MLB Notebook: Marcelo Mayer gets his shot, Brayan Bello's future murky, Red Sox trade rumors swirl

Marcelo Mayer is making his first major league start at shortstop today for the Red Sox.

The California native has been taking ground balls at the position throughout the week following Trevor Story’s placement on the injured list with a sports hernia. Boston opted to wait before making the move permanent until it had a clearer understanding of Story’s recovery timeline.

After Story underwent sports hernia surgery on Thursday, the Red Sox had a better understanding of his timeline and moved forward with Mayer at shortstop.

With Story facing an extended absence, the Red Sox are finally turning to the player many believe is the organization’s long-term answer at the position.

Mayer was drafted fourth overall in 2021 as a shortstop and has spent the overwhelming majority of his professional career there. Prior to Sunday, however, Mayer had appeared exclusively at second and third base since arriving in Boston.

Now, the Red Sox will get their first extended look at whether their former top prospect can handle shortstop at the major league level.

“We started proactively getting Marcelo some work there this past week in Kansas City, so tentatively planning right now [on] maybe getting him out there Sunday,” said interim manager Chad Tracy. “There's a little bit more work [interim bench coach José David Flores] wants to do with him, but I definitely think you'll see more of him there. Does that mean he'll play there every single day? Maybe not, but we're definitely going to explore that.”

With Story's recovery timeline is expected to fall somewhere in the six-to-10-week range. That would likely keep the veteran shortstop sidelined for all of June and most of July as he works his way back.

Since Story landed on the injured list, the Red Sox have relied primarily on utility infielders at shortstop, rotating Andruw Monasterio, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Nick Sogard through the position.

But Mayer has always been viewed as Boston’s long-term answer at shortstop, and Story’s latest injury has accelerated that timeline.

The 23-year-old has appeared in 45 games this season, all at second base, making 39 starts. As a rookie last year, Mayer logged just three innings at shortstop, despite spending the vast majority of his amateur and professional career at the position.

Now, with Mayer penciled in to start at shortstop Sunday afternoon, Red Sox fans should expect to see him there on a regular basis moving forward.

Tracy indicated that he does not envision shuffling Mayer back and forth between second base and shortstop, suggesting the organization wants to give the former first-round pick a legitimate opportunity to settle in at his natural position and establish himself as Boston’s everyday shortstop.

“I feel like I feel comfortable anywhere defensively,” said Mayer. “Obviously it’s been months since I’ve played short, so maybe it’s different, the in-game reads and stuff. But as far as fielding ground balls and throwing it to first base, I feel pretty confident in my ability to do so wherever. That’s home to me. That’s where I’ve played my whole life.”

Tracy, who managed Mayer during the early portion of the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester, is confident the rookie will make a smooth transition back to his natural position.

Before taking over as Boston’s interim manager, Tracy watched Mayer handle shortstop on an everyday basis with the WooSox, giving him firsthand insight into the infielder’s defensive instincts, footwork, and comfort level at the position.

Throughout his minor league career, Mayer appeared in 269 games at shortstop, committing 44 errors while posting a .953 fielding percentage. 

With Mayer shifting across the diamond, Boston gains additional flexibility at second base. The Red Sox can now rotate Monasterio, Kiner-Falefa, and Sogard through the position depending on matchups, while maintaining depth across the infield.

Romy Gonzalez is also expected to factor into the equation once he returns from the injured list.

The infielder has begun taking swings off soft toss in the batting cage as he continues his recovery from an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his left, non-throwing shoulder. Gonzalez has been on the 60-day injured list since March 12 after undergoing surgery earlier this spring.

“It’s good that he’s swinging,” Tracy said Saturday. “I mean, he’s been able to go out and throw and do some things and he’s doing work on the side with Flo (infield instructor José Flores), which is good. But the fact that he’s got a bat in his hand and he’s swinging at a ball that’s coming at him, even if it’s just a flip, is good news for us.”

The 29-year-old originally injured the shoulder during Boston’s Sept. 19-21 series in Tampa Bay last season. Imaging later revealed inflammation, and lingering discomfort limited him throughout the offseason. Gonzalez attempted to avoid surgery by receiving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection before spring training, but ultimately underwent the procedure in March.

“I know there’s a lot of two-hand stuff now,” Tracy said. “You guys know Romy with a big-one hand finish (with his swing), so it’s like a lot of two hand stuff now. You move and then he’ll graduate into like doing more of his one-hand finish with that left arm. So there’s still some time to go there. But the fact that he’s swinging a bat is good news.”

Whenever he returns, the Red Sox will gladly welcome his bat back into the lineup.

Gonzalez hit .305 with an .826 OPS in 96 games last season and was particularly dominant against left-handed pitching, batting .331 with a .600 slugging percentage and .978 OPS across 143 plate appearances against southpaws.

