FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox recently faced pushback regarding their notable acquisition of Alex Bregman. Rafael Devers, the incumbent third baseman for the team, expressed his strong commitment to the position on Monday, asserting that he would not relinquish his role.
Devers, a three-time All-Star, has been stationed at third base for the Red Sox since 2017 and signed a significant contract worth $331 million over 11 years in January 2021. During a conversation through an interpreter, he stated, “Third base is my position. It’s what I play. I don’t know what their plans are. We had a conversation. I made it clear on what my desires were. Whatever happens from here, I don’t know.” When confronted about the possibility of transitioning to a designated hitter role, Devers quickly responded with an emphatic “No” without waiting for translation.
The Red Sox secured Bregman with a three-year deal amounting to $120 million, which includes a $5 million signing bonus. Bregman, known for being a two-time All-Star, has consistently hit over 20 home runs each of the past three seasons. The strategic signing was seen as a pivotal move for the Red Sox, who have been grappling with a lack of playoff appearances, missing the postseason in five of the last six years.
Regarding performance, Devers has outshined Bregman in recent years, hitting 28 home runs and achieving 83 RBIs last season despite injuries that limited him to 138 games. The previous year, he recorded 33 home runs and 100 RBIs while playing in 153 games. Given his impressive stats and the substantial investment made by the Red Sox, Devers may find some leverage in his desire to remain at third base.
Manager Alex Cora highlighted Devers’s vocal concerns throughout the previous season regarding necessary improvements to the team. Cora emphasized the need for a roster structure that optimizes the team’s potential, stating, “The decisions that are going to be made here about roster construction and about what we’re going to do in the future, we’re going to make sure we have the best team possible out there.” He acknowledged Devers’s pride in his position and confirmed that Devers would continue training as a third baseman as they navigate the upcoming decisions.
Cora also mentioned that Bregman could play at either second or third base, while Devers could either remain at third or shift to designated hitter. “There’s competition here,” Cora remarked. “I think flexibility and versatility are huge for us,” reinforcing the idea that the team’s strategy will guide their choices moving forward.
