After signing All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract over the weekend, the Boston Red Sox have not specified exactly where he’ll play for them this season.
That’s because they have their own three-time All-Star at the hot corner in Rafael Devers. And Devers made it clear Monday he’s not willing to change positions to accommodate Bregman’s gold glove.
‘Third base is my position,’ Devers told reporters through an interpreter. ‘It’s what I play. I don’t know what their plans are. I know we had a conversation. I made it clear on what my desires were. Whatever happens from here, I don’t know.’
Devers was named an American League All-Star for the third time last year, hitting .272 with 28 home runs and 83 RBI, and receiving down-ballot MVP votes for the fifth time in his eight big-league seasons.
However, many advanced defensive metrics rate him as one of the worst-fielding third basemen in the majors.
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Among the 17 players who spent at least 750 innings at the hot corner in 2024, Devers ranked 16th in Statcast’s Fielding Run Value. Bregman, who won his first Gold Glove award last season at third, was sixth overall and second in the AL.
In terms of Defensive Runs Saved, Devers was minus-9 last year, per FanGraphs. Bregman was plus-six.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Friday that the team is still weighing all options. ‘Whatever decision we make is going to be for the benefit of the team,’ he said.
With Devers beginning the third year of a $313.5 million contract extension himself, the most likely arrangement to start the season would be to have him remain at third base, with Bregman taking over at second.
However, the Red Sox do have perhaps the top prospect in the minor leagues in Kristian Campbell, who’s widely viewed as their second baseman of the future.
While it may be a fortunate problem to have too many good players, the Red Sox still have some time before opening day to figure things out.