His return would give Boston another versatile infield option and provide additional offensive upside for a lineup that has struggled to consistently score runs throughout the first two months of the season.

While no player should automatically lose his job because of an injury, this situation is more nuanced.

If Mayer proves capable of handling shortstop defensively and provides more overall value than Story, the Red Sox may finally get answers to questions that have lingered since drafting him fourth overall in 2021. An extended run at the position would allow Boston to evaluate whether Mayer can be its everyday shortstop, not just for the remainder of this season, but for years to come.

Should Mayer seize the opportunity, it could also create a path for Story to move to second base upon his return. Such a move would lessen the physical demands placed on the veteran while allowing the Red Sox to keep one of their clubhouse leaders in the lineup. Which, if finally healthy, Story could tap into the player he was in 2025 over the final stretch run of this season. 

For now, Mayer has an opportunity to audition for the position he was always projected to play and determine whether he’s ready to establish himself as the club’s long-term answer at shortstop.

Fighting For a Job?

Brayan Bello has been underwhelming this season, forcing the Red Sox to use the righty following an opener the last couple of weeks. His latest outing in that role came on Saturday, in the 4-2 loss to the Twins at Fenway Park. 

Boston is getting closer to getting to full strength in its rotation with Garrett Crochet expected to face live hitters on Tuesday, and from there, the club will determine if the lefty is ready to rejoin the big league club. 

That realization has made Bello feel like he’s pitching for his job as a starter with the Red Sox. In 10 appearances this season, he’s pitching to a 6.43 ERA, and with the emergence of Connelly Early and Payton Tolle, Bello is the logical choice to get bumped from the rotation. 

As a starter, Bello has a 9.68 ERA, allowing 33 earned runs in 30 2/3 innings. He’s been solid as a bulk-innings option, pitching to a 0.98 ERA, giving up just two earned runs in 18 1/3 innings. Despite the numbers, Tracy wants to see consistency out of the right-hander. 

“I think regardless of whether he’s starting or out of the bullpen, the big thing for him is in the zone, attacking the zone,” Tracy said. “There were periods today when he was in the zone, attacking. It was really good. And when he falls behind and nitpicks around the zone, that’s where he gets in trouble. But it doesn’t matter which role — he’s got to be on the attack and live in the zone."

Unless the Sox want to employ a six-man rotation for a short-period of time. The extra starter would allow the Sox to give everyone an extra day of rest, but Tracy said to reporters that option hasn’t been something the club has seriously discussed, at least not as of yet. 

“I haven’t talked about that either. We’ll cross that bridge,” Tracy said. “I hope we get into a scenario where they all get healthy and we have a lot of options and we figure out how we’re going to do that, that’s a good problem to have, but that’s not imminent right now so we have to keep focused on what’s in front of us.”

The six-man rotation is typically not something used in the big leagues; most clubs roll out five healthy starters. The additional starter will shorten the bullpen for the Red Sox.

“I think broadly speaking a five-day works, like there’s sections of the schedule where we have off days and you automatically get a six-day. There’s other sections of the schedule where you look and go we’re about to play 18 games in a row,” Tracy said. “That’s where you can fluctuate rosters during the season and we’re going to do this for the time being.”

“When you hit spots like that those are always topics of discussion,” he continued, “but just not ones that are happening at the moment as we’re still trying to get people closer to being healthy.”

This spring, Crochet spoke out against the idea of a six-man rotation. 

“I like the five-day routine and then I look at the schedule and it’s like six-day, six-day, six-day the first month of the season,” Crochet told The Athletic. “We have a lot of off days, thankfully at home. I’m trying to be adaptable as best as I can in that regard.”

Crochet likes the routine of pitching every fifth day, despite owning better numbers with an additional day of rest. His ERA was 3.16 in 11 starts on four days of rest. In 18 starts while pitching every sixth day, he posted a 2.27 ERA.

Bello has minor league options remaining and could be sent down to Worcester to get a chance to work on mechanics and get back to pitching like the starter the Sox invested a long-term extension in. 

“It’s a good question. Not something we’ve talked about a lot, but obviously you can’t ignore Garrett as he keeps getting closer, that he’ll be very much a factor when he gets back,” Tracy said. “So we haven’t gotten too far into it because Garrett’s still got boxes to check. We’ll deal with that when it comes.”

Trade Talk

Masataka Yoshida hasn’t truly benefited from the managerial transition from Alex Cora to Tracy.

Since Tracy took over, Yoshida has started just 11 of the club’s 25 games, continuing to find himself on the outside looking in when it comes to regular playing time.

The veteran acknowledged Sunday that he would be open to a trade if it meant returning to an everyday role.

