The Red Sox added to their infield mix Monday, completing a six-player trade with the Brewers that gives Boston three versatile infielders capable of playing multiple positions.
Boston acquired Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler, and a Competitive Balance Round B draft pick in exchange for left-handers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan, along with infielder David Hamilton.
Durbin is the headliner of the deal and gives the Red Sox a legitimate option at both second base and third base. The 25-year-old finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting last season and recently emerged as a viable alternative as Boston explored trades for Isaac Paredes, Nico Hoerner, and Matt Shaw.
In his first season with Milwaukee, Durbin hit .256/.334/.387 with 11 home runs, 25 doubles, 53 RBI, and 18 stolen bases (in 24 attempts), producing a .721 OPS. He rarely struck out, posting a 9.9% strikeout rate that ranked in the 98th percentile league-wide, while also finishing in the 96th percentile in whiff rate. Durbin also led the National League by being hit by pitch (24). While he did not generate consistent hard contact, per Statcast, he added value defensively, recording five defensive runs saved at third base.
A right-handed hitter with a 43.3% pull rate, Durbin’s offensive profile should translate well to Fenway Park and the Green Monster. He arrives in Boston with five years of team control remaining and two minor-league options.
Durbin logged 1,060 2/3 innings at third base last season but is capable of playing second base as well. That versatility allows the Red Sox to mix and match Marcelo Mayer between second and third base while easing him back into everyday action following wrist surgery last season.
According to his Baseball America scouting report, “He is a versatile defender who saw time at all three non-shortstop spots on the infield as well as a handful of games in the outfield. Second or third base is his most likely home, and he should be average at either spot thanks to quick feet and a throwing arm that is at least average.”
With Durbin offering the ability to play both second and third base, his regular position will be determined during spring training.
“I think at this point we’re just excited about getting a really good player into the organization and we’ll figure out where he fits best,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said following the trade. “It doesn’t feel like it makes sense to commit to anything right now. He’s got experience at third base in the big leagues, some experience at second coming up, and he’s played a little bit of shortstop. That versatility helps us, and we’ll figure that out as we get into camp and get underway.”
Breslow views Durbin as an everyday player with the Red Sox.
“I think he showed last year that he can be a very good everyday player in the big leagues,” Breslow said. “He does a lot of things really, really well. When you think about the deficiencies that our team had last year in terms of putting the ball in play, you know, not expanding the strike zone, catching up to fastballs, those are all things that he excels at and we think that he’s a really good defender as well.”
Boston also acquired Monasterio, a 28-year-old utility infielder who posted a .755 OPS in 68 games with the Brewers last season while playing five different positions, primarily shortstop. Seigler, a former minor-league free-agent signing, made 25 appearances at third base after debuting last year.
Both players project as depth pieces and join a crowded backup infield group that still includes Nick Sogard, Nate Eaton, Romy Gonzalez, Kristian Campbell and recent waiver claims in Mickey Gasper and Tsung-Che Cheng, even after Hamilton’s departure.
Like Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Monasterio provides valuable depth behind
