With Gonzalez sidelined, Boston’s focus shifts to how Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer best fit together defensively as camp progresses.
On Monday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told the media at spring training that infielder Romy Gonzalez is shut down from baseball activities right now, and that he is only limited to playing catch at the moment.
Cora’s comments suggested that the team is still waiting for the impact of a PRP injection to take effect, and that second base is likely going to be the position that best suits the 29-year-old.
A disappointing update, no doubt, for a player who burst on the scene in a real way in 2025, at one point owning the longest active hitting streak in all of baseball at 14 games.
But while Gonzalez continues to make his way back to being a full participant in baseball activities at spring training, the rest of the infield has seemingly begun to take shape around him.
With that said - if there’s one area of the infield that still feels like it could shift between now and Opening Day, it’s how the Red Sox ultimately align Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer on the right side.
There aren’t many true position battles on this roster, but this is one worth watching - not because there’s uncertainty about whether both players will be in the lineup, but because figuring out who fits best at third versus second could have a real impact on the club’s overall defensive ceiling.
Jul 9, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox third base Marcelo Mayer (39) hugs first base Romy Gonzalez (23) after a game against the Colorado Rockies at Fenway Park. (Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)Durbin spent most of last season as the Milwaukee Brewers’ starting third baseman, bringing a level of comfort and experience at the position that Mayer simply hasn’t had at the big league level yet. But Mayer’s glove has long been viewed as a separator, and his defensive metrics backed that up last season with a +2 outs above average at third despite fewer reps.
That’s why this feels less like a competition and more like a puzzle the Red Sox are trying to solve.
During drills early in camp, Durbin was taking ground balls at third while Mayer worked at second - an alignment that feels like a strong possibility once the games start to matter.
It would allow Boston to keep Durbin at a spot where he has the most experience while easing Mayer into a full-time transition away from shortstop, where he came up through the minors.
And while Mayer may ultimately project as the better pure defender at either position, the decision will likely come down to which combination gives Boston the steadiest overall infield defense behind its pitching staff.
Offensively, Durbin brings a more established big league track record right now. His .256/.354/.387 slash line with 11 home runs last season - along with a strong .777 OPS in the postseason - showed an ability to grind out at-bats and provide consistent production. From June on, he looked even more comfortable, hitting .270/.346/.415 the rest of the way.
It’s also easy to envision his swing translating well to Fenway Park, particularly with his ability to use the whole field. Whether he ends up at second or third, he profiles as an everyday presence who can lengthen the lineup.
Mayer, meanwhile, still carries the upside that made him such a highly regarded prospect, and his defensive versatility gives the Red Sox flexibility depending on how they want to balance run prevention with offensive consistency.
With Trevor Story locked in at shortstop and Willson Contreras expected to handle first base duties, the Mayer-Durbin alignment represents one of the final moving pieces as the infield picture comes into focus.
As spring training continues, don’t be surprised if the Red Sox keep rotating the two - not because they’re unsure about either player, but because they’re trying to find the combination that gives them the most complete version of their infield when the season begins.
Oct 14, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Caleb Durbin (21) throws the ball to first base against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during game two of the NLCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. (Michael McLoone/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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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.