The Boston Red Sox have made progress toward assembling a fearsome Opening Day roster, but some questions persist.

After the team brought in top free agent Alex Bregman, it seems to have finally convinced franchise slugger Rafael Devers to accept a corresponding position change. Devers made his long-awaited spring training debut at designated hitter while Bregman started at third base, the likely alignment for the team’s regular season games in 2025.

And the team’s franchise shortstop, Trevor Story, was also in the lineup despite some persistent injuries of his own.

Unfortunately, as the team prepares for an exhibition series against the Mexican Baseball League’s Monterrey Sultans in Monterrey next week, that roster progress toward a healthy Opening Day seems to have taken a step back.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora has announced that neither Devers nor Story will make the trip with the team.

“Cora said Devers and Story will not be going to Mexico,” according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford.

As questions about where Devers would be willing to play following the acquisition of Bregman swirled, he had also been working to rehabilitate both shoulders. His spring debut was pushed back numerous times before it finally happened this past weekend, and being ruled out for the Mexico series could give him some more time to prepare for a fully-healthy Opening Day.

Meanwhile, Story has been dealing with some back tightness this spring, but Cora has downplayed any serious injury concerns. Still, any setbacks could be cause for alarm. Story has missed significant time with a range of injuries since signing a $140 million contract with the Red Sox in 2022.

Skipping the trip to Mexico could give both stars some ample time to rest and enter the 2025 season in full health. But after the team finally fielded its most complete spring training roster yet, even a mild step back for the pair of stars has to feel like a disappointment.

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