Caleb Durbin is the newest face added to the Boston Red Sox roster after a six-player swap with Milwaukee last week. Durbin looks to factor into Boston’s everyday lineup as either a second or third baseman, with Marcelo Mayer taking infield balls at the other position, primarily.
Durbin adds defensive versatility while offering something that Isiah Kiner-Falefa does not: starting potential. IKF is a depth addition that can suit up virtually anywhere around the infield dirt, but Durbin offers good defense with five defensive runs saved at third base in 2025 (although zero OAA) while also hitting moderately well.
He is not the power bat Craig Breslow repeatedly said he was looking for, but Durbin excels at the plate anyway. Durbin’s value comes from his propensity to put the ball in play and confound opposing pitching. His K rate, Whiff % and Squared-Up % are all above 95th percentile marks according to Baseball Savant.
Durbin anticipates adding another string to his bow this year hitting from the Fenway batter’s box, potentially making him a far more valuable addition than he appears before the season gets underway.
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.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 9, 2026
New Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin is looking to add pull-side power to mash the Green Monster in ‘26
Durbin himself is looking forward to hitting balls at the towering wall that characterizes Fenway’s left field geometry.
“I think I’ve always been a good pull hitter,” he said. “I’ve always said, like ‘I hope I get a change to play a lot of games at Fenway.’”
Durbin’s pull air percentage last season was 20.4%, offering notable movement toward this exact spot in Fenway’s outfield. While power hasn’t been a major aspect of his game in the past, he’s actively working on swinging harder, driving greater exit velocity, and improving his bat speed. These are batting traits he called “low hanging fruit that I could get a lot better at.”.
Driveline Baseball has found a definitive correlation between age and slugging percentage, but notes that at age 27 players tend to experience a spike. Durbin will turn 26 during spring training, priming him for a potential power surge in the next season or two, especially if he’s actively working on delivering more force to the ball
The utility infielder appears to be the second base answer Red Sox fans didn’t see coming, given the team’s stated preference to run Mayer out at the hot corner instead of the keystone. He’s also a prime candidate to add fuel to the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. Durbin is excited to start mashing balls at Fenway while playing solid defense wherever he’s asked to line up, and fans should be just as excited to see him in action.