A Closer Look at the Red Sox Infield Entering the Season
The calendar has turned to February. As several meteorologists/sorcerer groundhogs weigh the fate of American life, the Red Sox, especially chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, will weigh roster options for the upcoming season. These days, the most often litigated aspect of the team is the infield. Third baseman Alex Bregman’s departure has left some pretty big cleats to fill, and as of now, the team has not taken significant steps to fill them. There have been mixed signals from the team about this roster change. Especially in the wake of Eugenio Suárez, the best bat still on the market, signing with the Cincinnati Reds, fans have been left with unanswered questions. Are the Red Sox even interested in adding depth to their infield? What would that look like? If they are not making any more moves, what will that look like? How good could the infield get? More quietly, the question emerges, how bad could it get?
Hypothetically, there is interest from the organization in a stronger infield. The recent desire, per various reports, is prioritizing defense as opposed to strength at the plate. Letting the batting-centric Suárez sign elsewhere without much of a fight is evidence of that. The most discussed names the Sox could still trade for are two second basemen: Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs. Donovan specially makes sense with the supposed defensive priority; it would just be a matter of Boston putting together a sufficient trade package. This may be easier said than done, however, as the Giants are circling both options as well, and many have felt the Sox have been too conservative during an offseason that featured a lot of compelling talent on the market. Perhaps spring training rapidly approaching will light a fire under Breslow and company.
If there are no more acquisitions, the most likely scenario would be young Marcelo Mayer taking over at third full-time, with David Hamilton and Romy Gonzalez sharing second base duties. The option could be serviceable, considering Mayer’s growth and the flashes he displayed in a limited role last season. Outfielder Roman Anthony, returning to the lineup this season after missing a chunk of the season with an injury, will boost the offense overall. However, one can’t help but wonder if serviceable is sufficient for a team looking to compete with the American League’s best in 2026.
