Are the Boston Red Sox in the midst of the spring training of discontent? The team has hit an early snag as All-Star Rafael Devers pushes back against potential position changes following Alex Bregman’s arrival.
Devers emphatically rejected the possibility of moving from third base, noting that when he signed his 11-year, $331 million extension two years ago, the team committed to keeping him at the position. However, when confronted with these comments, Red Sox manager Alex Cora pointedly responded that the team now has new management.
The defensive metrics favor a change. While Devers remains an offensive powerhouse, his fielding statistics pale in comparison to Bregman, who earned a Gold Glove at third base with the Houston Astros last season. Baseball analysts have long suggested that Devers’ long-term future likely lies as a designated hitter.
MLB exec believes Rafael Devers will let Alex Bregman become full-time third baseman
Despite the current standoff, one MLB executive believes the situation will resolve itself naturally. Speaking to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the executive suggested Devers’ personality will ultimately lead to a solution.
“He’s like a lot of us — he likes to be liked,” the executive told ESPN. “He’s going to hang around with Bregman and his other teammates and he’s going to see how good the team could be, and he’ll say yes.”
The timeline for such a transition remains uncertain. While the Red Sox would prefer a quick resolution to optimize their defensive alignment, they’ll need to handle the situation delicately. For now, the team will manage this challenge while integrating Bregman’s much-needed right-handed bat into their lineup.