Over the weekend, the Red Sox formally introduced Alex Bregman as their latest star infield signing after signing him to a three-year deal last week. One notable wrinkle that emerged from Bregman’s introduction is where exactly his future on the infield dirt lies. While previous indications were that Bregman would play second base for the Red Sox if added to the roster, manager Alex Cora made clear that the club has not made a decision on how exactly its infield alignment will shake out when Opening Day arrives next month.
The uncertainty around Bregman’s future position stems primarily from the desire of incumbent third base star Rafael Devers to continue playing the field for the foreseeable future. Devers, still just 28, moving to DH this early into his career would be unusual for even a defensively-limited star player. Miguel Cabrera was still the Tigers’ starting third baseman during his age-30 season back in 2013. Aside from Devers’ personal desire to continue playing third, a move to DH for Devers would seemingly leave little room for Masataka Yoshida in the club’s plans, restricting him either to mostly bench duties, forcing him into the outfield on a regular basis, or pushing him off the roster entirely. From an offensive perspective, Yoshida is likely to be far more valuable to pencil into the lineup card than the relatively uninspiring second base options like Vaughn Grissom and David Hamilton that the Red Sox used last year.
With that being said, Bregman is the reigning AL Gold Glove award winner at the hot corner and has just 32 innings of experience at the keystone to this point in his career. Hardware isn’t always the best metric to evaluate a player’s defense by, but the difference between Bregman and Devers is stark when looking at advanced metrics: Bregman sat in the 91st percentile among fielders for his work at third base last year in terms of Outs Above Average, while Devers was in the 8th percentile. Bregman made clear throughout his free agency that he was ready and willing to play second base if it was asked of him, and Red Sox brass have indicated confidence in his ability to play the position. Even so, it’s impossible to deny that the best version of the Red Sox defensively would surely involve Bregman at third base, Devers at DH, and a steady glove like Hamilton (who posted a +3 OAA at the keystone last year) at second.
It can be argued, then, that the decision boils down to a question of offense versus defense. Playing Bregman at second base allows the club to keep Yoshida in the lineup to open the season more easily, though that will cost the club by forcing an less than ideal defensive alignment. Meanwhile, inserting Hamilton and his 92 wRC+ from last season as the Opening Day second baseman and shifting Yoshida to the bench would leave the club with an undeniably weaker offense but would give the club a quality defensive unit with Bregman and Hamilton flanking Trevor Story on the infield dirt. Using this logic, a Boston club that ranked 11th in the majors with a 104 wRC+ last year even before bringing in Bregman but ranked sixth from the bottom in both OAA and Fangraphs’ defense metric might be better off prioritizing run prevention over run creation.
Other factors are at play as well, however. It’s hard to say from an external perspective exactly how the relationship between Devers and the Red Sox would be impacted by the club supplanting him at third base, but all indications are that the club’s incumbent star is adamant about his desire to remain at the hot corner. It’s also fair to note that Yoshida is expected to be available to play the outfield more frequently this year after he underwent shoulder surgery back in October. Once his shoulder has recovered enough for him to play on the grass, the club could theoretically start Jarren Duran in center field and Yoshida in left before benching Yoshida late in games to shift Duran to left field and put glove-first utility man Ceddanne Rafaela in center field for a stronger defensive outfield when the club holds a lead.
Perhaps the biggest variable in this situation, however, is Kristian Campbell. MLB.com’s #7 prospect in the sport had a clear pathway to everyday playing time as soon as Opening Day before Bregman was signed, but reporting since the Bregman deal has indicated that the Red Sox still want to give Campbell the opportunity to earn a spot on the everyday roster. Campbell has primarily played second base to this point in the minors and his presence on the club’s roster, in the event that he makes the team, could spur the Red Sox to pull the trigger on moving Devers to DH.
With that said, Campbell is a versatile defender who has outfield experience as well, making it at least plausible that the club could plug him into the lineup in left field with Duran in center and Rafaela either on the bench or at Triple-A should they wish to play Bregman at second and Devers at third. That would only be a temporary solution, however, as top prospect Roman Anthony is also knocking on the door of the majors and seems likely to be debut at some point in the first half. Anthony is a well-regarded defensive outfielder and figures to take over regular reps at one of the club’s outfield spots upon his debut, which would seemingly push Campbell back to the infield unless the club was willing to bench Wilyer Abreu in right field.
