Three new Red Sox who’ll make an immediate impact

The Boston Red Sox brought in many new faces to help get them past the American League wild-card round this season. 

Among those new faces are three players — infielder Caleb Durbin, left-hander Ranger Suarez and first baseman Willson Contreras — all looking to make an immediate impact. 

Infielder Caleb Durbin  

A vacancy at third base came about when Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman left for the Chicago Cubs in free agency, signing a five-year, $175 million contract. Durbin became the leader to win the position, as he played 131 games at third base in 2025 and had a value of six defensive runs saved. 

In 13 games this spring, Durbin has batted .394 with an OPS of 1.106, a triple, seven RBI and three steals. Durbin also has more walks (five) than strikeouts (three). 

Durbin beat out infielders Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.406 average, .955 OPS), Nick Sogard (.081, .348) and Marcelo Mayer (.250, .775). Mayer will likely be the Red Sox's starting second baseman this season, which could lead to infielder Kristian Campbell getting demoted. 

Left-hander Ranger Suarez 

Suarez was the Red Sox's biggest free-agent move — signing a five-year ($130 million) contract — after spending the first eight years of his professional career with the Philadelphia Phillies. An All-Star in 2024, Suarez has never made 30 starts in a season due to back issues. Since 2022, he has dealt with either back spasms or lower back soreness. 

Having a great season with the Phillies in 2025, 12-8 with a 3.20 ERA in a career-high 157.1 innings, Suarez has not had a great spring. In two spring starts, he has a 5.79 ERA and allowed three earned runs in 4.2 innings. 

Slotting in as the Red Sox's No. 2 behind Cy Young Award runner-up Garrett Crochet, overcoming the back issues will be what Suarez needs to do to put together another All-Star season. 

First baseman Willson Contreras 

Spending the last three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Contreras was another addition by trade. The Red Sox had a vacancy at first base with Triston Casas still working his way back from a patella tendon injury. 

A veteran of 10 major league seasons, Contreras brings a winning mentality to his new team, winning the 2016 World Series with the Chicago Cubs. Contreras will provide a solid bat for Alex Cora’s lineup, offering some power (172 career home runs) and a decent hitter (.258 career average). 

Contreras has put together a fantastic spring training — batting .462 with a 1.563 OPS and two home runs in six games.