Chad Finn ranks the Red Sox

I’ve been doing this entirely subjective ranking of the Red Sox players from 25 to 1 for five years now, and I can say this with certainty: Never has it been more challenging than it is this year.

Usually, the rankings – which generally are sorted out by the importance of a particular player compared to a teammate – reveal strengths and weaknesses on the roster. This year, all it does is reaffirm their depth. These Red Sox aren’t star-studded. But they are loaded with quality.

Among the 25, I couldn’t find room for utilityman Jonathan Herrera, or useful reliever Burke Badenhop, let alone many of their highly rated prospects. And should Stephen Drew return, that bumps another worthy player off the list. Maybe we should have increased it to 30 this year. Or even the full 40-man. As it is, here’s the top 25. Can you guess who is No. 1?

25. Grady Sizemore

The ultimate low-risk, high-reward signing, much like Rocco Baldelli in 2009. Sizemore was once one of the American League’s best young players, finishing in the top 12 of MVP voting each year from 2006-08 while with the Indians. Injuries have cost him the past two seasons, but he’s still just 31 and could thrive in a part-time role.

24. Ryan Dempster

Considering he was basically a conventional version of late-career Tim Wakefield last season — lots of innings (171) at slightly below league average (89 adjusted ERA) — maybe he’s ranked too low on this list. But the hunch is that he eventually gets traded to a National League team. He’s the Red Sox’ sixth established starter, with a rotation of promising arms a short drive away in Pawtucket.

23. Mike Carp

Carp, a spring-training pickup last season, was exceptional in a limited role for the Red Sox in ’13, hitting .296 with an .885 OPS and nine home runs in 243 plate appearances. But with Mike Napoli entrenched as the starter at first base and Jonny Gomes, Daniel Nava, Shane Victorino and maybe even Sizemore in the mix as corner outfielders, at-bats could be hard to come by.

22. Brandon Workman

The big Texan enjoyed a heck of an ascent last season, going from the Sea Dogs’ Opening Day starter to the reliever trusted by John Farrell to pitch the eighth inning in Game 6 of the World Series. He has promise as both a starter and a reliever, though given the Red Sox’ pitching depth he’ll probably start the season in middle relief.

21. Jake Peavy

The emotional veteran righthander (and owner of the 2008 NL Cy Young award and his own duck boat) had his ups and downs after coming over from the White Sox in a late-July three-way deal that sent shortstop Jose Iglesias to the Tigers. But his acquisition was essential given that the Sox needed another pitcher in Clay Buchholz’s extended absence. The question is whether Peavy, who doesn’t have the velocity he used to, can continue to adjust to having lesser stuff.

20. David Ross

One of the most personable Red Sox and everything you could possibly want from a backup catcher, including the more-than-occasional home run. Ross is expected to catch 60 to 70 games in his age-37 season. It remains a mystery here why the 12-year veteran never became an everyday player.

19. Andrew Miller

If he’s fully recovered from the broken foot that ended his to-that-point excellent season on July 6, he could and maybe should surpass Craig Breslow as the chief lefty out of the Red Sox’ bullpen. The 6-foot-7 Miller struggled early in his career to live up to the promise of being the sixth pick of the 2006 MLB Draft, a spot before the Dodgers took Clayton Kershaw. But he’s found his niche in relief for the Red Sox, striking out 48 batters in 30.2 innings last season.

18. Craig Breslow

Though he faded at the end, this is the truth: The Red Sox would not have won the World Series without the exceptional season (1.81 ERA) from the Yale-educated lefty, who picked up the slack in the absence of Miller, Andrew Bailey, and Joel Hanrahan and became a lights-out bridge to Koji Uehara. The 32-year-old has been very steady as far as lefthanded relievers go, but the Red Sox would be wise to expect a little less from him this year.

17. Felix Doubront

The 26-year-old lefty, who has won 11 games in each of the past two seasons and averages 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings in his major league career, could be poised for a breakthrough after getting some key outs in relief during the playoff run in October. Don’t be surprised if he locks down the No. 4 starter role and thrives.

16. A.J. Pierzynski

The classic hate-him-as-an-opponent, love-him-if-he’s-on-your-team player of his generation, the veteran catcher arrives as the de facto replacement for Miami-bound Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Pierzynski can be a polarizing nuisance, but it’s done in the name of winning, and the likes of David Ortiz swear by him. And he does have 44 home runs over the past two seasons.

15. Jonny Gomes

Too low? I’ll hear the argument. I tried to put him higher, based as much on his palpable value in the clubhouse as his production on the field (13 homers and a .771 OPS in 366 PAs last year). He was essential in what they accomplished last year. But with on-base machine Daniel Nava likely to be the leadoff hitter against righties this year, it’s hard to envision Gomes playing as much as he did a season ago.

14. Junichi Tazawa

Ask Miguel Cabrera what he thinks of Tazawa, the 27-year-old righty who got some crucial outs — including the Tigers superstar on a couple of occasions — in the postseason last year. Tazawa had his moments of inconsistency last season, and his velocity seemed to fluctuate more than that of most pitchers. But the final results– a 3.16 ERA, 72 strikeouts to just 12 walks, and a key role on a champion — added up to an impressive season.

