Rafael Devers rejects speak of switching to DH for Crimson Sox

“I’m somebody that I imagine in folks’s phrase, and I take it to coronary heart and yeah, it was very stunning that they might counsel that.”

Rafael Devers pushed again in opposition to speak of switching to DH this season for the Crimson Sox. (Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Workers)

By Conor Ryan

February 17, 2025 | 6:42 PM

4 minutes to learn

Alex Bregman stored his choices open this weekend when requested about his desire of the place he needs to play within the Crimson Sox infield this season.

“I simply need to play wherever it helps the workforce win,” Bregman advised reporters Sunday. “I’ll go away that call to AC [Alex Cora], and I’ll simply do no matter he tells me to do and try to be there each single day, work laborious and be able to win.”

Regardless of Alex Cora signaling earlier this winter that Bregman might make a simple swap to second base, probably the most logical spot for Bregman is at third, contemplating that the 30-year-old veteran has performed a majority of his 1,111 profession video games on the sizzling nook (and simply 9 video games at second).

Though that swap to 3rd would drive Rafael Devers to both transfer to DH or first base, Bregman would assist solidify Boston’s shoddy infield protection — particularly after profitable a Gold Glove on the place with Houston in 2024.

Pushing Devers to DH may very well be a win-win for all events — permitting Devers to focus solely on hitting, shoring up a defensive deficiency within the course of, whereas additionally limiting a number of the put on and tear that hindered the 28-year-old All-Star in current seasons.

However talking to reporters on Monday in Fort Myers, Devers was adamant about staying at third, even after Bregman’s arrival.

“Third base is my place,” Devers advised reporters. “It’s what I’ve performed. I don’t know what their plans are. I do know we had a dialog. I made it clear, type of what my needs have been and no matter occurs from right here, I don’t know.”

When requested what he would say if the workforce insisted that he play DH to accommodate Bregman, Devers responded,” No.”

He was then requested to make clear by way of Crimson Sox staffer and translator Daveson Perez.

“Like I’ve been saying, it’s my place and I’m not simply going to alter on a whim,” Devers stated, as transcribed by The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey.

Devers acknowledged that he had a dialog with Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow shortly earlier than the Bregman signing was made official about switching positions.

“They requested me the query about how I really feel about DH and, yeah, I gave them the reply I simply gave: No,” Devers stated, later including that it was a “shock” to be requested to DH if the state of affairs performed out. “I’m somebody that I imagine in folks’s phrase, and I take it to coronary heart and yeah, it was very stunning that they might counsel that.”

Cora was requested if there was any potential promise or assure granted to Devers about being fastened at third base after signing a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension with the workforce in January 2023.

“Completely different folks right here. There’s a completely different chief right here. Chaim is in St. Louis now,” Cora stated in reference to Chaim Bloom — who served because the Crimson Sox’ chief baseball officer from October 2019 to September 2023.

Regardless of the change in management from Bloom to Breslow, Devers acknowledged that he didn’t anticipate to alter positions with 9 years left on his present contract.

“I don’t know what brought on the change,” Devers stated. “However I do know that I’ve labored actually laborious on my protection all through the years. I really feel that final 12 months I had a extremely good 12 months. You understand, I nonetheless have much more to present. However I positively really feel like final 12 months was actually good and I hope to proceed doing it.”

Regardless of Devers’ feedback, his protection has continued to be a difficulty on the sizzling nook — as he has led the AL in errors at third each single season since 2018.

Though his 12 errors final 12 months have been his fewest since debuting in 2017, Devers nonetheless posted a negative-6 Outs Above Common final season. Bregman completed with a plus-6 Outs Above Common final season with Houston.

Regardless of Devers’ candid feedback, Cora careworn that any lineup choices are removed from being set in stone — particularly with Boston nonetheless desirous to see if high prospect Kristian Campbell can earn a spot at second base out of camp.

“It’s too early proper now to say Raffy goes to be a DH or going to play third base, or that Alex goes to be a second baseman or going to play third base,” Cora stated. “There may be competitors right here, and I feel flexibility and flexibility is big for us.

“Now we have some gifted guys. We’re going to take one of the best roster going to Texas [for Opening Day].”

Cora added that he’ll proceed to speak with Devers as they try to chart out the place he most closely fits in Boston’s revamped protection in 2025.

“I’m going to speak to Raffy, we’re going to maintain working and we’re going to creating choices on what we have to win the division,” Cora stated. “Me and Raffy have an incredible relationship. That’s one thing the place I make certain, ‘Like, hey man, that is the baseball facet of it. We’re nonetheless Raffy and Alex.’

“I’ve been with this child since November 2017. It’s a part of the enterprise. We’ll preserve working. Selections shall be made primarily based on roster building. That’s the fact of it and we’ll preserve speaking.”