Kristian Campbell's New Position Adds Another Wrinkle to Red Sox's Offseason Plans

[Alex Mayes]

Kristian Campbell broke came with the Boston Red Sox and was the starting second baseman on Opening Day. For the first month of the season, he lit the league on fire, winning AL Rookie of the Month honors. Then, the floor fell out from underneath him and he struggled to find his footing again with the big-league club.

He was preparing to play first base in the wake of the injury to Triston Casas, but that never came to fruition. Soon after that report leaked, he went sent down to Triple-A Worcester, where he remained for the rest of the season. With the WooSox, Campbell bounced from position to position. He registered 59 games at second base, seven in center field, and two in left field.

At the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, President of Baseball Operations Craig Breslow said that the team was seeking ‘stability and certainty’ with Campbell as the calendar marches toward the 2026 season. The team has acknowledged, at least privately, that left field is likely the best fit for Campbell as he grows into a big-league hitter. While that stability in a position will like boost his performance on both sides of the ball, forcing him into an already crowded outfield isn’t the path forward here.

Sure, it adds another layer of depth to the group in the instance of one or more starters being traded, but this feels needlessly complicated. The biggest defensive need for the Red Sox is at first base, and that is where Campbell should be preparing to play as long as he’s in the Red Sox’s system. By shifting him to a full-time outfield role, and one who profiles as a left fielder specifically, the team is putting themselves in a position that could hamstring them before spring training even gets started.

We can take Roman Anthony out of this equation; he’s guaranteed a starting outfield spot for 2026. If we look at the other three outfielders though, we see three proven, MLB-quality starters. Would you take Campbell over Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, or Wilyer Abreu? Absolutely not, at least at this point in time. Rafaela and Abreu are coming off Gold Glove-winning seasons and Duran is only one season removed from an outstanding 2024. Why replace a known entity with something that is a total unknown in the middle of a contention window? It just doesn’t make sense. Campbell should turn into a solid major leaguer at some point soon, but forcing him to find his footing within the Red Sox’s outfield seems shortsighted.

Unless, of course, the front office is planning to trade two outfielders this offseason in an attempt to add another top of the rotation starter to slot in behind Garrett Crochet. On the surface, it makes sense. The team has more outfielders than spots available, especially if they are serious about Campbell making the switch to the outfield. That doesn’t even consider the distinct possibility that the team brings back veteran clubhouse leader Rob Refsnyder. And don’t forget, Masataka Yoshida is technically a left fielder, too. This team is ripe with outfield talent, and adding Campbell to that group would make it an even deeper positional depth chart. But even then, in the instance of the team planning on trading two current outfielders, you’d want them to be in the market for either Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger to fill one of those holes. Not an unproven second-year player.

I’m not here to bash Campbell in any way. I think he can be a valuable member of the Red Sox -- he was a top prospect as of this time a year ago -- but this move makes zero sense as the roster is currently constructed. He’s bulked up, according to Breslow, and has already been spending time in Fort Myers with the hitting coaches to hopefully allow him to tap into the offensive production we saw when he first broke onto the scene. He’s best suited to do that from first base, though. If he’s adding weight and can hit for power, he’s the prototypical first baseman that the Red Sox have been missing for years. Bulky outfielders can work, but the Red Sox need no help in that department.

If the team trots Campbell out to left field to begin spring training, that should mean that some combination of Duran, Rafaela, and Abreu have been traded. That, to me, would be cutting off their nose to spite their face. Campbell can be a special player on both sides of the ball, but shoehorning him into an already-crowded situation likely sets him up for failure more than it pushes him to be the best version of himself.

View full article

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

15 minutes ago, Alex Mayes said:

If the team trots Campbell out to left field to begin spring training, that should mean that some combination of Duran, Rafaela, and Abreu have been traded. That, to me, would be cutting off their nose to spite their face. Campbell can be a special player on both sides of the ball, but shoehorning him into an already-crowded situation likely sets him up for failure more than it pushes him to be the best version of himself.

