The Boston Red Sox have been searching for a third baseman all offseason after losing out on Alex Bregman. The Red Sox now have their replacement for Bregman after making an early-morning trade on Monday. Boston acquired Caleb Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers in a multi-player trade. This trade effectively closes the door on Isaac Paredes.
The Red Sox were very much in on Paredes. There have been rumors of the Houston Astros trading him all offseason. Although he plays first base for the Astros, the Red Sox, and many other teams would use him at third base.
“Trading for Caleb Durbin takes the Red Sox out of the Isaac Paredes conversations,” Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported on X.
The reasoning for choosing Durbin over Paredes could be the price, but Boston should be happy with their newest addition at the hot corner.
Caleb Durbin is a Serviceable Third Baseman
GettyCaleb Durbin is the new third baseman in Boston.
Durbin began the year in the minor leagues, but ended up playing 136 games for Milwaukee. In his rookie season, the 25-year-old slashed .256/.334/.387 with 11 home runs, 53 RBI, and 18 stolen bases while finishing with a 2.6 bWAR.
Per Baseball Savant, Durbin finished in the 96th percentile in whiff percentage, 98th percentile in strikeout percentage, and 72nd percentile in chase percentage. Durbin is a very disciplined hitter, but lacks power and strength in the box. His bat speed, hard-hit percentage, average exit velocity, and barrel percentage are all in the 12th percentile or lower.
Defensively, the Red Sox traded for the right third baseman. Paredes, like Durbin, does a great job staying disciplined at the plate, but his defense is a little bit below average. Last season, Paredes finished with an Outs Above Average (OAA) of -3. This is a measure of his range at the position and his ability to make more than just the routine plays. Durbin, on the other hand, owned an OAA of exactly zero.
Boston will hope to get more power out of Durbin at Fenway Park. But they should be excited about the third baseman they now have heading into the new season.
What’s Next For the Red Sox?
GettyThe Red Sox are poised to compete in 2026.
The Red Sox had a busy offseason. A majority of their new players have come via trade, but signing Ranger Suarez solidified the pitching staff. With all their moves, it would make sense for Boston to be done for the offseason.
Pitchers and Catchers report at the end of the week, and the Red Sox should be looking ahead to the 2026 season. Spring training is a time for all the new players to get to know each other and build a bond for the year ahead. That is what the goal should shift to moving forward after the Durbin trade.
The American League East division is set to be the most competitive in the MLB this year. The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to be good again, while the New York Yankees always find a way to win games. It is also worth mentioning that the Baltimore Orioles should make a massive turnaround this year.
Keeping that in mind, the question is whether or not the Red Sox have done enough to be competitive within the division. By finally acquiring a third baseman, Boston has put themselves in a good spot.
Red Sox Trade for Caleb Durbin Closes Door on Isaac Paredes