The Boston Red Sox have been searching for a third baseman since the departure in free agency of third baseman Alex Bregman in January. The Red Sox have reportedly been deeply engaged in trade talks with the Houston Astros for two-time All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes. But on Sunday, a Red Sox insider revealed an update on the talks that Red Sox fans will not want to hear.
The Red Sox just days before spring training opened appeared to have solved the third base problem when they made a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers to land 2025 National League Rookie of the Year third-place vote-getter Caleb Durbin.
But as Red Sox spring training has progressed, manager Alex Cora has dropped strong hints that Durbin may start the season at second base, with 2021 No. 4 overall draft pick Marcelo Mayer heading to Triple-A Worcester.
“I think he’s doing a good job,” Cora said of Mayer on Sunday, as quoted by Red Sox reporter Sean McAdam. “That doesn’t mean that he’ll break camp with us, but we’ve been happy with the progression.”
Speaking on Boston radio station WEEI, longtime Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford offered the deeply pessimistic update, as quoted by Nat Gordon of the Play Tessie podcast.
“From what I understand, no momentum on Isaac Paredes,” Bradford said. “Zero, zero, zero.”
So what’s next for the Red Sox third base situation?
Paredes Still Called Best Fit
Despite the highly negative update from Bradford, the Red Sox have not reportedly given up on acquiring Paredes, who signed a one-year, $9.4 million contract with Houston to avoid arbitration over the offseason.
But one longtime MLB insider journalist, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, wrote that the Red Sox continue to be the best “fit” for Paredes, who must be unloaded by Houston to clear up an overcrowded infield situation, according to the The Athletic scribe.
“The Red Sox, even after acquiring Caleb Durbin from Milwaukee, still look like the best fit for Paredes — they could play him at third and Durbin at second without needing to rely on Marcelo Mayer,” Rosenthal wrote earlier this week, going on to suggest a player the Red Sox could trade away to acquire Paredes.
“The Astros are not getting back Wilyer Abreu, whom they traded in 2022 for catcher Christian Vázquez,” Rosenthal wrote. “A deal constructed around Jarren Duran should remain within reach. By moving Duran, the Red Sox would create DH at-bats for Masataka Yoshida and eventually Triston Casas, who could return in May from a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee.”
Duran on Trade Block — Or Not?
While the Astros have an infield surplus, the Red Sox logjam occurs in the outfield. With Abreu, a two-time Gold Glover, in right along with Ceddanne Rafaela — a 2025 Gold Glove winner — in center and future face of the franchise Roman Anthony in left, Duran would appear to be the odd man out.
But Duran, the 2024 All-Star Game MVP, has put together some highly impressive statistics over the last two years, with 37 home runs, an MLB-leading 27 triples and 89 doubles to go with 58 stolen bases in 2024 and 2025 combined.
Before leaving to play for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, Duran posted an eye-popping 2.167 spring training OPS with three home runs. Duran’s torrid production, in fact, may be why there is “zero” momentum — according to Bradford — in the Paredes trade talks, as the Red Sox are understandably reluctant to trade him.
Red Sox Just Got Brutal Update on Trade for $9M Astros All-Star