With so many complicated factors at play for the Red Sox this spring, where do MLBTR readers land on the issue? Should the club prioritize its defense and move Devers to DH, opening up the hot corner for Bregman and making it easier to fit their prospects into the lineup? Or would they be better off putting Bregman at second base, avoiding the risk of discontent from Devers and allowing Yoshida to remain a fixture of the club’s lineup more easily? Have your say in the poll below:
Difficult to believe this is even a question. Devers is not good at third, Bregman is one of the two or three best in the game (if not the best). Devers makes thirty million, Bregman makes forty million.
I know the former Sox FO promised Devers he would play third, but come on. No brainer.
They should have had two polls. Where should they play Bregman, and where will they play Bregman. We all have the suspicion they would have different answers. Very little confidence that the team will make the decision based on what’s best for the team. They will instead play the game of appeasing egos. What fun!
Sometimes appeasing egos is what’s best for the team.
“Sometimes appeasing egos”…And the other 99% of the time, the player honoring his contract, putting the team that’s made him wealthy first and doing his job is “what’s best for the team.”
For any team wanting or chasing a title, “appeasing egos” should be pretty far down the list of most important things to the team.
Oh for the love of…I think he’s gonna have a meltdown like a five yr old child. “They said I could play 3rd base!!” “Fine! Get out there & when we finish 6 games behind NY, because of you, you just remember this mister!” This is why Boston can’t have anything nice. Ahahahahaha!
Remember when they put Bogaerts on third? He was terrible
Well, they sort of did ask both questions…… the headline asks “will” and the survey asks “should”.
Red Sox’ Alex Cora reacts to Rafael Devers saying he won’t DH – masslive.com search.app/w34piC565GS8QJFn7
Devers, so much for being a team player. Play 1B or improve your defense. It’s not rocket science.
Craft – Devers has more than proved over the years he’s a team player.
In fact just last year he played hurt for at least the final couple months because his team needed him. You could see him constantly grimacing in pain, as if he was looking at a picture of Cora.
All players play hurt. It’s expected. It’s a team game. I don’t see someone like Mookie complaining to the media about the hackneyed efforts to move him from RF, to 2B, and SS. Doing what’s best for the team. Trading Devers might be best for the team.
That’s part of my point you idiot. Mookie was a star player and had not played ss for year plus he’s much older now and yet . no complaints. You would not know critical thinking if it sat on your ugly head.
Crafty Lizards – Funny how you changed your handle to a political one within minutes after my response, and then immediately resorted to name calling. Yeah this won’t take long.
Mookie has over 2,600 innings of middle infield experience in the minors. Don’t insult the guy by claiming he “forgot” how to play middle infield after a few years.
Someone who gets so worked up on a social media needs therapy and meds. Go get a job consider working for the white house goons taking over the country
Steve Lizards – This isn’t social media.
And I’m still not interested in discussing politics with you, so adios.
Problem is, if he plays first, where does Casas go? Yoshida HAS to be moved to create space. There’s no other way
You drive a hard bargain, 99… I’m flummoxed. As much as we love Tati, I’d probably accept that deal.
Side – Agree with you that Devers is not good at 3B and Bregman is excellent.
But you really need to read up on this situation before jumping to the conclusion that moving Devers to fulltime DH is an easy solution. There are a LOT of other factors in play, you can’t just look at this with tunnel vision. If that change happens then you are basically forced to play Yoshida in LF nearly fulltime or dump him, neither of which is idea. And how will Devers respond to the change? Will he become unmotivated and disengaged? Third base has been literally the ONLY position he’s ever played throughout his entire professional career. And as the articles have pointed out, there’s no other examples of a 3B in his 20’s moving directly to DH … for a reason.
BTW – Devers makes $29M, not $30M.
Bregman makes $31.7M, not $40M.
And Cora and Henry were both involved in the promise to keep Devers at 3B longterm.
Cora trying to pin it all on his enemy Bloom is typical obnoxious weasel behavior by him.
Cora will fineese Devers off 3B eventually. Yoshida should draw the short straw.
No, he will make $35M plus a $5M signing bonus for 2025. The $31.7M is his Luxury Tax number, per the Sportrac site.
Think it is a $5M signing bonus, $15M in 2025, and $2M each year from 2035 through 2044. Definitely not the same as $40M up front.
Spotrac. They are a bad source, but in this case they got it right.
Bregman is being paid a $5 million signing bonus and a $20 million salary with $20 million deferred to be paid in 2035. He is being paid $25 million in 2025.
The $31.7 million is the net present value or NPV of what he will eventually be paid for each season. That NPV is what is used in the CBT calculation for AAV.
Put another way, what he is being paid is WORTH $31.7 million in 2025 dollars.
