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Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Not guaranteed to make roster
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Sunday that Mayer is "doing a good job" but wouldn't guarantee the young infielder will make the Opening Day roster, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.
The 23-year-old is batting just .200 through four spring training games, though one of his two hits was a home run. Mayer struggled to a .228/.272/.402 slash line in 44 regular-season games as he received his first taste of the majors in 2025, and the offseason acquisitions of Caleb Durbin and Isiah Kiner-Falefa have resulted in a more crowded infield. If Mayer doesn't win a starting job, the Red Sox could prioritize getting him everyday opportunities in the minor leagues rather than keeping him in the majors as a bench option.
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Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Debut worth wait
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Mayer started at second base and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's spring game against Atlanta.
Mayer's Grapefruit League debut was worth the wait. In his second at-bat, the lefty-hitting infielder turned on a changeup from Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias for a solo home run to right field. While he defended second base Friday, the 23-year-old is expected to see time at third base, too, as he and Caleb Durbin will toggle between the two positions.
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Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Spring debut delayed
Rotowire
Mayer is expected to make his spring debut Friday on the road against Atlanta, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Mayer's hitting progression was being slow walked at the start of camp due to a July 2025 wrist injury that eventually required surgery and ended his season. "Now, he's just adding to his hitting program. He's doing everything," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "He's just adding the velo machine and the Trajekt." Caleb Durbin has been filling in at third base while Mayer was held back. A better indication of how Mayer and Durbin will eventually fit on the diamond should emerge once Mayer takes the field. Each player has experience at second and third base.
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Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Not locked into starting job
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Friday that Mayer will have to earn his way onto the Opening Day roster, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Mayer remains a likely bet to be in Boston's lineup on Opening Day in Cincinnati, but a job will not be handed to him, with Cora noting the young infielder must improve his offense after posting a 80 wRC+ in the majors last season. What position Mayer is likely to fill hasn't been determined yet. The Red Sox had previously indicated a desire to put him at third base, but early on in camp Mayer has mostly played second base, with Caleb Durbin handling the hot corner.
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Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Takes grounders at 2B
Rotowire
Mayer has taken infield practice exclusively at second base during the first few days of camp, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
One storyline during camp is how manager Alex Cora deploys Mayer and Caleb Durbin, who has been used exclusively at third base thus far. Both infielders have experience at second and third base, and it's likely each will get reps at the two positions. "Everybody will benefit from reps, but we'll make a decision, probably sooner rather than later," Cora said. "We're not going to be waiting." A better indicator of the manager's plans should emerge when the Red Sox begin spring games this weekend.
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Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Position to be determined
Rotowire
Mayer's starting position has yet to be determined, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. He played both second base and third base during his rookie season in 2025.
Mayer had been ticketed for a starting role at third base, replacing the departed Alex Bregman, but Monday's acquisition of Caleb Durbin from Milwaukee creates uncertainty. Both Mayer and Durbin have experience at the hot corner and second base in the majors, and manager Alex Cora was hesitant to make any decisions Monday. An early indicator of the infielders' eventual landing spot should come Feb. 15, when Boston's position players report to Fort Myers and where the two are stationed during spring training drills.
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Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: More ABs against lefties
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora noted at Fenway Fest in January that he envisions Mayer getting more playing time against left-handers in 2026, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Mayer was allotted 27 of 136 plate appearances at the MLB level against lefties in 2025, managing a miniscule .416 OPS in the small sample size. With the departure of Alex Bregman, it's likely Mayer will take over at third base this season, and Cora wants a more full-time role for the 23-year-old infielder, who is capable of slotting in at three infield positions. Boston's recent signing of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, a Gold Glove winner at third base in 2020 while with Texas, could impact the eventual infield positioning, but he appears ticketed for a rotation at second base with several other candidates.
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Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Should be ready for Opening Day
Rotowire
Mayer (wrist) is expected to be ready for Opening Day, Lauren Campbell of MassLive.com reports.
Mayer is recovering from right wrist arthroscopy performed in August that ended his season after 44 games. He potentially could have played in the postseason had Boston extended its run, and Mayer is expected to be available for spring training. Depending on roster additions, the 23-year-old infielder could end up playing second base, shortstop or third base. He mainly played at the hot corner in his big-league debut, but a downturn in shortstop Trevor Story's defense (minus-9 OAA) in 2025 could allow Mayer to return to his natural position, which would allow Story to shift to second
Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Should be healthy for spring
Rotowire
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that Mayer's recovery from right wrist surgery had progressed to the point that he could have been available had the team made a deep postseason run, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
That suggests Mayer -- who underwent a right wrist arthroscopy in August -- should be fully recovered well ahead of spring training. As things currently stand, Mayer could open the 2026 season as the starter at either second or third base, though much will depend on what additions the Red Sox make to their roster.
The Red Sox transferred Mayer (wrist) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Mayer is out for the season after undergoing a right wrist arthroscopy last month, so his move to the 60-day injured list is merely a formality. The transaction clears room on the 40-man roster for catcher Ali Sanchez, whom the Red Sox acquired in a trade with the Mets on Sunday.
Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Surgery deemed successful
Rotowire
The Red Sox announced that Mayer underwent a successful right wrist arthroscopy Wednesday, Lauren Campbell of MassLive.com reports.
After initially spraining his wrist in late July, Mayer had hoped that a cortisone shot plus extended rest and recovery time would be enough for him to heal up from the injury and return to action before the end of the season, but surgery was ultimately deemed necessary. Mayer has now sustained season-ending injuries in each of the last three years, as his 2023 campaign was cut short by a shoulder injury, and his 2024 season ended prematurely due to lumbar strain. The 22-year-old -- who previously suffered the same wrist injury in 2022 but avoided surgery -- will face a three-month recovery timeline from his procedure, putting him on track to be back to full health ahead of spring training. Mayer will likely need a strong camp to solidify himself as an everyday player for the Red Sox heading into 2026, after he produced a .228/.272/.402 slash line with a 30.1 percent strikeout rate over 136 plate appearances with Boston prior to being shut down with the sprained wrist.
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Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Requires season-ending surgery
Rotowire
Mayer will require season-ending surgery on his sprained right wrist, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Shortly after being placed on the 10-day injured list July 25, Mayer received an anti-inflammatory shot, but the rookie's wrist didn't respond as well as the Red Sox had hoped. The 22-year-old has opted for a permanent fix for the injury and is expected to face a three-month recovery, per Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. Mayer should be back to full health ahead of spring training, when he'll likely have to compete for a starting role after slashing just .228/.272/.402 with four home runs over his first 44 big-league games.
Manager Alex Cora said Friday that Mayer (wrist) has begun taking dry swings, but it's unclear if he will return this season, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Mayer's recovery from right wrist soreness has been slow, even after undergoing an anti-inflammatory injection at the start of August. The 22-year-old began playing catch this week and has now begun swinging a bat. While it didn't initially seem like the injury would threaten to sideline Mayer for the rest of 2025, Cora was non-committal when asked about the rookie's return this season.
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