“It’s part of the game, right? If it happens, it happens,” Yoshida said through translator Yutaro Yamaguchi when asked whether he would welcome a move to another club.

Yoshida has largely become the odd man out in Boston’s outfield picture, which features four everyday-caliber options in Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu.

Even with Anthony currently sidelined on the injured list, Yoshida has not seen a meaningful increase in opportunities.

Instead, Tracy has frequently turned to Mickey Gasper at designated hitter. Since his promotion on May 7, Gasper has started five games at DH, further limiting Yoshida’s path to regular at-bats.

As a result, Yoshida has often been relegated to a bench role, appearing as a pinch hitter in 12 games this season.

Despite the lack of playing time, Yoshida said he and Tracy have maintained open communication regarding his role and the club’s plans moving forward.

“As far as a rhythm goes, it’s kind of hard,” Yoshida said. “Obviously it’s something I’m used to. These past couple years I’ve been used like that. So I’m kind of getting used to it now. But as a pinch hitter, when you’re put into the situation late in the game obviously you’ll face high-leverage guys. So in that sense, it’s kind of difficult — facing high-leverage guys.”

Yoshida’s production has slipped somewhat in May after a solid start to the season. He hit 13-for-49 (.265) with a .390 on-base percentage in March and April but has gone just 10-for-42 (.238) with a .298 OBP this month.

Despite the decline in results, many of Yoshida’s underlying metrics remain encouraging. According to FanGraphs, he ranks above league average in chase rate (25.0%), whiff rate (10.6%), strikeout rate (8.5%), walk rate (11.3%), and squared-up percentage (39.7%). Those numbers suggest the veteran’s process at the plate remains intact, even if the production has not consistently followed.

Meanwhile, trade speculation is already beginning to surface around Boston.

In his Sunday column for USA Today, Bob Nightengale reported that the Padres have interest in Red Sox All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman as well as Rockies starter turned reliever Antonio Senzatela.

Chapman has been dominant since arriving in Boston. Dating back to last season, the veteran left-hander has recorded 44 saves, struck out 108 batters, and posted a remarkable 1.03 ERA across 79 innings.

As the Red Sox entered Sunday at 22-29, tied for fourth place in the American League East and just 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, it would be premature for Craig Breslow to consider waving the white flag on the season.

Still, if Boston were to entertain the idea of moving Chapman, the return would need to be substantial.

The Red Sox own a 3.00 bullpen ERA, the second-best mark in Major League Baseball. Losing Chapman would undoubtedly weaken the relief corps, but Boston would still have one of the deeper bullpens in the league, particularly with Garrett Whitlock capable of sliding into the closer’s role and several dependable arms available behind him.

For San Diego, pairing Chapman with Mason Miller would create arguably the most intimidating late-inning duo in baseball.

Chapman’s trade history also provides a blueprint for what elite closers can command. The Yankees acquired Gleyber Torres in exchange for Chapman at the 2016 deadline, while the Rangers landed eventual All-Star starter Cole Ragans when they dealt Chapman to Kansas City in 2023.

The Padres’ farm system is heavily concentrated with pitching talent, which could make them a logical trade partner should discussions ever materialize.

Former top prospect Ethan Salas remains one of the organization’s most intriguing assets and could fit Boston’s long-term needs behind the plate. Left-handed pitching prospect Kruz Schoolcraft would also be an appealing target. The 6-foot-8 southpaw features a fastball that has touched 99 mph and pairs it with a promising changeup, giving evaluators plenty to dream on.

Another potential target could be left-hander Kash Mayfield, one of San Diego’s more highly regarded young arms. Scouts view him as a potential mid-rotation starter, though durability and development will ultimately determine his ceiling.

If Boston preferred major-league-ready talent in return, other clubs could emerge as better fits than San Diego.

For now, however, the Red Sox remain focused on improving a lineup that has scored the fewest runs in the American League. According to multiple reports, Boston is surveying the trade market for offensive help and is less concerned about filling a specific position than it is finding a productive right-handed bat capable of lengthening the lineup.

An immediate move remains unlikely in late May, but Breslow has already demonstrated a willingness to act aggressively when he identifies an opportunity. As the trade deadline approaches, Boston’s front office will have to decide whether this roster deserves reinforcements or whether valuable assets such as Chapman could help accelerate the club’s long-term outlook.

The A’s possess a surplus of controllable infield talent and several young players who could immediately help Boston’s lineup. While prying away elite prospects would be difficult, the Athletics have enough organizational depth to make conversations worthwhile if they view Chapman as the final piece to strengthen a playoff push.

Regardless of whether a move involves prospects or established players, Boston’s priority remains clear: improving an offense that has scored the fewest runs in the American League.