Agreed, worth $31.7M in 2025 dollars discounted at (I believe) 5%. Still a ton of money.
Let’s be realistic. Bregman is no where the player Devers is. You don’t make your elite talent pissed over this move especially with the talent you have ready to play 2b right now.
Devers is a better hitter, but Bregman is easily the better fielder. They are similarly good overall.
Devers has also played his entire career at Fenway. Time will tell what Bregman can do playing 81 games per year in Fenway himself (if you haven’t looked at his career Fenway stats, you may want to).
Not exactly sure why Devers ego is so big regarding wanting to continue to play 3rd base when every stat out there shows he isn’t close to the defensive player Bregman is.
Now add that Bregman’s offense might be on par with Devers or possibly even better, and this shouldn’t even be a question.
The selfishness of Devers is unreal to me.
Bregman is better overall. Its not even close.
5.8 WAR/162
vs
3.7 WAR/162
132 OPS+
vs
126 OPS+
I will let you guess which is which.
Devers for Mark Vientos!! Lets go Cohen
Don’t be funny. Vientos isn’t going anywhere.
I hope this is a joke.in the last two years durran has outperformed tatis head to head….I wouldn’t trade durran for tatis straight up when factoring contract for contract, let alone including devers.
It’s a question because he said he’s not moving. He eventually will.
Well I hope he plays second, that way Boston is wasting money
Didn’t the Padres manager say they wouldn’t be using a single player as DH, that he would rotate players through that position?
So that would mean no to a trade involving Devers.
Team player
“I’m super excited to just be his teammate. He’s a great player,” Bregman told reporters, per WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “I think everybody in this clubhouse is worried about winning. And whatever it takes to help the team win, that’s all I’m focused on. I’ll player wherever A.C. (Alex Cora) tells me to play.”
nesn-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/nesn.com/2025/02/how-red-sox-newcomer-alex-bregman-reacted-to-rafael-devers-remarks/amp/?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From %251%24s&aoh=17399346069512&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com search.app/xe3CcYm4xKcY5vKy7
Selfish prima donna:
Will you play DH? “I told them NO”
Devers not interested in playing DH for Red Sox: ‘I told them no’ | theScore.com search.app/Va6hxxjHsfN95DsC6
All of that after Devers came into camp fat and more out of shape.
Shortstop
Agree, move story to second base.
No way. Campbell needs to play 2b.
No, you don’t understand.
Story’s position is “IL”.
I doubt highly Devers willing to move. I said it from the beginning Boston should have signed Alonso for 1B. Bregman is good but is he willing to play 2B for Boston?
Yes, he is willing to play 2B for Boston.
Yep 2b was cleared for bregman prior to signing
Pool – Maybe I missed it, did he specifically say AFTER agreeing to the Red Sox contract that he would play 2B?
Not that it really matters what he said, because as Cora’s BFF they probably discussed it privately long before and Cora’s plan all along was for Bregman to play 3B.
But logic dictates if he’s gonna opt out after this season, which is undoubtedly his hope, then his chances of getting that 7-year mega-contract will be much better with him dominating 3B again instead of struggling to learn 2B.
Except Campbell should be better then Bregman.
A guy that has never played in the majors should be better than a guy that has averaged 5.8 WAR/162 in his career and 4.5 WAR the last 3 seasons?
Sure. Ok. If you believe that I have a beachfront property in Arizona you can have for cheap too.
I’m not concerned with what someone did the last five years. I’m concerned with what someone will do the next five years. Campbell skyrocketed up the prospect rankings for a reason. He is the best hitting prospect in baseball. He will be a superstar and Bregman has done nothing but regressed for a few years. I’ll take that cheap beachfront property on lake havasu.
The ONLY way to predict the future is to look at the past.
One is a proven MLB player who has averaged 5.8 WAR/162.
The other doesn’t have a single at bat in the majors and 60 FV prospects historically have a 20% shot at having a single season of 4.0 WAR or higher in their careers.
You just don’t know baseball. You have proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Pads – Sorry dude but that’s one of the saddest posts I’ve ever seen.
In your honor, I’ll give just this one example of why:
Jackson Merrill had never played in the majors prior to last year.
Jackson Merrill had a 4.4 WAR last year.
Brandon Nimmo averaged 4.2 WAR from 2021-2023.. He had only a 2.2 WAR last season.
Cedric Mullins averaged 4.2 WAR from 2021-2023. He had only a 2.6 WAR last season.
And there are oh so many other examples.
So YES a guy who has never played in the majors could have a better season than a guy who has had success in the past. What a bizarre take of yours (I’m struggling to be nice here).
he SHOULD play 3rd. But he will unfortunately probably play 2nd
This. This is entirely my belief as well… although, maybe Story to 2B?
