Boston Red Sox
Supervisor Alex Cora reiterated that he is been “by way of this dance” final 12 months, in regard to figuring out who will play third base.
For the second 12 months in a row, the Purple Sox will “dance” a well-recognized dance in regard to 3rd base as preparation for the 2026 season begins.
With spring coaching formally underway in Fort Myers, Fla., Boston is as soon as once more uncertain who will discipline the new nook.
New Purple Sox infielder Caleb Durbin (through a current trade with the Milwaukee Brewers) and second-year INF Marcelo Mayer are the group’s prime candidates to start out the place with spring coaching video games only one week away.
Final spring coaching, the last-second signing of Alex Bregman threw a wrench in Rafael Devers’s 3B job safety and began an enormous domino impact that resulted in June with buying and selling Devers to the San Francisco Giants.
This season’s third base dialogue will seemingly function far much less drama, however the thriller stays.
“We went by way of this dance final 12 months. I understand how to bop it. Simply be affected person,” Boston supervisor Cora instructed a reporter when requested the place Durbin and Mayer will play all through the spring.
Throughout observe Friday, Durbin was seen taking floor balls at third base whereas Mayer was working at second base. It seems that the 2 will alternate between the positions throughout drills within the coming days.
Naturally, second base additionally stays up within the air. It looks as if Willson Contreras may have first base and veteran shortstop Trevor Story will hold his place, however Story’s double-play associate is to be decided.
Cora spoke in regards to the infield decision-making that may happen within the close to future, because the group want to solidify its beginning infield “sooner moderately than later.”
“They’ll work. I feel third base comes straightforward for each of them. Second base is – they nonetheless must work,” Cora told reporters. “One thing I instructed Marcelo: attempt to spend as a lot time with [infield coach Jose] Flo[res], flip double performs, beginning the play and all that, as a result of the third base a part of it is vitally much like shortstop.”
Mayer got here up within the Purple Sox’ minor league system as a shortstop, however wound up primarily enjoying third base (39 video games whole) in his 44-game rookie stint in 2025. He performed second base on eight events and shortstop twice.
Durbin, a Rookie of the 12 months finalist final 12 months, additionally primarily performed 3B for the Brewers (131 video games whole). He performed 2B 10 instances and SS thrice.
Cora stated Durbin was in a position to flip double performs at 2B within the few situations he fielded them there final season, which is a vital consider deciding who finally will get the 2B nod. Boston led MLB in errors in 2025 (116) and dedicated the second-most errors within the league in 2024 (115) and 2023 (102). Getting these numbers down in 2026 is definitely one of many Purple Sox’ priorities coming into this 12 months.
“We’ll see the way it performs out, however I feel each of them, they’re good defensively and wherever they find yourself, they’re gonna be strong,” Cora stated. “However, we’re not gonna be transferring folks round, from my finish.”
Apart from Durbin and Mayer, Boston now has a plethora of infield choices. Romy Gonzalez, Nick Sogard, and just lately signed Isiah Kiner-Falefa may also seemingly get enjoying time at 2B and 3B at instances, relying on matchups, accidents, and so forth. It’s evident that the group has centered on making its roster versatile this offseason. A platoon state of affairs at 2B, 3B, or each is also on the desk as soon as the common season begins.
On the subject of who will play essentially the most time at every place, Cora reiterated that he want to decide quickly.
“Hopefully sooner moderately than later. I feel caring for the shortstop with wherever he’s gonna play most, that’s necessary. That’s enormous,” he stated. “We’ll hold speaking about it. We’ll discuss to [chief baseball officer Craig] Bres[low] and the way we see it upstairs and the way I really feel about it. Hopefully we will decide sooner moderately than later.”
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