Technically the Boston Red Sox have an opening at third base, but manager Alex Cora is likely to fill it with an offseason acquisition.
Cora spoke openly about his comfortability with Durbin at third base and hinted that he is likely to be the Red Sox’s opening-day starter at the hot corner.
The Red Sox acquired Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade where they sent Kyle Harrison, David Hamilton and a prospect to Wisconsin on Feb. 9.
Durbin appears poised to take over at the hot corner after Alex Bregman left in free agency to the Chicago Cubs. If he does, he’d be the third starter at third base in three seasons, with Bregman and Rafael Devers (2024) previously opening the season there.
Alex Cora is ‘Very Comfortable’ With Caleb Durbin at Third Base
The Red Sox have not officially named Durbin the third baseman for their season opener March 26 against Durbin’s former division rival, the Cincinnati Reds. But if you read the tea leaves around Cora’s quotes, it seems like a foregone conclusion.
“We’ll probably decide that next week, but I feel very comfortable with him at third base,” Cora said. “At the end of day, it’s who we feel more comfortable with at which position and also the player.
“I don’t want Caleb to be moving from second to third during the season. I want him to play one position only, and then just go do your thing at the plate.”
Durbin, who slashed .256/.334/.387 in 136 games in his lone big-league season, finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting last season while primarily playing third base for the Brewers.
Presumably, Boston acquired him to replace Bregman, who opted out of his contract then signed a five-year contract with the Cubs in January, though the Red Sox have kept the competition open with Durbin and incumbent Marcelo Mayer.
Still, Cora feels Durbin has a good enough arm and solid enough throwing mechanics to play every day at third.
“He has a good arm,” Cora said. “He was banged up last year, and I think that actually helped him with everything that he’s doing right now. I’ve seen a lot of third basemen with cannons at third base, but their footwork is not great. This kid has a good arm, and he has great footwork.”
Caleb Durbin Can Contribute Offensively Wherever he Plays
That Durbin will be the Red Sox’s primary third baseman seems like the worst-kept secret in New England. Yet, he came up in the minors as a shortstop and play second or third — even though he played 1,060 2/3 innings at the hot corner — and the Red Sox have a competition at each role.
But the Red Sox will need to find a spot for Durbin in their lineup, due to the recently turned 26-year-old’s offensive tools. Durbin’s bat has pop, and he’ll benefit from hitting in the right-handed-hitter’s haven of Fenway Park, but he also stole 18 bases with the aggressive Brewers a season ago.
The Nos. 6-9 hitters in Boston’s lineup went 7 for 39 (.179) over its three-game AL Wild Card Series loss to the New York Yankees. Durbin’s presence will likely improve the Red Sox’s lineup depth.
Red Sox Manager Alex Cora Sends Strong Message on Caleb Durbin as Opening Day Nears