Gwynn – What do you think, if you’re Bregman and you want to put up the biggest WAR possible this season so you can opt out and finally get that 7-year mega-contract you were seeking, what would you rather do:
1) Play 3B where you know you will likely end up with another GG
2) Try to learn 2B, a position you’ve never played in the majors and one that would likely take away focus from your hitting
I know if I were planning an opt-out after the season, I’d choose Door #1.
We know Cora and others lied to Devers, would they also lie to Bregman as well?
Door 1, or Door 5.5 hole and go to SS. 2B would be the final choice of the 3 if I’m in a *showcase* season.
I’ve got breggy at 2nd and story at short
When Bregman and Devers walk down a hallway, do they make eye contact and smile at each other? This kind of workplace conflict is so awkward and never ends well.
Well…where is Trevor Story going to play?
Plus…Devers can really be a butcher in the field
Story is the shortstop
Ah ha okay
Shouldn’t they have figured that one out BEFORE signing him to a $40 million per year contract? I am not going to go buy a$10 million dollar house in another city and then hopefully find a job there afterward. Get yours ducks in a row and THEN spend your money.
This is exactly why I have disliked the Bregman deal. This sort of thing should be figured out before he signed.
Paying 40MM AAV for a 2B is insane, so he will only really be that valuable if he’s a 3B and if his bat bounces back.
NPV isn’t much more than $30M/year, which is still a lot but a bit more palatable.
He’s getting paid 40MM per year with the Sox. He’s not getting paid 30MM.
30MM for a glove first 2B is also still a massive overpay.
Joe – He’s getting paid $40M from an escrow account ten years from now.
But it’s costing the Sox only $31.7M. Unfortunately some of the writers here are not pointing that out, which is disappointing and adds to some people’s confusion. Bregman’s contract has a NPV of $31.7M, period.
And I have no doubt in my mind that Bregman and his BFF Cora both agreed beforehand that he would play 3B, but they couldn’t break that news until Devers was told and agrees to it.
“Only” $31.7 million. Only a baseball fan can use that phrase.
it really isn’t much of an overpay at all when he’s only getting that for at most 3 years.
“Before signing him”…Scott Boras often puts his clients in bad positions.
Jurickson Profar is much better in S.D and where did Boras put him 2 yrs ago? Colorado that’s where. A good agent will get you paid AND put you in a comfortable place to succeed.
And Devers gets traded to…the Tigers to fill their 3B spot and bat in the middle of the order.
And the Tigers would still not have a 3B
Just shift the shortstop and 2B further to the 3B side and make Devers sit on a chair on the other side of the foul line 😉
Catcher.
Very surprised at the number of 2B votes.
@ swan Agree. But note that while the survey question asked what position Bregman ‘should’ play, the title of the article asks what position he ‘will’ play. Wondering how many people missed that difference and responded to the title question. Its a clear no-brainer that he should play 3B. But its still plausible that the Sawx do the silly thing and kowtow to Diva’s, er, Devers’ demands.
swan – The majority of people who comment on this site who are clearly anti-Devers and anti-Yoshida are not representative of Red Sox Nation. Therefore it doesn’t surprise me that so many are standing by Devers.
Red Sox Nation has been disgusted for years at how the Red Sox operate, and this 3B fiasco is just the latest.
What an ass Cora is trying to blame it all on Bloom, and what an ass Carrabis is for his LMAO comment about Devers and the Red Sox “s-show” as he calls it …. especially with him being tight with Bregman. He’s got a working relationship with the Red Sox and he’s actually enjoying this debacle? What a tool. I hope he’s never on NESN again.
Sounds like Devers is not a team first kind of guy…..
It sounds like some things may not have been translated well by Devers’ translator. When he says that he is a 3rd baseman it is because the translator literally asks him “What position do you wish to play?” He also clarifies that he’s not gonna change his position “just like that”, he never says that he will never play anything other than 3B, but he is clear that is not in his mind at the moment.
x.com/JustinMLB/status/1891568831413485962?ref_src…
I agree and said as much below before I read your comment.
He said no when asked if he would move to DH and did not wait to use the interpreter.
No issue with translation at all. No excuses.
Sounds like a rushed judgement
Pool – I really appreciate your defense of Devers, he’s a good guy that has a far better reputation than Bregman that’s for sure.
And he played in pain for at least the second half of last season but never talked about it, that’s what being a team-first player is all about.
