The Eugenio Suárez sweepstakes wrapped up Sunday with the veteran slugger landing back in Cincinnati on a one-year, $15 million deal-a move that, for a minute, had Red Sox fans scratching their heads. After all, Suárez had been loosely linked to Boston throughout the offseason, and with his power bat from the right side, he seemed like a logical fit for a team in need of infield pop.
But as it turns out, those connections were more smoke than fire.
According to reporting from Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox never even made an offer. In fact, Boston wasn’t involved in Suárez’s market at all.
It came down to the Reds and Pirates, with the Red Sox watching from the sidelines. And that lack of involvement?
It wasn’t an oversight-it was a clue.
The real headline here isn’t about who Boston didn’t sign. It’s about who they’re planning to start.
Enter Marcelo Mayer.
The 21-year-old top prospect, long viewed as Boston’s shortstop of the future, now appears to be penciled in as the club’s starting third baseman in 2026. That’s a notable shift in the Red Sox’s internal depth chart, and it helps explain why they didn’t pursue Suárez with any real urgency.
Mayer got a taste of third base in 2025 while Alex Bregman was sidelined with injury, and by all accounts, he held his own. Still, the assumption all offseason was that Mayer would slide over to second base once Bregman returned to man the hot corner. But then came the twist: Bregman signed with the Cubs, leaving a vacancy at third-and Boston seems ready to fill it with Mayer.
That decision also sheds light on the team’s recent moves elsewhere in the infield. Kristian Campbell, who saw his development path shift multiple times in 2025, was sent back to Fort Myers in January for more reps at second base.
The timing of that move lines up perfectly with Mayer's apparent slide over to third. Campbell, a versatile defender with upside, now looks like a serious candidate to take over at second.
It’s been a game of musical chairs in the Boston infield this winter. With Bregman gone, Mayer at third, and Trevor Story holding down shortstop for another season, the Red Sox are trying to strike the right balance between development and stability. Story’s glove remained elite for most of 2025-despite some late-season wear-and that was enough to earn him another year at his natural position.
Romy González, who made 32 starts at second base last season, is still in the mix and could be the Opening Day starter. But he’ll face competition from depth options like Nick Sogard, David Hamilton, and Ceddanne Rafaela. That said, manager Alex Cora has made it clear he prefers to keep Rafaela in center field, where his Gold Glove-caliber defense continues to shine.
At one point, there was even chatter about moving Story to second or third to make room for Mayer at shortstop-his long-term home in Boston. But for now, the Red Sox are opting for a more measured approach. Mayer gets everyday reps at third, Story holds short, and the second base job is up for grabs.
So while the Suárez rumors had fans dreaming of a power bat at third, the real story is Mayer’s emergence and Boston’s quiet confidence in its young core. The infield picture is coming into focus-and it’s built around the next generation.