Rafael Devers was adamant that he did not want to give up playing third base after the Boston Red Sox signed Alex Bregman, but that is exactly what is going to happen.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed in a Wednesday appearance on WEEI that Devers will be the team’s full-time designated hitter this season. Bregman, as many expected, will play third base.
Devers said last month that he had no intention of moving from third base. When asked if he would seek a trade if the Red Sox wanted him to DH, the slugger did not rule it out.
Cora said the unsurprising change is being made, however, even if Devers is not thrilled about it.
“We had conversations throughout spring training. He was very vocal about how he felt, and we made a decision. Alex is gonna play third. Raffy is gonna DH,” Cora said. “We all are in the winning business, and he understands that. It’s like everything. You don’t have to agree with it, but at the end of the day what are we gonna do to go out there and perform every single day?”
Cora added that Devers has been getting used to his new routine, which suggests the three-time All-Star has been aware of the switch for a while.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora on the DH position:
— WEEI Afternoons (@WEEIAfternoons) March 26, 2025
"(Devers) was very vocal about how he felt, and we made a decision. Alex is going to play third, and Raffy is going to DH. pic.twitter.com/tEuS6WQwiJ
Interestingly enough, the 28-year-old Devers is the same age that David Ortiz was when Big Papi became a full-time DH. That was in 2004, when the Red Sox broke their 86-year curse and won the World Series. Ortiz went on to win two more championships with the team and become one of the greatest hitters of all time. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.
Devers and Ortiz have spent time working together in spring training.
Would love to hear this conversation. Hall of Fame DH David Ortiz chatting with Rafael Devers on the way out to infield practice today. pic.twitter.com/pRrOWNf0zl
— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) February 28, 2025
There were initial reports that Bregman could shift to a new position, but no one aside from Devers thought that would be best for the team. Bregman won a Gold Glove at third base last season and is known for being solid defensively. Devers has finished with a negative defensive wins above replacement (dWAR) mark in every season of his career and is a liability in the field.
Bregman has avoided the topic when asked where he will play in 2025, but he probably knew all along that he would be Boston’s third baseman.
Devers, a career .279 hitter with a .511 slugging percentage, is the Red Sox’s best hitter. They should be a better team with him focusing solely on that.
