FORT MYERS, Fla. — The highly anticipated signing of Alex Bregman by the Red Sox has sparked significant pushback, particularly from Rafael Devers, who has firmly stated that he will not relinquish his position at third base.
Devers, a three-time All-Star, has manned the hot corner for Boston since 2017 and was awarded a substantial contract just two years ago. “Third base is my position,” Devers conveyed through an interpreter. “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 asked about possibly transitioning to the designated hitter role, Devers promptly replied, “No,” without waiting for his interpreter to finish relaying the question.
The Red Sox signed Bregman on Saturday to a significant three-year, $120 million contract, which comes with a $5 million signing bonus. As a two-time All-Star, Bregman has consistently demonstrated his power at the plate, hitting over 20 home runs for three consecutive seasons. The team sees Bregman’s addition as a crucial step toward reversing a recent trend that has seen Boston miss the playoffs five times in the last six years.
Devers, on the other hand, inked an 11-year, $331 million contract in January 2021 and has shown impressive production lately. Last season, despite facing various injuries that limited him to 138 games, Devers still tallied 28 home runs and 83 RBIs. In the previous year, he hit 33 home runs and drove in 100 runs during 153 games, showcasing his importance to the team and further asserting his case to remain at third base.
The considerable financial commitment from the Red Sox to Devers could give him leverage in this ongoing position struggle. Manager Alex Cora acknowledged that Devers was quite vocal last year regarding the team’s need for improvements.
“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,” noted Cora. “(Devers) has a lot of pride. We know that. He feels like he’s a third baseman. He’s going to work out as a third baseman and then we’ll make decisions accordingly.”
Cora mentioned that there is flexibility in the current roster configuration, hinting that Bregman could play either second or third base, while Devers maintains his preference for third or could shift to DH. “There’s competition here,” said Cora. “I think flexibility and versatility are huge for us.”
In light of these developments, the Red Sox are navigating a complex situation as they aim to build a competitive lineup while respecting the established roles and ambitions of their star players.
