When the Boston Red Sox brought in Caleb Durbin this offseason, the plan was simple: plug him in at third base and watch him provide the offensive spark the team lost with Alex Bregman's departure. Through the first two months of 2026, that plan has only worked about half as well as hoped.

Durbin's bat has gone ice cold at the worst possible time. Through 33 games, he's slashing just .165/.254/.248/.502 with only one home run (and that came off a position player) and 11 RBI. For a guy who hit .256 with 11 homers and 53 RBI in 136 games for the Brewers last season, this is a serious step backward. Many expected Durbin's game to play even better in the friendly confines of Fenway Park, but so far, the ballpark's Green Monster has offered no such welcome.

This has led to a tough roster decision for the Red Sox front office. The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey recently floated the idea of optioning Durbin to Triple-A Worcester to work out the kinks in his swing. On the surface, it makes sense. When a player is struggling to find the barrel, sometimes a reset in the minors is the best medicine.

But here's where it gets complicated: Durbin's glove has been absolutely elite.

Despite his offensive woes, Durbin is tied for the league lead among third basemen with 6 Defensive Runs Saved. He's also ranked in the top 25 in Outs Above Average (3 OAA) and sits in the top 60 league-wide in Fielding Run Value. That kind of defensive stability at the hot corner doesn't grow on trees, and it's been a rare bright spot for a Red Sox team that has seen several key players slump simultaneously.

As McCaffrey noted, Durbin has leaned into his pregame defensive work during this rough stretch, and it shows. The question now is whether Boston can afford to carry a glove-first third baseman while his bat continues to struggle. If his offense starts costing the team games, a brief stint in Worcester might be the quickest path back to the player the Red Sox thought they were getting.

For now, the Red Sox are walking a tightrope between patience and necessity. Durbin's defense is keeping him in the lineup, but the clock is ticking on his bat to wake up.