Red Sox have clear trade deadline need with Alex Bregman issue not going away originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox are off to a bit of a rough start this season, and there are plenty of culprits for the struggles of the 9-13 Red Sox roster.
While the pitching staff hasn't been great, and even some of the key starters like Roman Anthony and Jarren Duran aren't playing great either, there's a far bigger issue with the team: the production at third base.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter called out the Red Sox's third base issue, which is still unresolved following the departure of Alex Bregman, as the team's biggest need for the 2026 trade deadline.
"The Red Sox third basemen are hitting .153/.247/208 with four extra-base hits, zero home runs, and six RBI in 81 plate appearances," Reuter writes.
While there are some concerns about the pitching staff, especially following Sonny Gray's injury, the biggest issue for the Red Sox is the poor production from third base.
Boston had the tough task of replacing Alex Bregman this past offseason after he left for the Chicago Cubs in free agency. And things are not going well at all for their trade pickup.
Caleb Durbin, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers, is hitting just .141 on the year with a .439 OPS. As Reuter notes, "those numbers are backed by some of the worst batted-ball metrics of any qualified hitter, providing little optimism for a quick turnaround."
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The Red Sox cannot rely on Durbin to be their third baseman. Even if Marcelo Mayers moves to third base, they will only then have a need at second base.
Craig Breslow is going to have to seek out a trade at the deadline for a third baseman or even a second baseman if Mayer moves to the hot corner. Either way, the infield is a mess after Bregman's departure for the Cubs.
Reuter calls out the top need for the Red Sox as the third base spot. With how much Durbin has struggled this season, there's no bigger need for the Red Sox right now.
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