Well, we knew the Red Sox were hunting on the trade market, and they struck on Monday morning.
Well, we knew that the Boston Red Sox were hunting on the trade market, and on Monday morning they struck, acquiring the solid Caleb Durbin in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Additionally, the Red Sox are getting Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Siegler and a competitive balance round B draft pick.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com had the information on social media, including the return. David Hamilton, Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan are going to Milwaukee in the move.
Here's what you need to know.
About Durbin
Just 25 years old, Durbin is a long-term asset for the Red Sox as he's under team control through 2031. A right-handed hitter, he hit .256 last season for Milwaukee, popping 11 home runs and driving in 53 runs. He also stole 18 bases as the Brewers compiled the best record in the National League. He was originally drafted by the Braves in 2021 and ended up with the New York Yankees, coming to Milwaukee in the Devin Williams trade before 2025.
How Durbin fits in to the roster
Well, he figures to be the starting second or third baseman for the foreseeable future. The questions are what happens now around the roster as a result.
Marcelo Mayer figures to get the opportunities at whichever one Durbin isn't playing, but will the Sox utilize a platoon partner for him? Are Romy Gonzalez or Isiah Kiner-Falefa options to do that?
Does Kristian Campbell have a place on this roster at all? And what happens to the glut of outfielders that the Red Sox have heading into camp? Can this all work together?
We'll have more on the additional pieces coming to Boston in a subsequent piece.
About what the Red Sox are giving up
In dealing Hamilton, the Red Sox are giving up a speedy infielder. Under contract through 2029, Hamilton stole 22 bases in part-time action last season. However, he hit just .198. Originally with the Brewers, the Red Sox acquired him before the 2022 season.
In trading Harrison, the Red Sox are giving up a former top prospect who they acquired last season in the Rafael Devers trade with the San Francisco Giants. The Red Sox officially have no big league assets from that trade remaining on the roster. Jordan Hicks was recently dealt to the Chicago White Sox and the team also traded prospect James Thibbs to the Dodgers for Dustin May in 2025.
As for Drohan, he's now 27 years old. He ended 2025 as the No. 30 ranked prospect in the organization, per MLB Pipeline. Both Harrison and Drohan have been squeezed out by the team's pitching surplus, which includes Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, Johan Oviedo, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez, Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval and Connelly Early, making them expendable.
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