Caleb Durbin, who finished third in last year’s National League Rookie of the Year voting, was traded to the Boston Red Sox on Monday in a six-player deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. In exchange, the Brewers received left-handed pitchers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan, as well as infielders David Hamilton, Andrew Monasterio, and Anthony Siegler from Boston. The Red Sox also gained a competitive Balance Round B draft pick around 67th overall in July’s amateur draft.
Turning 26 on February 22, Durbin is expected to fill the third base spot for Boston, left vacant after Alex Bregman signed a $175 million, five-year deal with the Chicago Cubs. While Willson Contreras holds first base, Durbin has shown ability to play both second and third base. Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow noted the team is still deciding Durbin’s position but anticipates he will be a regular starter, stating, “We’re excited to add a really good player to our organization and we’ll see where he fits best.”
Last season, Durbin stood 5-foot-7 and posted a .256 batting average with a .334 on-base percentage, hitting 11 home runs and stealing 18 bases over 136 games, helping the Brewers clinch their third straight NL Central Division title and advance to the NL Championship Series. Milwaukee originally acquired Durbin and lefty Nestor Cortez from the New York Yankees in exchange for closer Devin Williams.
The Brewers’ previous top rookie contenders—catchers Drake Baldwin (3rd and 4th in 2025 NL Rookie voting) and outfielder Isaac Collins—are no longer with the team. Collins was traded to Kansas City in December along with pitcher Nick Mears, who came to Milwaukee in a trade that sent lefty Angel Zerpa to the Brewers.
With Durbin gone, Milwaukee has an opening at third base. Joey Ortiz, last year’s starter at third, was shifted to shortstop. Among the players arriving from Boston, David Hamilton mainly plays second base and shortstop but appeared in one game at third base last season. Jett Williams, acquired in the trade that sent two-time All-Star Freddy Peralta to the Mets, will also compete at third base this spring; Williams has experience at second base, shortstop, and outfield in the Mets system. Sal Frelick practiced third base in 2024 spring training but won a Gold Glove Award in right field that year and has since continued as an outfielder.
Matt Arnold, the Brewers’ president of baseball operations, expressed confidence in Milwaukee’s strong farm system, stating the organization is comfortable trading Durbin due to promising infield prospects like Jesus Made, Cooper Pratt, Luke Adams, Luis Peña, and Andrew Fisher. Arnold highlighted that these players have high potential to cover the left side of the infield in the long term.
Andrew Monasterio, 28, who has experience at all infield positions, played 68 games with Milwaukee last season, batting .270 with a .319 on-base, 4 home runs, and 16 RBIs. Anthony Siegler, 26, had a .194 average and .292 on-base percentage in 34 games. Kyle Harrison, 24, pitched in 8 games for Boston and San Francisco last year with a 1-1 record and a 4.56 ERA; he was acquired by Boston in the 2025 trade that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco. Shane Drohan, 27, has yet to pitch in the majors but posted a strong minor league season with 5-2 record, 3.17 ERA, and 77 strikeouts over 54 innings between Triple-A and High-A last year.
Arnold praised the pitching additions, saying, “Harrison is close to being one of the best pitching prospects in the sport. Drohan had a great year in Triple-A, and adding these two is very exciting for us.”
David Hamilton, 28, hit .198 with a .257 on-base last season for Boston, adding six home runs, 19 RBIs, and 22 steals. In 2024, he played 98 games posting a .248 average, .303 on-base, 8 home runs, 28 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases. Milwaukee originally drafted Hamilton from Texas in the eighth round of 2019 and traded him to Boston in 2021. Arnold called Hamilton “an elite runner,” praised his speed, defense, and overall exciting play style.
### Fan Take:
This deal reshapes two competitive teams heading into the new season, underscoring the dynamic nature of baseball trades and player development. Fans should watch closely as Durbin takes on a pivotal role in Boston while the Brewers’ deep farm system looks to fill the gaps, promising an exciting season of growth and competition.
