When Alex Bregman left in free agency over the winter for the Chicago Cubs, it seemed like it caught the Boston Red Sox off guard. It may not have caught anyone more off guard than Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.
After Bregman signed with the Cubs, Breslow pivoted to pitching. He signed Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Ranger Suárez. Breslow failed to address third base, and the lineup needed a bat there. Free agent options signed elsewhere, which limited Breslow’s options.
Boston had internal options, which included Marcelo Mayer. However, when Breslow looked outside the organization, he settled for a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Red Sox traded for Caleb Durbin to fill the hole left by Bregman.
So far, it’s not working out. In fact, it’s been so bad that Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report didn’t beat around the bush about just how bad it’s been.
Boston Red Sox Third Base Position Still in Need of Work
The sample size has been small for Durbin, just 29 games, but the numbers don’t lie. He’s slashing just .172/.261/.263 with a home run and 11 runs driven in. Seven of his 17 hits have been for extra bases. Miller listed Willson Contreras as the Red Sox’s MVP, but across the diamond, it’s been a struggle.
“The first baseman the Red Sox traded for has been a great success. The third baseman…not so much. Durbin did finally get on the board with a home run in the ninth inning of that 17-1 rout of Baltimore on Saturday, but he had a .452 OPS through Boston’s first 26 games. He’s far from the only reason this offense has struggled, but Boston’s decision to settle for Durbin instead of re-signing Alex Bregman or nabbing any of the other options available in free agency did rather cement Durbin as the poster boy of this rough start,” wrote Miller.
Boston’s offense has struggled and struggled mightily. That’s all, not on Durbin. However, when a team sits in the basement of their division on May 1, everything is going to be magnified. When that happens with the 2026 Boston Red Sox, the truth is going to come out.
Boston Red Sox Staff Changes Won’t Help Struggling Offense
Breslow made the stunning decision to fly to Baltimore last Saturday afternoon to fire manager Alex Cora and some of his staff. He did it after a 17-1 rout of the Orioles. It would have made more sense if he had done it a couple of days before, after being swept by the New York Yankees.
Boston has many issues that need to be addressed. Durbin is far down on the list of issues with the roster assembled by Breslow over the offseason. Interim manager Chad Tracy is left to try to turn things around. He’s 2-2 in his first four games with a homestand beginning on Friday night against the Houston Astros.
Again, Durbin is only part of the issues the Red Sox have this season. Breslow could have addressed the need at third base through free agency or swinging bigger through a trade. Instead, as Miller mentioned, Durbin is becoming a poster boy for Boston’s early-season struggles. Not what Breslow had in mind over the winter. At 12-19, there’s nowhere to go but up for the Red Sox.
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