The Red Sox are not believed to be targeting any one position specifically. Instead, the club is searching for offensive upgrades wherever they can find them, particularly a right-handed bat capable of adding production and lengthening a lineup that has struggled to generate consistent offense throughout the season.

While a trade this early in the summer remains unlikely, chief baseball officer Breslow has already shown a willingness to make bold moves ahead of the deadline. Last June, he stunned the baseball world by trading Rafael Devers, one of the franchise’s cornerstone players, to the Giants well before most teams had begun seriously discussing deadline deals.

“There’s been conversations going on earlier than ever before on that front,” CEO Sam Kennedy said on WEEI on Friday morning. “It’s obviously hard in the American League, it’s so bunched up. There are some National League teams that I’d say are more engaged in conversations than typical at this time of the year.

“If the question is, are Craig and his team in baseball operations trying to improve the team right now, the answer is yes. Will we be able to get a deal done or match up on something? I have no idea, is the truth. But there’s conversations, there’s urgency, and that’s something that’s important, and hopefully something that can be done earlier rather than later, but there’s two ways to improve with the existing group and new faces, so we’ll try on both of those.”

Boston needs another bat in its lineup to pair with Willson Contreras, who has been their best and most consistent threat this season. 

“The Red Sox are looking for a right-handed hitter, but as rival execs note, it's a really tough fix to make it on the fly,” ESPN’s Buster Olney posted on X on Sunday morning. “There are very few options available for a legit RH hitter this early unless you are willing to overpay, and assuming it's a 2B or 3B, then the FO will have to wave the white flag to some degree with Durbin, who was such an important part of the FO vision.”

Caleb Durbin has largely been a disappointment at the plate this season, but his defense at third base has helped keep him in the mix for playing time.

The third baseman been one of Boston’s steadiest defenders on the infield, providing reliable glove work and strong instincts at the hot corner even as his offensive production has lagged behind expectations.

Still, Durbin’s struggles at the plate have begun to impact his role.

The 25-year-old was out of the lineup for the fourth time in six games Saturday against the Twins, with Sogard drawing another start at third base against a right-handed pitcher. The recent usage suggests Tracy is searching for more offensive production while continuing to value Durbin’s defensive contributions.

For now, the Red Sox have not discussed optioning Durbin back to Triple-A Worcester. However, if the offensive struggles persist and playing time becomes increasingly difficult to find, a return to the minors could become a realistic consideration later this season.

“Haven’t talked about that yet,” Tracy said before the game on Saturday afternoon. “I will say, [in] the more sporadic playing time here lately, the games he has played, his at-bats have looked better. He had the go-ahead hit in Kansas City. He had some good at-bats [Friday] night, the ball he hit to center field, he dropped down a beautiful bunt. 

“There’s been some positive in there, and some signs that it’s getting a little better, but we haven’t gotten to that [minor league demotion consideration] yet.”

Such a move would allow Durbin to receive regular at-bats and work through some of the issues that have plagued him offensively, while giving Boston an opportunity to evaluate other infield options at the major league level.

Similar to Gasper, Sogard has provided some offense for Boston since his promotion. He is hitting .316/.458/.368 with a double after going 0 for 2 with two walks in Saturday’s 4-2 loss.

“He’s obviously taken great at-bats since he’s come up here, but he can move around the field, play third, play short, play second, pop into a corner outfield if we make moves late, he can go do that,” Tracy said.

“And really it’s just the at-bat quality that we’ve seen when he’s in there.”

Tracy added that Sogard’s arrival “coincided with some things turning for us” offensively. “You just can’t ignore when he came up, the at-bat quality that he’s had,” Tracy said. “[Durbin] plays great defense, but you just can’t ignore [Sogard]. So it doesn’t mean that it sticks that way. Durb could get going and things could change, but right now, those [Sogard] at-bats are good. And we’re starting to put up some runs. We’ve got to try to keep going with that.”

If Breslow can add another impact bat, it could be exactly what the Red Sox need to finally unlock their offense. Boston showed signs of life during its series sweep in Kansas City, but those gains quickly disappeared upon returning home, where the Twins once again exposed the lineup’s shortcomings.

The Red Sox have scored the fewest runs in the American League, and despite remaining within striking distance of a Wild Card spot, they desperately need more production around Contreras and Abreu.

If Breslow ultimately determines this roster isn’t a legitimate contender, he does have valuable trade chips at his disposal. But selling off pieces after reaching the postseason a year ago would send a difficult message, not only to the clubhouse, but also to prospective free agents evaluating the organization this winter.

For now, the more logical path is to try to improve the roster rather than subtract from it. The Red Sox remain firmly in the playoff conversation, and adding a productive right-handed bat could go a long way toward determining whether this season becomes another missed opportunity or a meaningful step forward.