The starting rotation is coming back. The bullpen has plenty of arms. Most of the hitters are returning.

The future looks promising for the Boston Red Sox.

But will that satisfy team president Dave Dombrowski? Don’t you get the feeling that he’s going to do something – something big – to try to push this team from playoff-bound to powerhouse?

There is one obvious move needed, to fill the designated hitter role now that David Ortiz’s farewell tour is finally complete.

Boston needs another slugger and Edwin Encarnacion of Toronto is a free agent. Ortiz even suggested during the All-Star break that Encarnacion would be a good replacement, receiving a wrist-slap from Major League Baseball for tampering.

There are other questions heading into the offseason, involving Clay Buchholz’s option, bullpen arms, the crowded catching corps and third base.

First, Boston must fill the crater left by Ortiz. Beyond the intangibles like leadership and clubhouse presence, the Red Sox are losing Ortiz’s power: .315 average/1.021 OPS, 48 doubles, 38 home runs, 127 RBI.

Encarnacion’s numbers: .263/.886, 34 doubles, 42 home runs, 127 RBI.

If the Red Sox don’t sign Encarnacion or another proven star, they can rotate players at DH, especially with first baseman Hanley Ramirez and third baseman Pablo Sandoval on the roster. When one is the DH, Travis Shaw can fill in as a corner infielder. Others could DH depending on the matchup (such as Chris Young against left-handers).

No one knows what to expect from Sandoval, however. In essence he would be replacing Ortiz in the lineup but can’t be expected to approach Ortiz’s production.

But if Boston signs Encarnacion, he and Ramirez could rotate between DH and first base, keeping both fresh. Encarnacion played 75 games at first base this season.

And while Encarnacion would be a right-handed slugger replacing a lefty, he hit right-handed pitching (.268/.532 slugging percentage) better than lefties (.242/.517) this season.

The big question regarding Encarnacion, who turns 34 in January, will be his contract demands. He made $10 million this season and will seek at least double that for a sizable number of years.

The Red Sox lineup might be potent without Encarnacion but why not bolster the offense? There’s no reason why Boston should tighten its wallet now. This could be Dombrowski’s big move.

• Speaking of money, will Buchholz have his $13.5 million option picked up? The emotional response may be no, based on the frustrations he has put Boston through. But there is still value there as a starter or maybe in the bullpen. Now is not the time to toss aside a quality arm.

• Closer Craig Kimbrel returns to anchor the bullpen. Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa and Brad Ziegler are free agents. Ziegler may want more of a role than right-handed specialist and it’s doubtful Tazawa will return after fading the last two years. Uehara pitched well after coming off the disabled list (11 scoreless outings), but will be 42 next April.

The bullpen does have Joe Kelly, Matt Barnes and lefty Robbie Ross back. Left-hander Robbie Scott did well in his first call-up to the majors (seven games, six hits, no runs).

If the Red Sox re-sign Buchholz they will have six starters. If they stay healthy, either Buchholz or Drew Pomeranz would likely have to go to the bullpen.

If Boston keeps Heath Hembree, he will have to stay in the majors because he’s out of minor league options. And the Red Sox must decide if lefty Fernando Abad stays. He was terrible (6.39 ERA) after being acquired from the Twins and was left off the postseason roster.

There’s also the possibility that Carson Smith could return during the season from Tommy John surgery.

Bullpens go through changes but this group would work to begin 2017: Kimbrel, Kelly, Barnes, Hembree, Uehara, Ross and Pomeranz or Buchholz – with Scott ready to come up from Pawtucket.

• Remember when the catching duo looked to eventually be Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart?

Then Swihart severely sprained his ankle, requiring surgery, and Vazquez slumped his way to Triple-A. Sandy Leon became otherworldly before returning to earth, batting .204 after Aug. 22. Ryan Hanigan (.171 average) and Bryan Holaday (.212) added depth but no offense. Those two appear expendable.

Leon and Vazquez should be the tandem. They are both solid defensively and they’re both out of minor league options.

Swihart, who has one minor league option, gets time to recover from his injury. He also is offensive insurance if Leon and Vazquez become dark holes in the lineup.

The switch-hitting Swihart can play left field but with Andrew Benintendi and Young, he’s not needed there unless there’s an injury.

• The third-base job appears to be Sandoval’s unless he loses it again, like he did this spring.

On the horizon is Yoan Moncada, the still-developing uber-prospect. Should Moncada fix the holes in his game, he could be the third-base answer by midseason.

• One more bit of housekeeping needs to be addressed. The 40-man roster will go through adjustments.

Outfielder Bryce Brentz has no minor league options left. He was not called up in September, which pretty much tells his fate.

Shortstop Deven Marrero has one minor league option year left but he hit .198 in Pawtucket. Mauricio Dubon may supplant him.

Reliever Williams Jerez has two more minor league options left, but he stayed in Portland all season (4.71 ERA). His spot on the 40-man roster may be needed.

Changes are coming, but they should not be drastic, just a tweak here and there, plus the acquisition of one big slugger.

 

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