 

Well-though out, Alex, though I don't necessarily agree moving KC to LF is setting him up for failure.

As much as we have doubts about Campbell, we should also wonder what's up with an org's eval system that a year ago handed him a starting job in the big leagues he clearly wasn't ready for.

We do know that those who tried him out at first base last summer have determined that's not for him, either.

Maybe the Sox are just making KC an outfielder to regain his value and showcase him as a trade chip? You didn't mention Garcia as an additional OF trade candidate, though maybe Boston will decide to keep him as a platoon partner initially with Abreu.

After all, Password has hit more homers than anyone in the system the past two seasons, including Campbell when he went off...

[TedYazPapiMookie]

Bashing Campbell is practically a pastime for you so stop pretending you aren't a hater.

With fans like you, Campbell fans need to root for a trade.  Cora is a moron, and I don't see that changing so the sooner he moves to a better run team the sooner he'll be in the all-star game.

 

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

Bashing Campbell is practically a pastime for you so stop pretending you aren't a hater.

With fans like you, Campbell fans need to root for a trade.  Cora is a moron, and I don't see that changing so the sooner he moves to a better run team the sooner he'll be in the all-star game.

 

Despite his contract KC is still nothing more than a suspect at this point, and time.🙈

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

13 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Despite his contract KC is still nothing more than a suspect at this point, and time.🙈

How bashful of you.

[Old Red]

26 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

How bashful of you.

🤫

[moonslav59]

They may not be considering 1B as an option, because they know they will be adding a 1Bman, this winter.

In a vacuum LF seems like the most likely fit for KC, and with all the talk of trading Duran, ir make sense to give the RHB'er a shot there. The problem is we already have Anthony LF, Rafaela CF and Abreu RF and a decent RHB prospect in JH Garcai who looks MLB ready, too. I'm wondering if we trade 2 OF'ers, bring back Ref and plop KC in LF w REF as a reinforcement. Otherwise, he plays LF in AAA until needed FT in the bigs in LF or at DH.

Another choice is to trade KC. His $7.5M may not be an overpay, but it would allow for an upgrade on an intended signing. Trading Duran and KC, probably in separate trades to add pitching and/or an infield bat makes some sense.

[mvp 78]

From my untrained eyes, he did look the most athletic in the OF. I know there is a crowded situation today, but that may not be the case in April or later on in the season. I think the Sox are going to take a longer look at this and will work towards getting Campbell to his ceiling rather than rushing him again. 

At worst, it's just a lot of bluster prior to Brezzz shipping him out of town.

[Hitch]

I have to take umbrage with this point - Campbell can be a special player on both sides of the ball.

He's shown nothing to suggest he can be a special player defensively. Hopefully he gets his bat going again but he's a long way off that, too, right now. 

Left field makes no sense for him right now (unless we trade two starting outfielders - feels unlikely), but it does feel his most likely only possible spot. So maybe it's with a trade in mind. I'd be very worried if we were going into next season with Campbell as our starting LF (or 1st baseman).

[mvp 78]

23 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I have to take umbrage with this point - Campbell can be a special player on both sides of the ball.

He's shown nothing to suggest he can be a special player defensively. Hopefully he gets his bat going again but he's a long way off that, too, right now. 

Left field makes no sense for him right now (unless we trade two starting outfielders - feels unlikely), but it does feel his most likely only possible spot. So maybe it's with a trade in mind. I'd be very worried if we were going into next season with Campbell as our starting LF (or 1st baseman).

Depends on your definition of special. 

[moonslav59]

19 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I have to take umbrage with this point - Campbell can be a special player on both sides of the ball.

He's shown nothing to suggest he can be a special player defensively. Hopefully he gets his bat going again but he's a long way off that, too, right now. 

