The Super Bowl is officially in the rearview mirror, and New England sports fans can begin turning their attention to the Red Sox. Boston will open camp on Tuesday with pitchers and catchers reporting to JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.
One major storyline that has dominated headlines over the past few weeks has been how the Red Sox would respond and beef up their infield after Alex Bregman departed for the Cubs in free agency. The club was linked to several impact sluggers around the league before chief baseball officer Craig Breslow ultimately pivoted on Monday, swinging a six-player trade. Boston acquired Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler, along with a Competitive Balance Round B draft pick from the Brewers, in exchange for left-handers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan, plus infielder David Hamilton.
Durbin was the clear headliner of the deal, giving Boston a defensive-minded replacement for Bregman, while Monasterio and Seigler provide additional infield depth and protection should injuries arise.
As camp opens, the Red Sox now have several options set to compete for roster spots across the infield. Willson Contreras (first base) and Trevor Story (shortstop) are penciled into everyday roles. Durbin and Marcelo Mayer will split time between second and third base this spring, allowing the organization to get extended looks at both players.
“We really like a lot of what Caleb brings to the table,” Breslow said during a Zoom call with reporters. “Strong defender, strong bat-to-ball skills, a really versatile right-handed hitter, and we feel like he’s a good fit for our park. Given his pull-side air-ball profile — I think it was around a 20% air-pull metric last year — we feel like that will play well at Fenway. There’s versatility in where he can play, and given his age and control, we feel like his best days are still ahead of him.”
Durbin, 25, appeared in 136 games last season, hitting .256 with 11 home runs, 25 doubles, 53 RBI, 18 stolen bases, and a .721 OPS. He struck out just 9.9% of the time and led the National League by being hit by 24 pitches. He ranked among baseball’s best in strikeout rate (98th percentile) and whiff percentage (96th), though he did not produce consistent hard contact, according to Statcast.
Romy Gonzalez is another option to platoon at second base, particularly if the Sox deploy Mayer there. Gonzalez has been a lefty masher and would give Alex Cora the flexibility to mix and match lineups.
The caveat is health. Gonzalez enters camp banged up after suffering a shoulder injury during a September series against the Rays. He’s dealing with left shoulder inflammation and received a PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injection in late January, with hopes of being ready for Opening Day.
“I’ve heard with those you kind of feel worse before you feel better,” Gonzalez said Monday at JetBlue Park. “This Friday will be three weeks. They say around the week-four mark you start to see improvement. That’s what we’re hoping for. But it has gotten better.”
Speaking with reporters, Gonzalez also revealed he experienced a setback earlier this month.
“I got to a really good place and then had a little setback when I started hitting,” he said. “I’m just building back up now.”
Gonzalez is expected to be a key member of the roster and one of several players tasked with replacing veteran Rob Refsnyder, who departed in free agency for the Mariners. Refsnyder was a steady presence against left-handed pitching and a respected clubhouse leader. Gonzalez offers similar platoon value along with positional versatility, having played every infield spot and potentially seeing time in the outfield this spring if healthy.
“I’ve always been a guy where you tell me to play wherever and I’m down,” Gonzalez said. “I just want to help the team win ballgames and put the Red Sox in the best position to win.”
While Gonzalez doesn’t have extensive outfield experience — just 110 innings across all three spots — the Sox want to keep his bat in the lineup, especially against southpaws. He hit .331/.378/.600 with a .978 OPS in 143 plate appearances against left-handed pitching.
Monasterio, one of the three players acquired from Milwaukee, is a logical candidate to claim a roster spot if Gonzalez opens the season on the injured list. The 28-year-old has played first base, second base, third base, and left field, while also logging more than 3,000 innings at shortstop in the minors.
“We think Andruw is an above-average defender at multiple positions,” Breslow said. “He’s played second, third, and shortstop. As a right-handed hitter, he’s also had success against lefties — an OPS over .800 last year — which gives us another option in the infield and against left-handed pitching.”
Mayer enters camp after a season-ending wrist injury, marking the third straight professional season in which he was sidelined. With Bregman gone, the former No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 draft is positioned to play a meaningful role in 2026, particularly against right-handed pitching.
With Durbin now in the mix, Mayer appears likely to slide to second base while Durbin handles third. Before his injury last season, Mayer started 28 games at third base and seven at second, committing just one error in 68 chances at the hot corner and playing errorless ball in 29 chances at second.
“He needs to come into camp and compete and show us what he’s capable of, but he’s got a ton of potential, absolutely, to be an everyday player,” said Breslow. “He’ll have an opportunity in front of him to come in and compete for a spot.”
Mayer added 10 pounds this winter, increasing his playing weight from 208 to 218.
“I feel great — stronger and faster than ever,” Mayer said at Fenway Fest in January. “I feel like my body’s in a really good spot.”
He also trained at Story Camp alongside other infielders and outfielder Jarren Duran. Mayer is a steady defender capable of handling multiple positions. The key this season will be finding offensive consistency, especially against left-handed pitching. A stronger frame could also enhance his power profile, giving Boston another potential source of pop while improving his durability — an area that has plagued him early in his career.
Breslow also signed utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a one-year, $6 million deal with $500,000 in plate-appearance incentives. Kiner-Falefa, 30, split the 2025 season between the Pirates and Blue Jays, appearing in 138 games while logging time at shortstop, third base, and second.
Before the Durbin trade, Kiner-Falefa was viewed as a possible starting option at second base. He now profiles as a super-utility piece. Despite most of his experience coming on the left side of the infield, he owns strong defensive metrics at second base, including +12 Defensive Runs Saved and +2 Outs Above Average in nearly 600 career innings. Offensively, he brings limited production, batting .262 with two home runs and a .631 OPS in 2025, and carrying a .660 OPS across 918 career games.
Ceddanne Rafaela could see time at second base but shouldn’t with the depth Boston has assembled. Coming off a Gold Glove season in center field, Rafaela ranked second in MLB in defensive runs saved at the position. His impact at second base was far more modest, making him an emergency option only.
Nate Eaton is another candidate to help the club, primarily in the outfield, though he has experience at third base. Eaton could help replace Refsnyder’s bench role.
“Nate Eaton is one who comes to mind,” Breslow said. “His game is built more on defense and speed, but he did contribute, especially against left-handed pitching.”
Signed to a minor league deal after the 2024 season, Eaton spent much of 2025 in Triple-A before earning regular big-league opportunities down the stretch. He batted .370 with an .898 OPS in September, though he performed better against righties than lefties. He’s expected to be among several candidates competing for a bench role.
Kristian Campbell represents another
