The Boston Red Sox have some decisions to make this spring. One big one will be how their infield will look. After trading for Caleb Durbin, the Red Sox have a full infield lineup. Shortstop belongs to Trevor Story, while Willson Contreras will man first base. However, third base and second base are between Durbin and Marcelo Mayer.
As of right now, FanGraphs projects Durbin to play second base, while Mayer slides into the hot corner. But manager Alex Cora has some other plans for the two infielders.
Per Ian Browne of MLB.com, Cora has been playing Durbin at third base and Mayer at second base. However, the duo will swap positions tomorrow and throughout spring training.
There is not a set answer for how the lineup will look on opening day, but right now, it looks like the pair is interchangeable between the two positions.
Who Should Play Where?
GettyCaleb Durbin will take reps at second and third base for the Red Sox.
There is no right answer for Cora to pick. Both players are capable of playing both positions. In fact, Durbin and Mayer have each played a few games at second base. However, the primary position of both players is the hot corner.
Because of that, Cora just has to figure out which player might be better suited to pair with Story in the middle infield.
Last season, Durbin spent 43 innings at second base. In his short time at the position, the 25-year-old finished with an Outs Above Average (OAA) of minus-1. In 13 attempts at second base, per Baseball Savant, Durbin had a success rate added of -5%.
Mayer, on the other hand, spent 57 innings at second base in 2025. In those innings, the 23-year-old had an OAA of plus-1, and a success rate added of 3%. Overall, that is better than Durbin performed at second base, and it was more innings played.
Durbin does have a slightly stronger arm in terms of average throw velocity. It is not significantly stronger, but it is enough to keep him at third base. Basing a decision solely on last year, Cora would be smart to play Durbin at third base and Mayer at second base in the upcoming season.
Red Sox Spring Training
Wherever Cora decides to play Durbin and Mayer, it will get sorted out during spring training. Both players will almost certainly get an opportunity to prove themselves worthy of their primary position.
For the Red Sox, spring training games begin on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins. Boston will also play a nationally televised game on ESPN against the New York Yankees on March 4th. Besides that, it is a normal slate of spring training games.
One important note is that the Red Sox will have 15 players leave spring training to participate in the World Baseball Classic, including Team USA’s newly appointed outfielder Roman Anthony. Most of these players are going to be on the MLB roster come opening day.
It is not easy to lose that many players in spring training when a team is trying to create the culture and chemistry that it takes to win championships. But the Red Sox are not the only team that will be without players because of the World Baseball Classic.
The good news is that both Durbin and Mayer will be staying at JetBlue Park. That will give Boston a great chance to figure out who will play third base and who will play second.
Red Sox Revealing Position Plans For Caleb Durbin, Marcelo Mayer