The Boston Red Sox made some major moves at the trade deadline, and the future of their infield has been greatly impacted.
For starters, despite many rumors, the Red Sox did not acquire a long-term shortstop. That leaves the door wide open for Franklin Arias to earn the job next season. Additionally, the Red Sox moved on from Marcelo Mayer, practically ensuring that Curtis Mead will be the team's second baseman moving forward.
As it stands right now, Willson Contreras will be the Red Sox's first baseman next season, and then he has a club option for 2028. Caleb Durbin, who has turned his season around and proven he belongs, will be the third baseman for the foreseeable future. Mead is under contract through 2030 and figures to be locked into second base.
Newly acquired catcher Adley Rutschman is under contract through next season, but is a strong extension candidate after the Red Sox gave up a haul to add him. The only question mark is at shortstop. Trevor Story is due $25 million next season, and has a $25 million club option for 2028.
Story was not playing well this season after having a resurgent year last year. His contract is hefty, and the Red Sox could look to cut ties with him in the offseason, knowing Arias is close to ready.
Arias's development likely played a major role in the Red Sox deciding to move Mayer. The team knew Mead was locked in at second base, and Mayer had yet to prove he could hit in the big leagues. Story was going to be impossible to trade this year, so moving Mayer made a ton of sense, knowing Arias would likely win the shortstop job soon.
Assuming Arias is ready to debut on opening day next year, the Red Sox infield would be Rutschman at catcher, Contreras at first base, Mead at second base, Arias at shortstop and Durbin at third base. That is a very good group that should be together past 2027 as well.
Even though right now shortstop seems like a question mark as the Red Sox get ready to make a deep October run, the future at the position is clearly Arias. Had the team made a trade for CJ Abrams or another young, controllable shortstop, that would be different.