thelesterlee
Recently, the Boston Red Sox signed 2-time All-Star third baseman, Alex Bregman to a 3-year, $120 million deal with opt-out options after every season. Boston may have to exercise those options early as they already have a third baseman who they gave an 11-year, $330 million contract to in 2023 and who has no plans on playing any other position outside of third base.
Rafael Devers made it very clear he wants to be the third baseman. Wow.
Asked about the idea of moving to DH… he said no. pic.twitter.com/JmfEIlD10O
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) February 17, 2025
“I told them no. I’m a third baseman,” Devers said when asked about moving to DH. “… I think we have a hell of a team and I’m grateful ownership for the moves they made. Third base is my position. I don’t know what their plans are. I made it clear my desires and whatever happens we’ll see.”
“He has a lot of pride. We know that,” manager Alex Cora added later (via MassLive.com). “He feels like he’s the third baseman. He’s going to work out as the third baseman. And we’re going to make decisions accordingly. Here, it’s not about Bregman or Devers or Cora. It’s for the Boston Red Sox. Whatever decision we make is going to be for the benefit of the team.” (Source)
Shortly after signing Alex Bregman—a man who won the Gold Glove at third base last season—Rafael Devers wanted to start off by making it known that he would be playing third base and Bregman can take his Gold Glove to second base or whatever.
Alex Bregman isn’t the same player he was in 2019 when he finished 2nd in MVP voting and led the league in WAR.
Last season, Bregman hit 26 homers, the third-best home run-hitting season of his career—only two fewer homers than Rafael Devers.
And again, Bregman was the best defensive third baseman in the AL while Devers led the league in errors for the SIXTH time in his career.
Let’s compare a couple more defensive stats between Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman, for funsies.
2022-24 Defensive Runs Saved:
- Alex Bregman: +7
- Rafael Devers: -24
2022-24 Outs Above Average:
- Alex Bregman: +11
- Rafael Devers -17
Yup, Devers should for sure play the field. Makes total sense.
It’s not even like Devers wants to avoid moving to DH because he feels like not being a position player will affect his future earnings. He’s already one of the highest-paid athletes in the world and the highest-paid Red Sox player ever.
He can afford anything he wants and he’s locked in for the next decade.
Devers refusing to play DH also makes Boston’s future a little complicated as Kristian Campbell is one of their top prospects waiting in the wings to play second base, a position that now belongs to Alex Bregman, according to Devers.
I am excited for this Red Sox season as their two best players both believe they’re the starting third baseman and Devers, specifically, cannot even fathom a reality where he watches someone else in a Red Sox jersey standing on the hot corner while he sits in the dugout, waiting for his 3-4 at-bats a night.
This reminds me of the good ol’ Red Sox days when John Lackey and they were getting drunk in the clubhouse and doing their own thing.
Throw in Aroldis Chapman’s weird ass in this locker room and I’m ready for Boston to have the funniest 2025 season ever.
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