The Boston Red Sox entered spring training with a mostly settled roster, but a couple of key positions were still up for grabs. With Alex Bregman heading to the Chicago Cubs, third base was a question mark until Caleb Durbin snagged the spot. That left second base as the final piece of the puzzle.
According to Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox have now filled that gap. Manager Alex Cora announced that Marcelo Mayer will be the starting second baseman for the 2026 MLB season.
Mayer, a 23-year-old top prospect, made his MLB debut last season with a brief but promising 127 at-bat stint. This spring, he solidified his place in the lineup, even though his .214 average over 28 at-bats wasn't eye-popping. He managed one home run, two RBIs, and a .710 OPS, enough to earn the nod given the team's current roster dynamics.
With Mayer and Durbin set, the Red Sox infield for Opening Day looks strong: Willson Contreras at first, Mayer at second, Trevor Story at shortstop, and Durbin at third. This lineup has the potential to be postseason-ready, especially with a robust bullpen and rotation backing them up.
A breakout season from Mayer would be a game-changer, helping to fill the void left by Bregman. If Mayer and Durbin can step up, Boston’s chances of contending for a World Series look promising.