The Boston Red Sox are heading into spring training with more questions than answers around the infield – and now, second and third base have joined the list of positions up for grabs. The outfield and DH spots were already unsettled, the rotation has its own share of uncertainty, and now, the Red Sox are staring down a full-on infield shuffle as camp opens.
On February 9, Boston made a trio of moves to address their infield depth, acquiring Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler. Of that group, Durbin is the name to watch.
The Red Sox view him as a potential everyday contributor, though where he’ll slot in remains to be seen. Second base or third base are both on the table for Durbin – and whichever spot he doesn’t take could go to Marcelo Mayer.
But here’s the thing: there shouldn’t be a position battle at shortstop. That job should belong to Mayer.
The Red Sox made an early offseason decision to lock in Trevor Story as their Opening Day shortstop. It was a bold call, especially considering the way Story’s 2025 season played out.
His defensive numbers took a sharp dip – nine outs below average, 19 errors, and a range rating that landed him in the third percentile among MLB shortstops. For a player once known as one of the slickest defenders in the league, that’s a dramatic falloff.
He committed 10 more errors than any other Red Sox player last year.
To be fair, Story’s had a rough run with injuries since coming to Boston, and 2025 was his first full season since 2021, when he played 142 games with Colorado. The Red Sox seem to believe fatigue played a major role in his defensive regression – and there’s probably some truth to that. But if Boston is serious about improving defensively, they need to make the tough call: move Story to second base and give Mayer the keys to shortstop.
Mayer’s ceiling as a defender is sky-high, and there’s a real argument to be made that he’s already the best glove in the infield. The former top prospect has only 44 games of big league experience under his belt, but he’s shown poise and polish beyond his years.
While filling in at third base during Alex Bregman’s midseason injury, Mayer handled 248.2 innings with just one error – a strong showing at a position that isn’t even his natural spot. And yet, he’s only logged three innings at shortstop in the majors so far.
That needs to change.
Story is entering his age-33 season, with a recent injury history and clear signs of defensive decline. He’s still under contract for two more years (plus a club option for 2028), but Mayer is the future – and if Boston believes that, they should start treating him like it.
Getting Mayer everyday reps at shortstop now isn’t just about 2026. It’s about building continuity and confidence for the years ahead.
The most logical infield alignment heading into Opening Day? Mayer at short, Story at second, and Durbin at third.
That setup gives the Red Sox their best defensive outlook right now and sets the foundation for long-term success. Mayer still has to prove he can stay healthy over a full season, but putting him at his natural position gives him the best chance to do that – and to thrive.
With so many roster questions already in play, Boston can’t afford to overthink this one. The future is here. It’s time to let Mayer take his spot at shortstop.
