Red Sox face tough Caleb Durbin roster decision as freezing cold slump continues

The Boston Red Sox’ 2026 season has been unexpected to say the least, with a bunch of their players in slumps. One of them is offseason acquisition and former NL ROTY candidate, Caleb Durbin.

Durbin seems like he can’t hit the broadside of the barn at the moment, with his offensive stats down in the dumps. The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey suggested he might need to be optioned to the minors to work on his swing, and honestly, that might be the right course of action.

Durbin’s offense has been pitiful

© Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Durbin this year truly has been the epitome of bad at the plate. He’s slashing .165/.254/.248/.502 with six doubles, a home run off a position player, and 11 RBI in 33 games played. 

Keep in mind, Durbin was pretty good offensively last year with the Milwaukee Brewers. He slashed .256/.334/.387/.721 with 25 doubles, 11 home runs, and 53 RBI in 136 games. On paper, he’d seem like he would be amazing playing half his games in Fenway Park, but so far, he hasn’t delivered. 

What could keep him from being optioned

Katie Stratman - Imagn Images

What could keep Durbin on the big league roster is definitely his defense. As McCafffrey noted in her article, his defense at third base is among the best in the MLB.

“Durbin, who is tied for the league lead at third base with 6 Defensive Runs Saved, has appreciated the consistency in pregame work, especially as he struggles at the plate. He could be optioned to Triple-A Worcester at some point to figure out his offense, but the defensive stability he’s provided at third has helped at least one aspect of the team operate smoothly,” McCaffrey wrote. 

On top of that DRS of six, Durbin is also top 25 in Outs Above Average (OAA) with three, and is top 60 in the MLB when it comes to Fielding Run Value (FRV).

Having that kind of defense at the hot corner is hard to come by. However, if his offense is costing the Red Sox game, it might be prudent to nip this slump in the bud with a quick option to AAA. If he bounces back quickly, he could be back in the majors in no time.

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