Plenty of attention has been paid to the Boston Red Sox‘s infield situation. The team’s apparent desire to add another bat either at second or third base has been crucial to their entire offseason, with things only getting magnified once Alex Bregman opted to sign with the Cubs instead of returning to the Red Sox.
President of baseball operations Craig Breslow has had talks with the Diamondbacks about Ketel Marte, with the Cardinals about Brendan Donovan, and was even loosely connected to Bo Bichette before he signed with the Mets. Boston has also been linked to free agent Eugenio Suárez at different points.
The tricky piece of the equation: Boston may not actually need to make an addition here.
Internal options to cover the two infield positions include: Marcelo Mayer, Romy Gonzalez, Kristian Campbell, David Hamilton, Nick Sogard, and Tristan Gray, plus non-roster spring training invitee Vinny Capra, and minor leaguer Mikey Romero. In theory, Triston Casas could even factor into the mix at third base if he proves to be healthy and can handle a shift back to the hot corner.
Marcelo Mayer Will Get Every Chance to Win a Starting Spot With the Red Sox
Expectations have been sky-high since the moment Boston selected Marcelo Mayer with the 4th-overall pick in the 2021 Draft out of the same Chula Vista, California, high school that produced several other major leaguers (including 15-year veteran first baseman Adrián González and current Giants infielder Casey Schmidt). Mayer appeared high on major prospect rankings heading into each of the last four seasons before making his debut in 2025, getting into 44 games from May until July before undergoing season-ending wrist surgery. He slashed just .228/.277/.402 in 136 PA (just enough to exhaust his rookie eligibility) with 8 2B, 1 3B, and 4 HR.
Mayer just turned 23 in December. He still has minor league options remaining, but he will head into spring training as a favorite to get starting reps at either second or third base. The Red Sox will be patient with him.
Can Romy Gonzalez Improve on a Career Season?
2025 was a career year for Romy Gonzalez. The 29-year-old got into a career-high 96 games and received 341 plate appearances in his fifth season in the big leagues, hitting .305/.343/.483 with 20 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, and 53 RBI. Most of that playing time came between first and second base, though he also saw some time in the outfield corners.
The former waiver wire pickup from the White Sox may be most valuable in a utility role off the bench given his versatility, but he could be a candidate to take hold of the second base job with a strong spring.
Boston’s Forgotten Man, Kristian Campbell
Kristian Campbell was among the notable highlights of spring training for the Red Sox a year ago. Campbell impressed the club so much that they locked him up with an eight-year, $60 million contract extension just after he made the Opening Day roster. Campbell struggled with the adjustment to the major leagues, appearing in 67 games while hitting a mere .223/.319/.345 in 263 PA with 10 2B and 6 HR. 58 of those appearances came at second base, where he committed seven errors and often looked overmatched. Ultimately, Boston sent him back to Triple-A in mid-June, and he would remain in the minors for the rest of the season.
Campbell’s offensive output improved following the demotion, resulting in a .273/.382/.417 line across 319 PA, but questions remain about where he fits best defensively. The organization even pushed him to play the outfield in winter ball. Campbell will face numerous questions this spring as he tries to make the roster again. The infield may prove to be the better opportunity for him.
The Red Sox’s Other Options
None of David Hamilton (.198/.257/.333 in 194 PA with the Red Sox in 2025), Nick Sogard (.260/.317/.344 in 104 PA), nor Tristan Gray (.231/.282/.410 in 86 PA with the Rays) stand out as strong candidates for a starting role, barring a massive performance this spring. The same goes for Vinny Capra (.125/.157/.177 in 105 PA with the Brewers and White Sox), who will be in camp on a minor league contract and will likely serve as depth at Triple-A Worcester.
Mikey Romero may be even more of a long shot to win a job this spring, but he carries promise. The 24th-overall pick in the 2022 Draft split the last season between Double-A and Triple-A, batting a combined .245/.300/.452 in 489 PA with 33 2B, 17 HR, and 76 RBI while playing both second and third base.
Realistic external options are limited at this point in the offseason. The D-backs are not trading Marte and while Boston and St. Louis have already agreed to two separate trades this offseason a third seems unlikely.
Thairo Estada (.253/.285/.370 in 165 PA with the Rockies), Luis Rengifo (.238/.287/.335 in 541 PA with the Angels), Brendan Rodgers (.191/.266/.278 in 128 PA with the Astros), and old friends Jose Iglesias (.229/.298/.294 in 343 PA with the Padres) and Yoan Moncáda (.234/.336/.448 in 289 PA with the Angels) remain on the free agent market. Aside from Rengifo, who had a terrible 2025 season but slashed .273/.323/.431 (109 OPS+) from 2022-24, none of them would appear to be big upgrades over what the team already has in-house.
Red Sox’ Collection of Infielders Still Carries Huge Promise