As Boston Red Sox Start Spring Training, Rafael Devers Tries To Hold Onto Third Base

The Boston Red Sox made some waves this offseason by acquiring Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in a trade like their move for Chris Sale in 2016 and signing free agents Walker Buehler and Alex Bregman.

Bregman was brought in for at least one year to give Rafael Devers some help in a relatively young lineup, who played well in the first half and faded by the end of last season. Bregman was signed despite being a third baseman — a position occupied by Devers when he is not serving as a designated hitter.

As spring training approached, the topic about Bregman playing second base was mentioned by manager Alex Cora, who was his bench coach in 2017 with the Houston Astros that were later revealed to be cheating.

On Monday, Devers gave his first comments since the Red Sox signed Bregman to a heavily deferred deal that also contains an opt-out clause after this season.

When the topic about Devers moving off third was broached and the star held firm in his stance.

Third base is my position,” Devers told reporters in Fort Myers. “It’s what I’ve played. I don’t know what their plans are. I know we had a conversation. I made it clear, kind of what my desires were and whatever happens from here, I don’t know.”

After saying he would not move to designated hitter, Devers said he would not switch on a whim.

Devers made those remarks about four and a half months after he finished with 12 errors, marking the seventh straight season he led the American League in errors. His 102 putouts were his fewest in a full season since finishing with 57 in 1016 2/3 innings over 116 games in 2018.

“Like I said a few days ago, decisions are going to be made here about roster construction and what we’re going to do in the future,” Cora said. “We’re going to make sure we have the best team possible out there. (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 are going to make decisions accordingly.”

At 27, there is time for Devers to improve defensively and his .960 fielding percentage is his second-best in a full season but there are other advanced metrics showing his struggles and being an average defensive third baseman.

Bregman represents an upgrade defensively, though his 15 errors in 2023 were a career high. He has five seasons with 10 errors or fewer and has other favorable metrics.

This is not close to being a play me at third base or trade me situation for Devers, who is in the second year of a 10-year, $313.5 million deal signed in Jan. 2023 after Xander Bogaerts signed with the San Diego Padres.

That contract was agreed to under former chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, who is part of the front office with the St. Louis Cardinals trying to figure out what to do with Nolan Arenado, who has spent this offseason being connected to the New York Yankees.

It also was signed with the understanding third base belonged to Devers for a significant portion of the contract, something the All-Star also pointed out while speaking in a bemused tone similar to when Gerrit Cole intentionally walked him on Sept. 14.

“I don’t know what caused the change,” Devers said. “But I know that I’ve worked really hard on my defense throughout the years. I feel that last year I had a really good year. You know, I still have a lot more to give. But I definitely feel like last year was really good and I hope to continue doing it.”

Eventually Devers may change positions as age factors in, but the time did not appear to be now in a much forceful matter than Marcus Stroman being adamant about being a starter pitcher on a team with set a rotation for now and following an offseason where he was mentioned in rumors.

The likely scenario is Devers plays his share of third base and Bregman gets some time there while also playing second base. And if it goes well, the strong tones spoken on one of the first days of spring training will be forgotten and remembered as ancient history in the context of the 162-game season.