When the Boston Red Sox wrapped up a standout offseason by signing former Houston Astros two-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract, the logical next step was to move the team’s superstar slugger, Rafael Devers, away from third base. Devers, who is entering the second year of his 10-year, $313.5 million contract, had been reluctant to give up his position, having played all but 25 of his 955 MLB games at third. When asked in mid-February about moving to a full-time designated hitter role to accommodate the defensively superior Bregman — the 2024 American League Gold Glove winner at third base — Devers initially refused. However, by mid-March, his stance had shifted. According to The Boston Globe, Devers expressed that he is now open to making the switch to DH. After getting four at-bats in a simulated game at Boston’s JetBlue Park, the three-time All-Star clarified his position, adopting a much more agreeable tone.
“It’s not my decision. I don’t call the shots around here. I’ll go out there and do what I need to do,” he said via a translator, as quoted by veteran Globe reporter Peter Abraham. “I just want to help the team win. Whatever position I’m playing, I always take these things as a competition and a way to get better. That’s just how I see it. I’m just ready to help the team win.”
In an earlier interview, on Wednesday with independent Spanish-language sports journalist Nicole Báez, Devers also made sure that fans knew he bore no ill-will toward his competitor for the third-base spot, Bregman. “We’re teammates, we’re friends. He’s earned the affection of everyone here,” Devers told Báez. “He’s a great person, and we know the kind of player he is. He’s here to help the team. We’re all positive here on the team, and what we want is to win.”
Devers also shared with Báez that he feels “pretty good” physically and intends to make his spring training debut in Saturday’s game at JetBlue Park against the Atlanta Braves. It remains unclear whether Devers will play third base or DH in that game. Despite his earlier stance that he would only play third, Devers has not yet played a single inning at third base or any other position this spring, with just two weeks remaining before the Red Sox open their season against the Rangers in Texas.
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