
Craig Breslow and Alex Cora disagreed on infield alignment for the Red Sox, particularly regarding third base. Breslow preferred Marcelo Mayer at third and Caleb Durbin at second, while Cora had different views.
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Going into spring training, a big question facing the Red Sox was who was going to play third base especially after Alex Bregman signed with the Chicago Cubs.
When Boston acquired Caleb Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers in February that appeared to be the answer. But Craig Breslow and Alex Cora didnât see eye-to-eye.
Breslow wanted Marcelo Mayer to play third and have Durbin at second, a league source told The Athleticâs Jen McCaffrey.
Mayer has experience at shortstop, third and second base. As does Durbin, though he played a majority of his rookie season in Milwaukee at third.
Ultimately, Durbin has been Bostonâs third baseman while Mayer has played second. Itâs worked out defensively for Durbin, who leads MLB with six defensive runs saved at third base.
The disagreement was about the infield alignment, specifically who should play third base and second base for the Red Sox.
Craig Breslow wanted Marcelo Mayer to play third base for the Red Sox.
Caleb Durbin primarily played third base during his rookie season with the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Cora and several members of his coaching staff were fired in April, but it appears interim manager Chad Tracy wonât be switching Durbin and Mayer any time soon.
âI like where theyâre at,â Tracy said. âEspecially right now, both of them are playing really well and Durbin has been exceptional at third base, his defense. So I like where itâs at and switching things like that in the middle of a season, especially at this level, is hard to do.â
While Durbin has been strong defensively at the corner position, heâs struggled mightily at the plate. McCaffrey wrote that itâs possible Durbin gets optioned to Triple-A Worcester âat some point to figure out his offense.â
Durbin is batting .165 with one home run, 11 RBI and a .248 slugging percentage going into Tuesdayâs game against the Tigers.
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