The Red Sox have completed a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers to acquire third baseman Caleb Durbin, addressing their infield needs after Alex Bregman signed with the Chicago Cubs this offseason.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan broke the news that Boston is sending left-hander Kyle Harrison as the headlining piece in a three-player package to Milwaukee.
“Trade News: The Boston Red Sox are acquiring third baseman Caleb Durbin in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, sources tell ESPN. Left-hander Kyle Harrison is headlining the three-player package headed back to Milwaukee.”
It’s a move that gives Boston the infield depth they’ve been searching for. With Durbin now at third base, Marcelo Mayer shifts to second, Trevor Story stays at shortstop, and new addition Willson Contreras holds down first base.
Durbin’s coming off a solid rookie campaign that earned him third place in NL Rookie of the Year voting. The 25-year-old posted 2.8 bWAR across 136 games, slashing .256/.721 with 11 homers, 53 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases.
What made him particularly valuable was his approach at the plate – just 40 strikeouts against 30 walks. He also led the majors with 24 hit-by-pitches, showing he’s not afraid to take one for the team.
The deal involves more pieces than initially reported. Boston is also sending David Hamilton and left-hander Shane Drohan to Milwaukee, while getting back infielders Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler plus a Compensatory round B pick (67th overall).
That’s quite a haul for both sides.
Harrison represents a significant piece going back to the Brewers – he was part of the core return when Boston traded Rafael Devers. But the Red Sox clearly felt they needed to address the infield situation, especially after missing out on retaining Bregman.
The move caps off what’s been an active winter for Boston. They’ve already revamped their rotation and added Contreras as a key offensive piece. Now with Durbin providing both defensive stability and offensive production at third base, their everyday lineup looks nearly complete.
Spring Training’s right around the corner, and while more moves could still be coming, the Red Sox have addressed their biggest positional need. From where I’m sitting, this gives them the flexibility they needed heading into 2025.
