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Alex Cora tipped his hand at what the opening day lineup might look like.

When Alex Bregman left the Boston Red Sox to sign with the Chicago Cubs in free agency, Boston Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow pivoted in an odd direction. You thought that he would have pivoted to a replacement for Bregman. Instead, he went in a different direction.

Breslow signed Philadelphia Phillies left-handed starter Ranger Suárez. He was inked to a five-year, $130 million contract. The signing gives manager Alex Cora a very good 1-2 top-of-the-rotation with Suárez slotting in behind Garrett Crochet. Again, that didn’t fill the gap at third base and in the lineup.

Breslow and Cora are looking to fill Bregman’s absence this season through a trade, free agency, or with one of their young players. However they go about it, Karl Rasmussen of Sports Illustrated believes the loss of Bregman will be something that haunts the Red Sox in 2026.

Loss of Alex Bregman Could Be Boston Red Sox’s Achilles Heel in 2026

Currently, the Red Sox are looking at Caleb Durbin, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers, free agent Isiah Kiner-Falefa, or prospect Marcelo Meyer to fill Bregman’s spot. That’s where Rasmussen sees an issue popping for Boston.

“The loss of Alex Bregman leaves the Red Sox without a clear answer at third base. Marcelo Mayer and Caleb Durbin are expected to get reps at the hot corner, but the team’s failure to retain Bregman was a big loss, both offensively and defensively,” wrote Rasmussen.

Durbin is an interesting option. Acquired from the Brewers before spring training, he has played well so far in camp. Last season in Milwaukee, the 26-year-old slashed .256/.334/.387 with 11 home runs and 53 runs driven in. He had a 2.9 WAR. Durbin slashed .276/.364/.414 in nine postseason games.

As for Meyer, this is where it gets interesting. He heard Cora’s recent comments about making the roster out of spring training. He responded by saying that he needs to earn his spot on the roster in Cincinnati against the Reds on March 27.

However, if there is one concern about Meyer, it’s his health. He has struggled to stay healthy, and his production has been inconsistent at times as well. Boston would benefit greatly if Meyer were able to solidify third base, but he can also play second.

Scott Roche Scott Roche covers college football, NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com and has three decades of sports writing, covering everything from college to professional sports. More about Scott Roche