Left field makes no sense for him right now (unless we trade two starting outfielders - feels unlikely), but it does feel his most likely only possible spot. So maybe it's with a trade in mind. I'd be very worried if we were going into next season with Campbell as our starting LF (or 1st baseman).

I'm not so sure he's a "long way off" with his bat. I agree on the D part.

I do think trading two OF'ers might be a good idea, but it won't happen. Moving Rafaela to 2B and mayer to 3B is another solution, if we trade Duran & others for a SP#2. Sigan Alonso or Schwarber to play 1B, and we'd be okay. (Note: I am 100% against playing Rafaela at 2B, even part time.)

1. L Anthony CF

2. R Story SS

3. L Abreu RF

4. R Alosno 1B

5. L Yoshida DH

6. R Campbell LF

7. L Mayer 3B/R Romy 3B

8. R Narvaez C

9. Rafaela 2B

It's not the upgrade I wanted on O, and I do not like Rafaela at 2B, but JH would love just signing one big bat- not two. Maybe the extra money could be spent on M Kelly or D Williams or trade Mayer & others for KMarte.

[Old Red]

24 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I have to take umbrage with this point - Campbell can be a special player on both sides of the ball.

He's shown nothing to suggest he can be a special player defensively. Hopefully he gets his bat going again but he's a long way off that, too, right now. 

Left field makes no sense for him right now (unless we trade two starting outfielders - feels unlikely), but it does feel his most likely only possible spot. So maybe it's with a trade in mind. I'd be very worried if we were going into next season with Campbell as our starting LF (or 1st baseman).

A player STILL without a position, but got  the contract, so now they have to find him somewhere to play.🤔

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not so sure he's a "long way off" with his bat. I agree on the D part.

I do think trading two OF'ers might be a good idea, but it won't happen. Moving Rafaela to 2B and mayer to 3B is another solution, if we trade Duran & others for a SP#2. Sigan Alonso or Schwarber to play 1B, and we'd be okay. (Note: I am 100% against playing Rafaela at 2B, even part time.)

1. L Anthony CF

2. R Story SS

3. L Abreu RF

4. R Alosno 1B

5. L Yoshida DH

6. R Campbell LF

7. L Mayer 3B/R Romy 3B

8. R Narvaez C

9. Rafaela 2B

It's not the upgrade I wanted on O, and I do not like Rafaela at 2B, but JH would love just signing one big bat- not two. Maybe the extra money could be spent on M Kelly or D Williams or trade Mayer & others for KMarte.

I don’t see the Red Sox trading 2 OF just to accommodate KC, and Anthony is not a CF.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Old Red said:

A player STILL without a position, but got  the contract, so now they have to find him somewhere to play.🤔

4th OFer after starting the season in AAA.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not so sure he's a "long way off" with his bat. I agree on the D part.

I do think trading two OF'ers might be a good idea, but it won't happen. Moving Rafaela to 2B and mayer to 3B is another solution, if we trade Duran & others for a SP#2. Sigan Alonso or Schwarber to play 1B, and we'd be okay. (Note: I am 100% against playing Rafaela at 2B, even part time.)

1. L Anthony CF

2. R Story SS

3. L Abreu RF

4. R Alosno 1B

5. L Yoshida DH

6. R Campbell LF

7. L Mayer 3B/R Romy 3B

8. R Narvaez C

9. Rafaela 2B

It's not the upgrade I wanted on O, and I do not like Rafaela at 2B, but JH would love just signing one big bat- not two. Maybe the extra money could be spent on M Kelly or D Williams or trade Mayer & others for KMarte.

Putting Rafaela at 2b is just the worst decision possible for this defense. It would most likely be a Romy/Hamilton platoon and Rafaela is in CF. Campbell would be 4th OFer on the bench if anything. Anthony LF/Rafaela CF/Abreu RF. 

Signing Schwarber to play 1b would make zero sense. 

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I don’t see the Red Sox trading 2 OF just to accommodate KC, and Anthony is not a CF.

I don't either and said that.

