The Boston Red Sox made a move to shore up their infield depth by acquiring Caleb Durbin, and while that might not have made headlines across the league, it quietly addressed a key need. With Durbin now in the fold, manager Alex Cora has the flexibility to roll out an infield alignment that includes Willson Contreras, Durbin, Trevor Story, and top prospect Marcelo Mayer, stretching from first to third. It’s a group that blends experience, youth, and versatility-but perhaps more telling than who they got is who they tried to get.

Multiple reports confirm that the Red Sox pursued Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto in trade talks, making several attempts to pry him loose. The Angels, however, weren’t biting.

And it’s not hard to see why. Neto has emerged as one of the more valuable middle infielders in baseball over the past two seasons, posting a 6.6 fWAR and a 115 wRC+-production that places him comfortably above league average at the plate.

That level of offensive impact, combined with his age and contract status, made him a tough get. Neto just settled for $4.15 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility as a Super Two player, giving the Angels four more years of team control.

While Durbin comes with six years of control, Neto is the more dynamic player right now, especially with the bat.

The Red Sox didn’t have to give up much to land Durbin-sending Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler, and a draft pick in the deal-but their persistent interest in Neto suggests the front office is thinking bigger than just plugging gaps. They were clearly willing to pay a premium for a long-term upgrade at shortstop, even with Trevor Story currently penciled in as the starter.

That raises an important question: What does this mean for Story?

Boston’s pursuit of Neto doesn’t necessarily signal the end of the road for Story, but it does hint at a front office that’s keeping its options open. Story, once known for his elite glove and range, hasn’t quite looked the same defensively since returning from injuries. In 2025, neither Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) nor Outs Above Average (OAA) gave him high marks, and while he’s still a steady presence, the range and explosiveness that once defined his game have started to fade.

It’s worth noting that the Red Sox have already shifted both Marcelo Mayer and Mikey Romero off shortstop duties in the past year-Mayer is expected to open the season at third base, while Romero is likely ticketed for Triple-A, waiting in the wings as a potential second base option if Durbin struggles in his transition.

So while Story still holds the shortstop job, Boston’s trade activity suggests they’re not married to that arrangement long-term. Neto, had he been acquired, would’ve likely slotted in at short, forcing Story to shift or take on a different role entirely. That kind of move would’ve created a ripple effect across the infield-and the clubhouse.

Defensively, Neto is a bit of a mixed bag. He’s posted an impressive +24 DRS over the past two seasons, but Statcast’s OAA metric paints a different picture, grading him at -14 during the same span.

That disparity speaks to the complexity of evaluating defense-Neto makes a lot of good plays, but there are questions about his range and consistency. For a Red Sox team that made it a priority this offseason to improve its infield defense, that inconsistency might have given them pause.

Still, the fact that Boston kept circling back on Neto shows they’re thinking about more than just 2026. If the current group-Story at short, Durbin at second, Mayer at third-doesn’t gel the way they hope, don’t be surprised if the front office reopens the search for a long-term solution up the middle next winter.

For now, the Red Sox are betting on a mix of youth, upside, and bounce-back potential. But make no mistake: their eyes are on the future, and they’re not afraid to swing big if the right name becomes available.