converted 31-of-33 save chances. His uncharacteristically high 3.40 ERA was a major reflection of his control problems (5.1 BB/9). Thornburg is an underrated offseason pickup who held opponents to a .162 average last year and served as Milwaukee's closer down the stretch.

Position battles

Sandy Leon figures to be the starter behind the plate after hitting .310 in 252 at-bats. That's way better than he'd ever done before so temper expectations. Christian Vazquez is a much better defender, who should see plenty of playing time.

If Sandoval can't stay healthy, utilityman Brock Holt can fill in capably at third base in addition to backing up at shortstop, second base and the outfield.

Steven Wright and Drew Pomeranz figure to open the season with the final two rotation spots, but Rodriguez could force his way into the mix.

Prospects

OF Andrew Benintendi
3B Rafael Devers

Benintendi, 22, begins the 2017 season his rookie eligibility intact, even though he was the team's regular left fielder down the stretch. He gave no indication he was overmatched. Just be careful of reading too much into his .295 average in 105 at-bats -- he had a .372 average on balls in play.

With Benintendi in the majors -- and former top prospects Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech traded to acquire Sale -- the prospect cupboard is far from bare. Devers hit .282/.335/.443 as a 19-year-old in High-A ball, but he's still a couple years away from the majors. (Sandoval's contract expires after the 2019 season.)

Projected batting order

1. 2B Dustin Pedroia
2. LF Andrew Benintendi
3. SS Xander Bogaerts
4. RF Mookie Betts
5. DH Hanley Ramirez
6. CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
7. 3B Pablo Sandoval
8. 1B Mitch Moreland
9. C Sandy Leon

Projected rotation

1. LHP Chris Sale
2. LHP David Price
3. RHP Rick Porcello
4. LHP Drew Pomeranz
5. RHP Steven Wright