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Putting Rafaela at 2b is just the worst decision possible for this defense. It would most likely be a Romy/Hamilton platoon and Rafaela is in CF. Campbell would be 4th OFer on the bench if anything. Anthony LF/Rafaela CF/Abreu RF. 

Signing Schwarber to play 1b would make zero sense. 

Totally agree on no Rafaela at 2B.

I don't think Schwarber is much worse than Casas or Alonso at 1B defense. It's not ideal, and if we can dump 75-80% of Masa's contract, I'm fine with DH'ing Kyle.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Totally agree on no Rafaela at 2B.

I don't think Schwarber is much worse than Casas or Alonso at 1B defense. It's not ideal, and if we can dump 75-80% of Masa's contract, I'm fine with DH'ing Kyle.

He has 75 MLB regular season innings, but isn't much worse than Casas or Alonso. Are you serious? 

[Hitch]

19 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Depends on your definition of special. 

Sure as s*** not those numbers. 

[Hitch]

20 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not so sure he's a "long way off" with his bat. I agree on the D part.

I do think trading two OF'ers might be a good idea, but it won't happen. Moving Rafaela to 2B and mayer to 3B is another solution, if we trade Duran & others for a SP#2. Sigan Alonso or Schwarber to play 1B, and we'd be okay. (Note: I am 100% against playing Rafaela at 2B, even part time.)

1. L Anthony CF

2. R Story SS

3. L Abreu RF

4. R Alosno 1B

5. L Yoshida DH

6. R Campbell LF

7. L Mayer 3B/R Romy 3B

8. R Narvaez C

9. Rafaela 2B

It's not the upgrade I wanted on O, and I do not like Rafaela at 2B, but JH would love just signing one big bat- not two. Maybe the extra money could be spent on M Kelly or D Williams or trade Mayer & others for KMarte.

If that's the starting line up at least I won't have to worry about concerning myself with wondering if we can be in the hunt for the title.

[notin]

39 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

4th OFer after starting the season in AAA.

I think that's most likely.  Preceded by a trade of either Duran or Abreu.  A trade of Garcia might happen as well, but is probably a long shot before the season.  

[notin]

46 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I don’t see the Red Sox trading 2 OF just to accommodate KC, and Anthony is not a CF.

Anthony did play CF almost exclusively in the minors.  He’s no Rafaela out there, but that doesn’t mean he’s Dwayne Hosey…

[notin]

47 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Putting Rafaela at 2b is just the worst decision possible for this defense. It would most likely be a Romy/Hamilton platoon and Rafaela is in CF. Campbell would be 4th OFer on the bench if anything. Anthony LF/Rafaela CF/Abreu RF. 

Signing Schwarber to play 1b would make zero sense. 

I think putting Schwarber at 1b is worse.

Rafaela is above average at 2b and Duran could play CF.  Both have experience there.  Schwarber has rarely played 1b, and not at all since 2021.  And Philly chose to play Harper over him at 1b at a time when DHing Harper made more sense…

[mvp 78]

21 minutes ago, notin said:

I think putting Schwarber at 1b is worse.

Rafaela is above average at 2b and Duran could play CF.  Both have experience there.  Schwarber has rarely played 1b, and not at all since 2021.  And Philly chose to play Harper over him at 1b at a time when DHing Harper made more sense…

I don't like either of those options!!!! 

For Breslow to say he's prioritizing defense, he can't throw Rafaela at 2b and Schwarber at 1b. Makes no damn sense. 

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, notin said:

Anthony did play CF almost exclusively in the minors.  He’s no Rafaela out there, but that doesn’t mean he’s Dwayne Hosey…

They moved him to the corner once he got to AAA. I think he was most likely going to end up there anyway, but typically high ceiling prospects are kept in the middle as long as possible. He could play there in a pinch, but maybe not a great idea going forward. I'd rather have him there than Abreu. 

