Sunday was an exciting time for Boston Red Sox fans as the franchise officially welcomed recently signed third baseman Alex Bregman to the fold. The two-time MLB All-Star infielder already has the fanbase thinking about the future, especially for what his arrival means to fellow 3B Rafael Devers.
Although both third basemen know how to produce in the batter's box, it's clear that Bregman is much more defensively responsible than Devers. That difference alone has fans wondering if the Red Sox veteran has lost his starting job to the newcomer despite making 130 of his 138 appearances last season at the hot corner.
On Monday, Devers finally spoke to the media about Bregman's signing, giving a glimpse at what the future could hold.
Red Sox News: Rafael Devers Unwilling to DH
Following Monday morning's practice, Devers spoke to the media about what Bregman's presence means for the former's future at third. At first, the conversation seemed to begin on a positive note.
"I think we have a hell of a team and I’m grateful ownership for the moves they made," Devers said, according to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey. "Third base is my position. I don’t know what their plans are... Whatever happens, we’ll see."
There was somewhat of an ominous undertone to Devers' words, especially with his 'whatever happens' sounding wishy-washy. While the former World Series Champion had an opportunity to showcase his ability to be a team player, he opted to create even more controversy when asked about his openness to be the designated hitter if Bregman handles 3B duties.
"Devers says he will not DH if they ask him to," McCaffrey wrote in a follow-up post.
Devers says he will not DH if they ask him to
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) February 17, 2025
There's just no way around it: Devers' comments are completely hypocritical. It's a bad look for him to praise the Red Sox's offseason moves one second only to say that he refuses to play DH even if it makes the team better.
Devers, 28, has been with the Red Sox since he was signed as a 16-year-old prospect in 2013. He finally made his MLB debut in 2017 and has since gone on to become a three-time All-Star, racking up 200 home runs, 638 RBIs, and 358 walks while slashing .279/.345/.511 across over 3,800 at-bats. His accolades also include two Silver Slugger awards and a 2018 World Series ring.
As great as Devers' bat can be, his defense has often driven Red Sox fans crazy. He's played to a minus-62 defensive runs saved above average in his career, which includes a minus-9 rating in 2024 alone. Additionally, his defensive WAR has also declined in the last two seasons.
Assuming that he truly isn't willing to play DH, the Red Sox must start working on ways to move on from Devers. He signed an 11-year, $331 million extension back in January 2023, and getting that contract off the books is crucial if he has no desire to be a full team player.
Hopefully, Devers is just speaking out of shock and quickly realizes his mistake. His bat is more than talented enough to make a positive impact in Boston, especially now that the Red Sox are looking like a proper playoff challenger again.
Speaking of which, the Red Sox will continue their spring training tied for the eighth-best World Series odds (+2500) on FanDuel Sportsbook. If Devers is wise, he'll put his frustrations aside and help his teammates capitalize on those odds.
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