Red Sox Infield Picture Still Murky as Spring Training Begins
The Red Sox are back in Fort Myers, and so is one of their spring traditions: figuring out who’s going to handle third base. For the second year in a row, manager Alex Cora and his staff are entering camp with more questions than answers at the hot corner - and this time, the uncertainty extends across the infield.
“We went through this dance last year. I know how to dance it. Just be patient,” Cora said, referencing the annual spring storyline that’s once again front and center.
Last year, the late addition of Alex Bregman shook up the depth chart and eventually led to Rafael Devers being dealt to San Francisco by midseason. This spring feels a little less dramatic, but the intrigue is still there.
The primary contenders this time around? Rookie of the Year finalist Caleb Durbin, acquired from Milwaukee, and second-year infielder Marcelo Mayer, one of Boston’s top young talents.
Both players are expected to see time at third and second base during drills over the coming days, and that’s already started. During Friday’s practice, Durbin was taking grounders at third while Mayer worked over at second. That rotation is likely to continue as the staff evaluates who fits best where.
The Red Sox aren’t just looking for someone to hold down third - second base is also wide open. While Willson Contreras seems locked in at first and Trevor Story remains entrenched at shortstop, the double-play partner next to Story is still a mystery.
Cora acknowledged that while third base comes naturally to both Durbin and Mayer, second base is more of a work in progress - especially for Mayer.
“Something I told Marcelo: try to spend as much time with [infield coach Jose Flores], turn double plays, starting the play and all that, because the third base part of it is very similar to shortstop,” Cora said.
That makes sense. Mayer came up through the Red Sox system as a shortstop, but in his 44-game rookie stint last season, he spent the bulk of his time at third (39 games), with just eight games at second and two at short.
Durbin, meanwhile, played 131 games at third for the Brewers last year, with limited reps at second (10 games) and shortstop (3 games). Still, Cora noted that Durbin handled double-play situations well in his limited time at second - a key factor, especially for a team that’s struggled with defensive consistency.
Boston led the majors in errors last season with 116 - the third straight year they’ve ranked near the top of that unfortunate category. Cleaning up the defense is a clear priority heading into 2026, and whoever wins the second base job will need to show they can help stabilize the middle infield.
“We’ll see how it plays out, but I think both of them, they’re good defensively and wherever they end up, they’re gonna be solid,” Cora said. “But we’re not gonna be moving people around, from my end.”
That last part is key. The Red Sox want to lock in their infield alignment sooner rather than later. Constant shuffling can disrupt rhythm and chemistry - especially for young players still adjusting to the speed of the big leagues.
Beyond Durbin and Mayer, Boston has built out its infield depth with a focus on versatility. Romy Gonzalez, Nick Sogard, and the newly signed Isiah Kiner-Falefa are all in the mix and could see time at second or third depending on matchups, injuries, or performance. A platoon isn’t off the table, but the preference is clearly to establish a regular setup.
“Hopefully sooner rather than later,” Cora said of making a decision. “I think taking care of the shortstop with wherever he’s gonna play most, that’s important.
That’s huge. We’ll keep talking about it.
We’ll talk to [chief baseball officer Craig] Breslow and how we see it upstairs and how I feel about it. Hopefully we can make a decision sooner rather than later.”
For now, the Red Sox are letting the competition play out. Spring training is about reps, rhythm, and evaluation - and Boston’s infield puzzle still has a few pieces to lock into place. But if there’s one thing Cora’s shown over the years, it’s that he’s comfortable letting things unfold - even if it means dancing the same dance again.