[TedYazPapiMookie]

On 11/16/2025 at 9:08 AM, Old Red said:

Despite his contract KC is still nothing more than a suspect at this point, and time.🙈

Help me understand that logic.  He's the 2024 Minor League Player of the year compared to Mayer who has been hurt nearly every season since he joined Boston in 2021.  KC joined Boston in 2023 and a year later had graduated to AAA and got selected to be the only prospect to open the season on the MLB roster.  He had a successful season in college before being drafted.  We don't know if he was hurt or got crap coaching that radically changed the results of a player who had NEVER failed in his entire baseball career (22-year-old season).

Mindless writers make dumb comments all the time in the Boston market and this guy trashes KC all the time.  If his stats suggest to you that he's "Suspect" after 2024 then you are an extremely harsh grader.  He's accomplished more that both Anthony and Mayer and I would NEVER call Anthony "suspect".  Mayer due to his bad injury history and crappy minor league defense would need a promotion to be considered at the suspect level.  He's a massive failure to date considering he was a fourth pick in the draft.

[Old Red]

13 minutes ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

Help me understand that logic.  He's the 2024 Minor League Player of the year compared to Mayer who has been hurt nearly every season since he joined Boston in 2021.  KC joined Boston in 2023 and a year later had graduated to AAA and got selected to be the only prospect to open the season on the MLB roster.  He had a successful season in college before being drafted.  We don't know if he was hurt or got crap coaching that radically changed the results of a player who had NEVER failed in his entire baseball career (22-year-old season).

Mindless writers make dumb comments all the time in the Boston market and this guy trashes KC all the time.  If his stats suggest to you that he's "Suspect" after 2024 then you are an extremely harsh grader.  He's accomplished more that both Anthony and Mayer and I would NEVER call Anthony "suspect".  Mayer due to his bad injury history and crappy minor league defense would need a promotion to be considered at the suspect level.  He's a massive failure to date considering he was a fourth pick in the draft.

ANYONE who knows my post know what I say about all minor leaguers that they are all suspect NO MATTER what they do in the minor leagues UNTIL they produce in a Red Sox uniform,or are traded for someone who does.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

He has 75 MLB regular season innings, but isn't much worse than Casas or Alonso. Are you serious? 

I said I don't think he's much worse more because I know Casas and Alonso suck on D. not much worse than suck is not a compliment.

[Behindenemylines]

On 11/17/2025 at 9:18 AM, moonslav59 said:

I'm not so sure he's a "long way off" with his bat. I agree on the D part.

I do think trading two OF'ers might be a good idea, but it won't happen. Moving Rafaela to 2B and mayer to 3B is another solution, if we trade Duran & others for a SP#2. Sigan Alonso or Schwarber to play 1B, and we'd be okay. (Note: I am 100% against playing Rafaela at 2B, even part time.)

1. L Anthony CF

2. R Story SS

3. L Abreu RF

4. R Alosno 1B

5. L Yoshida DH

6. R Campbell LF

7. L Mayer 3B/R Romy 3B

8. R Narvaez C

9. Rafaela 2B

It's not the upgrade I wanted on O, and I do not like Rafaela at 2B, but JH would love just signing one big bat- not two. Maybe the extra money could be spent on M Kelly or D Williams or trade Mayer & others for KMarte.

Any lineup without Rafaela in center is a waste of the best centerfielder in baseball, Can see Campbell taking Refsynders roster spot, With ABs in RF for Abreau against lefties, 2B for Mayer against lefties, and possible ABs at 1B.

[Larry Cook]

39 minutes ago, Behindenemylines said:

Any lineup without Rafaela in center is a waste of the best centerfielder in baseball, Can see Campbell taking Refsynders roster spot, With ABs in RF for Abreau against lefties, 2B for Mayer against lefties, and possible ABs at 1B.

I think Campbell’s confidence was bruised badly in 2025.  He has the potential to be an above average hitter when he is right. 
defensively, regardless of position, he’s never going to be better than below average at any position!