LAS VEGAS — In answering a question about how Marcelo Mayer fits into the Red Sox’ 2026 infield with Trevor Story returning to play shortstop, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow issued something of a challenge Monday.

Speaking to reporters after arriving at the general managers meetings at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Breslow said the Red Sox want Mayer — who has never played more than 91 games in a season as a professional — to build strength this winter in an effort to withstand the grind of a 162-game season.

“He needs to get bigger and stronger and be able to shoulder the workload of a full season,” Breslow said about Mayer, whose rookie season ended July 23 when he suffered a wrist sprain that led to surgery . “That’s what the conversations have centered around. To his credit,

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