After an interminable offseason and winter, we made it to Daylight Savings Time. Before you know it, Red Sox Opening Day will be upon us.

To celebrate, here are seven questions to ponder this week, perhaps while enjoying the additional hours of sunlight!

1. What will the Red Sox starting rotation look like without Lucas Giolito?

The Sox were dealt a crushing blow last week with the news that Lucas Giolito suffered a partial UCL tear and flexor strain. Though he’s scheduled to get a second opinion at the renowned Andrews Sports Medicine early this week, Alex Cora already admitted that surgery is a possibility for the 29-year-old right-hander.

Giolito was Boston’s only rotation addition this offseason, and combined with the Chris Sale trade, they’ve now essentially lost two starters.

Instead, the projected rotation will likely include Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and now that Giolito is sidelined, both Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock, who were previously competing for the final spot. Josh Winckowski and Cooper Criswell could be given chances to start, as well. The situation is likely to be fluid early on in the season, and while losing Giolito is a significant blow, it’s promising that there are several arms on the roster who can start or pitch in a long relief role.

2. Where will Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery end up?

Blake Snell turned up the hot stove this weekend when he posted an empty black page to his Instagram story with the eyeballs emoji, the millennial’s universal indicator of intrigue.

The Los Angeles Angels are a strong contender, and have been linked to Snell since before the new year. The Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and New York Yankees have been linked to him recently as well, but ESPN’s Buster Olney reported this weekend that Snell has a “strong preference” to play for the Angels.

At this point, Jordan Montgomery won’t even be ready for the start of the regular season no matter where he signs. While a source told the Herald that Montgomery is still holding out hope that the Texas Rangers will bring him back, their general manager, Chris Young, called a reunion “less likely” during a recent interview on 1310 The Ticket.

With Giolito’s partially-torn UCL and flexor strain costing him at least several months of the season, the Red Sox could use Montgomery now more than ever. They’re still in mix, but ownership’s self-imposed spending limits don’t bode well. Nor does Montgomery’s desire for a seven-year deal.

Snell is reportedly open to a shorter-term deal, which would suit Boston’s current needs without sacrificing too much by way of a long-term commitment. However, such a contract would inevitably carry a significantly higher average annual value, almost certainly a dealbreaker for the aforementioned reason.

3. Will the Red Sox return to the Dominican Republic next spring training?

The weekend’s miniseries in the Dominican Republic was a resounding success, and several members of the Red Sox raved about the experience during the two games’ broadcasts and to reporters.

The Sox bested the Rays in both contests, by margins of 4-0 and 7-6. Several of the Dominican-born players contributed to the victories, including Enmanuel Valdez, who hit a solo homer in Saturday’s game, and Joely Rodriguez, who earned a save and cemented Sunday’s victory.

While such trips can be a bit difficult from a logistical standpoint, you’d be hard-pressed to find a player who doesn’t want to do this again next spring.

4. What will happen to Ceddanne Rafaela and Bobby Dalbec?

Ceddanne Rafaela and Bobby Dalbec are in significantly different positions this spring, but they’re both fighting for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Rafaela debuted late last season, and is one of the organization’s top prospects. Evaluators believe he could be a perennial Gold Glove centerfielder, but the Sox want to see his offensive contributions catch up to his already big-league caliber defense. In that regard, he had a productive weekend in Santo Domingo: his two-run double in the first inning of Saturday’s contest put the Sox on the board early, and his solo home run made the difference in Sunday’s 7-6 win.

Dalbec, meanwhile, confessed earlier in spring training that he was surprised to still be with the organization. He’s been with the Sox since the fourth round of the 2016 draft, but he found himself blocked from his primary positions, first by Rafael Devers, then Triston Casas.

Dalbec spent the majority of the ’23 season in Triple-A Worcester, where he frequently showed off his power potential, hitting 33 home runs in 114 games. But his previous struggles at the big-league level carried over from years past: in 21 contests, he only managed 10 hits – including two doubles and a homer – and a lone run batted in.

His towering grand slam on Sunday doesn’t do much to change the fact that a change of scenery would probably do him some good. With his 29th birthday at the end of June, he should get a chance to claim an everyday role in the Majors, and the Sox don’t have one for him.

5. How fun will it be to have Joey Votto in the American League East?

After over two decades in the Cincinnati Reds organization, Joey Votto, one of baseball’s most entertaining and unique players, is now in the American League East.

Votto, whom the Reds drafted in the second round of the 2002 draft (how old do you feel reading that?), signed with the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend. It’s a heartwarming conclusion to what the 40-year-old first baseman described as a stressful free agency; he was born and raised in Toronto. On Sunday, he shared a new post on his Instagram: photos of himself at approximately one year old, wearing a bib with, “I’m a little Blue Jay” emblazoned above the team’s logo.

While Votto’s deal is a minor-league contract with a non-roster invite to spring training, there’s a good chance the Jays will want him with the big-league club if he’s healthy and productive. As a presumed future Hall of Famer, he’d provide invaluable wisdom and guidance to a club full of young sluggers, to say nothing of how fun he is to watch.

6. Do the Red Sox have the most inconvenient start to the regular-season schedule?

Opening Day is just over two weeks away. Or rather, Opening Night, because the first three Red Sox games of the regular season are scheduled for 7:10 p.m… in Seattle.

That’s right, even the first Saturday game of the season will start at 10:10 p.m. for fans on the east coast. Instead of counting sheep, you can count balls and strikes.

7. Who will be the Red Sox Opening Day starter?

It’s down to Nick Pivetta and Brayan Bello. Pivetta has seniority, Bello just signed a significant pre-arbitration contract extension. Who will win out? Cue the eyeball emoji.