As Boston Red Sox fans cope with the departure of Alex Bregman in free agency, the team has looked for new ways to bolster their infield.
Over the past month, the Red Sox have signed both Isaiah Kiner-Falefa and Brendan Rodgers, while trading for Caleb Durbin and Andruw Monasterio from the Milwaukee Brewers. Willson Contreras, who started his career as a catcher, will be the primary first baseman while Triston Casas continues to recover from a torn patellar tendon. The three-time all-star was acquired via trade in December.
That gives Boston plenty of options to round out the infield, but there are still plenty of players remaining from last year’s playoff squad.
Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer and the currently injured Romy Gonzalez all played a big role on last year’s team and are still on the Red Sox payroll this year. There is also Kristian Campbell, who was on fire for the first month of the season before struggling and being sent down to the minors in June. Campbell also spent time in the outfield, another position logjammed with great players.
So, who will man the infield on Opening Day and beyond? Manager Alex Cora has a few options for his squad.
The locks for the infield are Story and Contreras. The two veterans have rightfully earned the spots come March 26 when Boston takes the field for the first time.
The second and third baseman spots are relatively up for grabs, however.
The fan favorite pick would be Mayer, but his injury problems are becoming a concern. The 2021 first-round pick has never played more than 91 games in a season and his season was over by July in 2025 after wrist surgery ended his campaign. His talent is undeniable, but his health will be a big story point for the 2026 season.
Durbin is a very underrated pickup for Boston. As a rookie, Durbin finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting after accumulating 2.8 WAR over 136 games. The soon-to-be 26-year-old can play a mix of second and third, the latter having a massive hole to fill with the departure of Bregman and the trade of Rafael Devers last June.
Monasterio is a good depth option for Cora’s bench. With a career on-base percentage of .321 and a low strikeout rate, Monasterio will provide decent hitting and reliable defense on the right side of the infield.
Then there is Kiner-Falefa. The former Yankee and Blue Jay makes his third stop in the AL East after inking a one year $6 million contract with the Red Sox. Kiner-Falefa plays all over the infield and leaves it all out on the field. Despite the blunder in Game 7 of the World Series last year, Kiner-Falefa can usually be counted on to make the right play. Hence why Boston signed him after years of being near the top of the error leaderboard.
Rodgers is an interesting case. The 29-year-old missed most of last season with a laundry list of injuries, causing him to move on from the Astros after only one season. His best season came with the Rockies in 2022 where he had 140 hits in 137 games played. Rodgers also collected a Gold Glove at second base that season, something that would be vital for the Red Sox infield. If Rodgers can play above average defense, then he has a good chance of being a mainstay in the lineup.
The final two options are Nate Sogard and Nate Eaton. Both saw time at the major league level last season, including time in the playoffs. Cora could go to these two since he has a rapport with the youngsters.
Spring training is just kicking off, so there is plenty of time for Cora and crew to make final decisions. However, the foundation of the infield is there, it is time for all the pieces to fall into place.