Red Sox Face Concerns Over Third Base Platoon

Sports Illustrated predicts Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer may struggle to replace departed star Alex Bregman

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The Boston Red Sox lost star third baseman Alex Bregman in the offseason and are now relying on a platoon of Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer to fill the void. Sports Illustrated's Karl Rasmussen believes this could be a major weakness for the team, citing concerns over the defensive drop-off and uncertainty around the young players' offensive production.

Why it matters

The Red Sox had one of the best third basemen in baseball last season with Bregman, who was a Gold Glove-caliber defender. Losing that elite defensive presence at the hot corner could hurt the team, especially if Durbin and Mayer struggle to adapt. The offensive production from the platoon will also be crucial to replace Bregman's bat in the lineup.

The details

Durbin had a solid season in 2025, batting .256 with 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases. Mayer struggled in his rookie campaign but has shown signs of improvement in spring training. However, Rasmussen believes the Red Sox "failure to retain Bregman was a big loss, both offensively and defensively." The team will be relying on the young duo to step up and fill the void left by the departed star.

  • The Red Sox lost Alex Bregman in the offseason.

The players

Alex Bregman

A former star third baseman for the Boston Red Sox who departed the team in the offseason.

Caleb Durbin

A young third baseman expected to be part of the Red Sox' platoon at the position this season.

Marcelo Mayer

Another young third baseman who will share time with Durbin in the Red Sox' third base platoon.

Karl Rasmussen

A writer for Sports Illustrated who expressed concerns about the Red Sox' third base situation.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Karl Rasmussen, Writer (Sports Illustrated)

The takeaway

The Red Sox face a significant challenge in replacing the production and defensive prowess of Alex Bregman at third base. The success or failure of the Durbin-Mayer platoon could be a make-or-break factor in the team's 2026 season.