The cameras will focus on Chris Sale when the Boston Red Sox officially open spring training this week in Fort Myers, Florida.

Pitchers and catchers report Monday and begin workouts Tuesday. The first workout for the whole team will be Friday.

The Red Sox hope that veteran Mitch Moreland will provide defensive help at first base, as well as a bit of offense. Associated Press/Brandon Wade

Yes, Sale is the big news, an ace who joined Boston in the offseason. But barring injury, Sale won’t really make headlines until the regular season begins in April.

Here are the topics I’m monitoring this spring:

• Gut check: Doesn’t Pablo Sandoval look trim? That seems to be the theme so far. He actually worked out in the offseason and arrived at spring training a week early. Last year Sandoval arrived later – and terribly out of shape.

Being fit will help. But the bigger concern is Sandoval’s numbers, which consistently have gone downhill since his glory days in 2011 (.315 batting average and .909 OPS) to 2015 (.245/.658).

Last year, Sandoval lost his third-base job in spring training to Travis Shaw before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. This year, there’s no Shaw to push him, and prospect Yoan Moncada is also gone. Both were traded in December.

• Another third baseman: Rafael Devers, won’t contend for Sandoval’s job, but the 20-year-old prospect will get valuable workouts during his first major league camp. Devers, 6 foot, 210 pounds, is a gifted hitter. His defense has been described as “coming along.” He will work with infield coaching guru Brian Butterfield this month.

“Range sometimes is the last thing to come on a bigger kid,” Butterfield said. “If the other things are playable – decent feet, arm slot, athleticism – the range will come.”

Remember the work Butterfield did with Xander Bogaerts (6-1, 210), who has become a solid shortstop?

• The other corner: Last year, the big concern was Hanley Ramirez adjusting to first base. That worked out fine. Now, Ramirez will spend some time as the designated hitter after the retirement of David Ortiz. Enter free agent Mitch Moreland, a left-handed slugger and solid defender.

Moreland, 31, hit only .233 last year, with a .720 OPS (and 22 home runs). He caught Boston’s attention with his .341/1.061 numbers at Fenway Park in 14 career games.

“Mitch Moreland is a guy we were so attracted to for so many years because of the way he plays,” Butterfield said. “He’s a gamer. He cares about everything. His defense is an upside, and we think there is more in there offensively.”

Sam Travis, coming back from surgery on his left knee, will take part in his second major league spring training. The Red Sox may need him this year. While Ramirez, 33, had a good 2016, it was his first injury-free season since 2012.

• Behind the dish: The Red Sox have three catchers and two available spots on the roster. It always seemed like Boston was set for the future with the tandem of Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart. Then came Sandy Leon batting .310/.847 last season, handling the staff well and throwing out base stealers at a 41 percent rate.

It’s always great to have depth. Assuming Leon proves that 2016 was no fluke, then Swihart will head to Pawtucket as the only one with minor league options.

• Extra outfielders: The Fenway outfield is the most secure it’s been in years, with the Killer B’s of Benintendi, Bradley and Betts, and veteran backup Chris Young. So where does that leave Bryce Brentz and Rusney Castillo?

Brentz, 28, is out of minor league options and doesn’t appear in Boston’s future. He’s likely to be designated for assignment (removed from the 40-man roster) and sent to Pawtucket, or traded in a minor deal.

Castillo, 29, is already off the 40-man roster. Even though he batted .392 in 14 games of winter ball in Puerto Rico, Castillo is a long way from making it back to the majors.

If Boston puts Castillo back on the 40-man roster, his $10.5 million salary in 2017 will count against the Red Sox in terms of payroll tax. (There’s a reason why Boston traded Clay Buchholz – and his $13.5 million contract – to the Phillies for a no-name minor leaguer.)

Castillo is going to have to hit well for a sustained period in Pawtucket. Until then, he’s the best paid outfielder in Triple-A.

• Starting competition: Sale, David Price and Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello make a nice 1-2-3 punch in the rotation. To round out the rotation, there’s a battle between All-Stars Steven Wright and Drew Pomeranz and the man with so much potential, Eduardo Rodriguez.

Rodriguez seems to still have a lot to prove after a 3-7 year with a 4.71 ERA in 20 starts, averaging just over five innings per outing. He still has minor league options. But if Rodriguez shines this spring, it could mean the bullpen for Pomeranz or Wright.

• Bullpen: There are a lot of arms and a lot of sorting out. It will be interesting to see where Brandon Workman, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2014, is in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. He struggled on rehab assignments last year and shut it down.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

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