By Kaley Brown
March 29, 2025 | 8:29 AM
Rafael Devers’s role on the Red Sox has drastically changed since Alex Bregman signed with the team on Feb. 12.
Formerly Boston’s primary third baseman since entering the league in 2017, Devers has fully shifted to being a designated hitter. Manager Alex Cora said Devers will not play the field, even on off days for Bregman.
“[Devers is] the DH of the Boston Red Sox,” Cora told reporters ahead of Friday’s game against the Rangers, via MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.
Interestingly, Cora says Devers will not mix in at third base on days when Bregman doesn’t play. Romy Gonzalez and David Hamilton are the backups.
On Devers: “He’s the DH of the Boston Red Sox.”
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) March 28, 2025
The Red Sox’ skipper cited Romy Gonzalez as Bregman’s backup at the hot corner this season.
Cotillo clarified in a separate post that Devers not playing the field is a team decision, not a player decision or refusal.
Prior to this year, Devers had appeared in 951 games at third base. He had been Boston’s designated hitter in just 22 instances before Opening Day on Thursday.
Not long ago, both Cora and Devers acknowledged the player as the Red Sox’ third baseman.
During the team’s Fenway Fest on Jan. 11, Cora pointedly named Devers’s position.
“Raffy Devers is our third baseman,” Cora told NESN’s Tom Caron. “Alex was a Gold Glover at third base and we all know that. … I always envisioned Alex as a Gold Glove second baseman.”
Then, on Feb. 17, days after Bregman signed with Boston, Devers rejected the idea that he could become the Red Sox’ designated hitter.
“Third base is my position,” Devers told reporters at spring training. “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.”
Less than one month later, his stance changed. Devers said he was “good” with doing what the team asked of him.
“We spoke already, and I’m good to do whatever they want me to do,” Devers said. “I’m here to help. I’ve already spoken with them about that and they know where I stand, but I’m just ready to play.”
It’s valid to question whether Devers is truly okay with how he’s going to be utilized this season. He has long said that he signed his contract extension with Boston to be a third baseman for the entirety of the term. He even worked out at the position alongside Bregman well into spring training.
And, according to Cotillo, Devers has taken grounders before each of the Red Sox’ games in Texas.
It’s a complex situation because as Cora acknowledged two months ago, Bregman could have been the team’s second baseman with Devers remaining at third. However, Boston was impressed enough with Kristian Campbell last season in the minor leagues and in spring training that the organization opted to have him on the Opening Day roster and start him at second base, ultimately placing Bregman at third and Devers at designated hitter.
Although, because of these decisions, the team is undeniably better offensively and defensively on paper than it was last season. The additions of Bregman and Campbell and allowing Devers to focus solely on batting simply upgrades the club.
It’s a high-risk, high-reward position to be in, but the Red Sox seem willing to do whatever it takes to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2021. This is certainly one way to do it, albeit a messy way.
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