The Boston Red Sox still need to hire a new manager and Mookie Betts could be traded at any minute. Who’s ready for spring training?

The Red Sox certainly don’t seem ready, but pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report in seven days (next Tuesday) to the JetBlue Park complex. It certainly should be an interesting spring training with much uncertainty surrounding the organization.

Let’s take a look at 10 important storylines to watch as spring training unfolds.

1. Chris Sale’s health, comeback

Sale missed the final six weeks of the 2019 season (39 games) because of elbow inflammation.

The lefty received a PRP injection Aug. 19. Dr. James Andrews cleared him to begin throwing the week before Thanksgiving.

Sale struggled in 2019. He posted a 6-11 record with a 4.40 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 25 starts (147 ⅓ innings). But his 3.39 FIP and .221 batting average against show he might have experienced some bad luck.

He needs to throw his changeup more effectively. The opposition batted .279 with a .523 slugging percentage against the pitch compared to .228/.329 in 2018, per Statcast. Opponents slugged .444 against his four-seamer compared to .321 in 2018. His four-seam velocity also dropped 1.8 mph from ’18 to ’19.

2. Potential trade involving David Price or Nathan Eovaldi?

The Red Sox presumably will trade Betts before camp begins.

Boston still might need to trade another major leaguer to slash the 2020 payroll under the $208 million Competitive Balance Tax threshold. It depends on which major league players the Red Sox receive in return for Betts.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported Monday that Price might be included in a potential Betts trade to the Dodgers.

The Red Sox still might trade Price (or even Eovaldi) during spring training if he’s not included in a package with Betts. Injuries to starting pitchers on contending teams could create trade opportunities.

3. Players react to mega trade(s)

Trading Mookie Betts (and potentially Price) might be what is best for the Red Sox longterm, but it makes Boston worse in 2020.

How will Red Sox players react to losing Betts, the team’s top position player with a 17 fWAR the past two seasons?

Price, meanwhile, was Boston’s top starting pitcher during the second half of 2018 and into the postseason as well as during the first half of 2019. He recorded a 2.90 ERA in 35 outings (34 starts) from July 12, 2018 to July 14, 2019. Those numbers include the 2018 postseason.

4. How Andrew Benintendi bounces back

Benintendi has slimmed down this offseason as he tries to bounce back from a disappointing 2019 season. His OPS dropped 56 points (.830 to .774) from 2018 to ’19.

“I thought he was in really good shape,” Red Sox hitting coach Tim Hyers said in January. “And he (had) tons of energy. He’s really looking forward to this year. And he had a good perspective on what he needed to work on."

Benintendi never was overweight. But he added additional weight for 2019 to try to stay more durable for the entire season.

5. Starting pitchers’ workload during Grapefruit League games

Former manager Alex Cora kept the workloads of his starting pitchers to a minimum during spring training. He felt it would keep the starters healthier deep into the season. Cora planned to use the same or a similar strategy in 2020. But the new manager, whoever is hired, might view spring training workloads differently.

Sale, Eovaldi and Price each made just two starts last spring training. Sale threw 9 innings, Eovaldi only 7 innings and Price just 6 ⅔ innings. They combined to miss 153 games during the regular season.

Eduardo Rodriguez remained the Red Sox’s most durable and productive starting pitcher throughout 2019. Coincidentally, Rodriguez pitched the most during spring training (15 innings, five outings, four starts).

6. New manager entering late

The Red Sox let Cora go Jan. 14 because of his involvement in the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scheme. Major League Baseball still is investigating the 2018 Red Sox for allegedly stealing signs electronically.

Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has yet to hire a new manager. Candidates likely include Diamondbacks bench coach Luis Urueta, Athletics quality control coach Mark Kotsay, and internal candidates Ron Roenicke and Carlos Febles.

A new manager typically spends all offseason visiting players to introduce himself and build relationships. Whoever takes over as manager — unless he’s an internal candidate — must establish relationships during spring training. It wouldn’t be easy.

7. Bobby Dalbec has a chance to win an Opening Day roster spot

Power-hitting prospect Bobby Dalbec’s goal is to make the 2020 Opening Day roster.

“Definitely. I just think there’s different ways to go about that goal, I guess,” Dalbec said last month. “Mine is just to do my thing. Control what I control and not let a bunch of other stuff get in the way.”

Dalbec, a right-handed hitter, could platoon at first base with Mitch Moreland, a left-handed hitter. Moreland recently re-signed for one year, $3 million.

Michael Chavis, a right-handed hitter, is another option to platoon with Moreland. But Chavis might start at second base.

8. The competition for second base

Chavis and newcomer Jose Peraza are the top two second base candidates. Both are right-handed hitters. Chavis had reverse splits in the upper-levels of the minors and again last year. He posted a .347 on-base percentage vs. righties and a .261 OBP vs. lefties as a rookie in ’19.

Peraza struggled offensively for the Reds in 2019, leading Cincy to non-tender him. But he said he has made adjustments to his swing this offseason. The hope is for him to regain his 2018 form when he stroked 49 extra-base hits (14 homers, 31 doubles, four triples). His 11% strikeout percentage ranked seventh best among qualified hitters, per Fangraphs.com. His 14.4% strikeout percentage in 2019 ranked 31st among major league hitters with at least 400 plate appearances. He has a career 92.4% zone contact percentage, per Statcast.

9. Several relievers added; will someone step up?

The Red Sox added five relievers — Austin Brice, Matt Hall, Chris Mazza, Josh Osich and Jeffrey Springs — this offseason via waiver claims or minor trades.

Could one emerge as an important member of the 2020 bullpen?

Osich finished 2019 strong after regaining the feel of his changeup vs. right-handed hitters and adding a curveball. He posted a 2.96 ERA in 23 outings (27 1/3 innings) for the White Sox during August and September.

Brice registered a 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 4.87 FIP and .214 batting average against in 36 outings (44 ⅔ innings) for Miami during 2019. He averaged 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 3.6 walks.

Hall averaged 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings (27 strikeouts, in 23 ⅓ innings) last year. But he averaged 5.8 walks and recorded a 7.71 ERA.

10. Is Brandon Workman the closer?

Workman took over as the closer midway through 2019, but chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said in November he doesn’t know yet how the relievers will line up and who will close.

Workman led all major league relievers (minimum 40 innings) with a .123 batting average against in 2019. He allowed just eight extra-base hits (seven doubles, one homer). His 1.88 ERA ranked sixth. He allowed the fewest hits (29).

Josh Taylor and Darwinzon Hernandez also should be candidates.