The Boston Red Sox have found themselves in quite the pickle heading into 2025, as they signed third baseman Alex Bregman thinking that Rafael Devers would move from the hot corner.
Instead, Devers is refusing to change positions, leaving the Red Sox to potentially consider playing Bregman at second base, which would absolutely torpedo his value given how great of a defensive third baseman he is.
It’s not exactly an ideal scenario for Boston, which seems to have a chance to make a serious run in the AL East this season, especially with the New York Yankees down several key players already.
Devers has yet to be play in spring training due to shoulder issues, and he also made it abundantly clear that he is disgruntled.
Still, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic seems to think this will all get sorted out in Beantown sooner rather than later and is projecting Bregman to begin the regular season at third base. She also thinks Devers will become the team’s designated hitter.
“With just two weeks left in camp, it seems increasingly likely Alex Bregman will begin the season as the team’s third baseman and Devers will start the year at designated hitter, though Cora has refused to address the situation, only saying they’ll figure it out before the end of camp,” McCaffrey wrote.
Devers is a terrible defender, so you can fully understand the Red Sox’s sense of urgency to move him out of the infield entirely. He posted a minus-5.0 UZR/150 and minus-9 DRS in 2024, which is right in line what what he has done throughout his entire big-league career.
The 28-year-old signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension in 2023, with Boston obviously placing considerable value on his bat (Devers owns a lifetime .856 OPS). But there is no doubt that Devers has been an absolute nightmare defensively since entering the majors in 2017.
Chances are, the Red Sox will shift the Dominican native to the DH role, whether he likes it or not.
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