Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers was adamant Monday that he would not move to designated hitter, even if the team insisted.
The Red Sox officially signed free agent Alex Bregman, a Gold Glove third baseman and two-time All-Star, to a three-year, $120 million contract on Saturday. Devers, a three-time All-Star, could potentially become the DH, or Bregman could move to second baseman, depending how the roster shakes out.
“Third base is my position,” Devers, 28, said through translator Daveson Perez while meeting with media in Fort Myers, Fla. “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.”
Manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow haven’t decided on Bregman’s position, and both were at third base on Monday, the first official day of full-squad workouts. One other piece in the equation could be Kristian Campbell, a top prospect for the Red Sox. If Campbell earns an Opening Day roster spot at spring training, the team would like him to play second base.
Cora was told of Devers’ comments earlier Monday and noted that he and Breslow had met with him on Friday to discuss various scenarios.
“I knew he was going to say that,” Cora said on Monday. “So I wasn’t surprised.”
“Decisions are going to be made here about roster construction and what we’re going to do in the future,” Cora said. “We’re gonna make sure we have the best team possible out there. He 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’re going to make decisions accordingly. But I think here, it’s not about Bregman or Devers or Cora. It’s about the Red Sox. Whatever decision we make is for the benefit of the team.”
Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension in January 2023. The native of the Dominican Republic said on Monday that the team promised him that he would play third base.
“That was definitely was discussed when I signed, that I would be playing this position for a long time,” Devers said. “I don’t know what caused the change. I know I’ve worked really hard on my defense throughout the years. I feel that last year, I had a really good year. I still have a lot more to give. I definitely feel like last year was really good. I hope to continue doing it.
“It was definitely a surprise. I’m somebody that believes in people’s word. I take it to heart. It was very surprising they’d suggest that.”
One major change, as Cora noted, is that Breslow replaced Chaim Bloom as the lead executive in the fall of 2023.
Devers also said he will not play first base and he isn’t demanding a trade, a subject he hasn’t thought about.
He batted .272 with 28 home runs and 83 RBIs with a .354 on-base percentage and .516 slugging percentage in 138 games last season as he dealt with injuries. Devers is a career .279 hitter with 200 homers, 638 RBIs, a .345 on-base percentage and .511 slugging percentage since his big league debut in 2017.
An All-Star in 2021, 2022 and 2024, Devers won Silver Sluggers for American League third basemen in 2021 and 2023.
In 130 games last season, Devers’ 12 errors led AL third basemen. Devers has either led the AL and/or all of Major League Baseball at that position in errors every year since his first full season in 2018.
–Field Level Media
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