13. Edward Mujica

The righthander’s ERA’s from April through September with the Cardinals last year: 0.90, 2.57, 3.12, 1.50, 0.71 … 11.50. The 29-year-old was hurt the last month of the season, rendering him an afterthought in the postseason. But if he’s healthy, the Red Sox have acquired an exceptional set-up man for Koji Uehara, one who doesn’t walk anyone (five all of last season against 46 strikeouts) and who is fully capable of closing from time to time (he had 37 saves just last year).

12. Jackie Bradley Jr.

The Red Sox’ future No. 2 hitter may take some time to adjust at the plate, but his defense in center field should be an actual upgrade on the departed Jacoby Ellsbury’s fine patrolling skills. Be patient and give him time, and before you know he’ll be one of those guys you appreciate more by watching him play every day.

11. Daniel Nava

I’m not sure John Farrell ever fully explained his reasoning for going with Gomes over Nava against righthanded pitching in the World Series. And given that it all worked out in the end, he probably didn’t have to. But the unsung Nava is one of baseball’s most underrated hitters, putting up a .303/.385/.445 line last year, including .322/.411/.484 against righthanders. He should be the Red Sox’ primary leadoff hitter this season.

10. Will Middlebrooks

A lot of potential, and a lot to prove. He could do anything from hitting 35 homers to spending the summer in Pawtucket and it wouldn’t be a surprise. He has 32 homers in 660 career plate appearances, but last season he hit just .227 with a .696 OPS and fell into some old bad habits late in the season. He’s rated this high because of his potential, but if Stephen Drew re-signs, he may find playing time against righthanders hard to come by.

9. John Lackey

I’ll never get why he’s the starting pitcher some Red Sox fans thought they should move. He’s a bargain next season at $500,000. He just won the clinching game of the World Series for the second time in his career. After recovering from Tommy John surgery, he’s every ounce the semi-ace he was during his Angels heyday. I’m putting him down for 17 wins, an ERA slightly below 4, and many more big outs in big moments.

8. Mike Napoli

Think that home run off Justin Verlander has reentered the earth’s atmosphere yet? It should any day now. Re-signing Napoli, a streaky but legit slugger who thrives against high-caliber power pitching and loves this market, was a move that had to be made this offseason. Betcha he hits more than 23 homers this year.

7. Xander Bogaerts

You know the expectations — he’s generally considered the second-best prospect in baseball to Twins outfielder Byron Buxton. And as far as I know, Byron Buxton is yet to hit an opposite field double off Max Scherzer in a crucial playoff moment, or steal a starting role in the postseason on a team about to win the World Series. I’m telling you right now, Bogaerts will be an All-Star this year.

6. Shane Victorino

Don’t worry ’bout a thing … Was there a Red Sox veteran, save for maybe Lackey, who exceeded your expectations more than Victorino? He played a brilliant right field, whacked 15 homers, put up an .801 OPS, stole 21 bases, and created a couple of iconic postseason moments along the way. Injuries are always a concern because of how hard he plays, but the player who was considered one the worst free-agent signings before the ’13 season should continue to make his doubters look like fools.

5. Koji Uehara

So … how does one follow one of the greatest, if not the greatest, season a relief pitcher has ever had? In 74.1 regular season innings, he had a 1.09 ERA — 0.27 in the second half! — and a record .565 WHIP. And save for a Jose Lobaton homer in the ALDS against Tampa, he was untouchable in the postseason as well. I can’t wait to find out what Uehara has in store for an encore, though given that his will be his age-39 season the Red Sox do need to find a way to reduce his workload.

4. Clay Buchholz

His ’13 season was both spectacular (12-1, 1.74 ERA) and aggravating (he missed pretty much the entire summer with a curious shoulder/neck injury). But he has as much ability as anyone on the staff, and he came through in the World Series against the Cardinals when he was clearly ailing, a sign that maybe he realizes he can and must pitch through pain from time to time. The time is now to become the ace.

3. Jon Lester

Will his redemptive 2013 season lead to a new long-term contract this spring? I say sign him up. Lester doesn’t have the filthy stuff of many No. 1 starters, but what he does have is something more valuable: A impressive knack for coming through in the biggest moments. Lester would have been the World Series MVP if David Ortiz hadn’t hit .688, and he now has a 2.11 career postseason ERA in 13 games.

2. Dustin Pedroia

The heart and cocky soul of the Red Sox, it was tempting to put him in the top spot. But second seems symmetrically appropriate — it’s his spot in the order and his position on the field, right? With Robinson Cano having moved on to Seattle, the fun debate over who is the best second baseman in the AL East goes with him. It’s Pedroia and Pedroia alone, and I suspect few Red Sox fans need to be reminded of just how fortunate we are to be able to watch him every day.

1. David Ortiz

The Red Sox had so much go their way in ’13, but perhaps the most incredible development was that Ortiz stayed healthy the entire way upon his return from an Achilles’ injury that ended his 2012 season after 90 games. He is still one of the few true superstar power-hitters in baseball, with 30 homers and a .959 OPS a season ago. He’s as irreplaceable as it gets in the heart of their order. Oh, and from what we gather, he’s pretty decent in the clutch too.