Alex Cora Signals Caleb Durbin Will Play Third Base For Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox may not have made an official announcement, but Alex Cora came about as close as possible Tuesday morning when talking with the media.

After weeks of experimentation across the infield during spring training, Cora indicated that Caleb Durbin will be settling in as Boston’s third baseman moving forward.

Durbin, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in February just before camp opened, has spent much of the spring bouncing between second base and third base while the Red Sox evaluated their options across the infield. But with the season approaching, the organization appears ready to simplify that plan.

“Caleb, he’s playing third base again today,” Cora told the media before Tuesday’s Grapefruit League game. “We’ll probably decide that next week. But I feel very comfortable with him at third base.”

While Cora stopped short of formally naming Durbin the Opening Day starter, his comments suggested the team already views the position as largely settled.

In fact, the Red Sox manager hinted that much of the uncertainty surrounding the position has been driven more by outside speculation than by any real internal debate.

“Honestly, it’s more for you guys,” said Cora, referencing the ongoing questions about the position battle. “It’s kind of like, ‘What are we going to do?’ It’s been five days of playing third base. He played the whole season there last year. It’s more for you guys than me.”

Cora also emphasized that the Red Sox are focused on giving Durbin stability rather than moving him around once the season begins.

“I don’t want Caleb moving from second to third during the season,” he said. “I want him to play one position only and then just go do your thing at the plate.”

Could this be Boston learning their lesson for how they’ve used guys like Ceddanne Rafaela and Kristian Campbell in recent years, where both players’ numbers at the plate were greatly impacted by taking on the responsibility of a position change? That question has yet to be answered.

Durbin’s defensive profile appears to have played a significant role in the decision.

Cora pointed to several plays the infielder made during Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies as examples of why the Red Sox feel confident with him at the hot corner.

If Durbin settles in at third base, it could clarify the rest of Boston’s infield picture.

Top prospect Marcelo Mayer has spent most of the spring working at second base while also showing he can slide back to third if needed. Mayer has impressed both offensively and defensively in camp, posting an .836 OPS while demonstrating improved discipline at the plate.

Despite that performance, Cora has remained cautious about guaranteeing Mayer a roster spot. As recently as last week, the manager reiterated that the young infielder still needed to earn his place on the Opening Day roster.

Still, with Durbin now appearing locked in at third base, Mayer’s path to the everyday second base job is becoming increasingly clear.

For the Red Sox, that would represent a significant step toward finalizing an infield alignment that has been one of the organization’s biggest question marks throughout the spring.

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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.