Marcelo Mayer is a centerpiece of Boston's future; Bregman’s arrival would help accelerate his timetable, giving him protected at-bats and a better run-scoring backdrop in the middle of the order.

Mayer was expected to handle Boston's shortstop duties, highlighting the ongoing evaluation of prospects vs. veterans in the Red Sox lineup and fantasy drafts.

Mayer sits in Fort Myers; the Sox rely on other pieces while Mayer and Anthony recover.

Mayer’s rise to the majors is a barometer for the Sox’s next window; his development continues to shape the time-to-MLB impact for Boston’s fantasy-relevant prospects.

Mayer is a top infield prospect whose progress under Toboni helped shape Boston's pipeline. His trajectory is a barometer for Washington's evaluation of similar high-floor, high-ceiling players and could influence how quickly the Nationals push prospects toward the majors.