Bregman is a leader in the clubhouse. At least according to two different articles linked to by the writers at this site. Plus these two I found on a quick Google search.
bostonglobe.com/2025/02/15/sports/alex-bregman-red…
nesn.com/2025/02/how-alex-bregman-has-already-impa…
Devers is a prima donna that doesn’t want to move off 3B even though he is hurting his team’s chance to win every game he steps on the field at that position.
twitter.com/i/status/1891544421407117341
by quoting tyler milkin you lost what little credibility you had left pads fan
Those writers have a tremendous amount of credibility. Do you know who doesn’t? You.
When you choose to try to attack my credibility when you obviously have not read the articles speaks volumes about your lack of credibility.
first of all you didn’t post an article from Milikin, you posted a tweet of his. Second of all if you bothered to listen to sports talk radio in Boston or read anything Milikin has written in the past you’d realize why I said what I said.
Bregman plays 2nd until one of Anthony or Campbell is ready for MI and Yoshida is moved one way or another to free up the DH spot for a rotation with Devers and others.
*Correction Marcelo Mayer not Anthony.
Put him 3rd where he won a gold glove . Devers to DH . Eat the Yoshida deal. End of discussion
The answer isn’t in there. he’s going to pitch obviously.
If Altuve can change positions, so can Devers.
dewey – Altuve is almost 35 and has performed really poorly at 2B, there’s little hope for him improving defensively there. He will be moved soon enough.
FPG, Devers has been arguably the worst 3B in baseball. Do you want the Red Sox to win? Then he has to move to DH.
Pads – With the exception of the massive contract, this is a very similar situation to Nomar.
If he doesn’t accept a move, they need to trade him. It’s heading in that direction, and may have been the end goal all along.
Fever, Devers with his balky knees and shoulders seems even older than Altuve.
dewey – Yeah the health of Devers is a concern, I agree with you that playing 1B would be a lot easier on his body.
Your headline asks what position “will” he play (hard to say) while the poll asks what position “should” he play (third, obviously).
Yeah. Its a significant oversight by MLBTR, and it probably affected the survey results with some people not noticing the difference and responding to the headline.
geofft – The one sentence survey question “Where should Alex Bregman play for the Red Sox” is right above the two selections.
I know some people here like to comment on articles without actually reading them, but not that many people would have such difficulty in reading comprehension as to not realize what the one sentence question says.
He SHOULD play DH. Devers is arguably the worst 3B in baseball.
Ceddanne Rafaela needs to start in CF. Duran in LF, and Abreau in RF until Anthony is ready. Then trade Abreau.
For the infield, ideally, Devers moves to 1B/DH with Casas. Yoshida gets traded, 3B Bregman, SS Story, until Mayer is ready, 2B Campbell or Hamilton/Grissom.
Devers has earned the right to play 3B, so Bregman can play 2B, and Canpbell will have to wait as a utility role player if he makes the MLB roster.
Devers has earned squat. He will do what is best for the team or sit on the restricted list if he refuses to move to DH.
He is the worst 3B in the game. Bregman is both a better overall player and a better defensive 3B. HE has earned the right to play 3B on the field.
Bregman will play whatever position Rafael Devers tells him to!
King – Actually Bregman will play the position he wants to play, which is third base. When you’re BFF with the manager, you call the shots. Cora had to almost change his pants he was so excited about Bregman joining the team.
Imagine thinking somebody as irrelevant and inconsequential as the manager can overrule THE Rafael Devers lol.
😉
RS pitchers should have fun watching Devers butcher 3b while their $30 mill, GG 3bman, playing 2b, tries not to roll his eyes on camera. Kind of the reverse of watching Torres butcher 2b while DJ was at 3b/1b.
Assuming a fully healthy team, I think he logs the most innings at 2B but also has significant time at 3B.
What makes the most sense to me is Bregman 2B, Devers 3B, Yoshida DH against RHP and Bregman 3B, Devers DH, [Campbell/Grissom] 2B against LHP..
Yoshida will play LF early and often against RHP now that he isn’t a walking wounded while they try to build trade value through April and May
Yoshida can’t throw a baseball yet. Hasn’t even started. He will probably not be able to throw with any velocity until late May. He won’t play LF at all until then if at all.
Meow – You got me purring with that suggestion, I totally support it!
He SHOULD play third, but he’s going to be playing second, because Sox brass can’t afford to piss off Devers.
Verlander – I saw the video of Devers during the press conference, he is DEAD SET on playing 3B.
Media: “What would you say if they asked you to DH?”
Without hesitation, and without the help of the translator … Devers: “No”.
Yeah, he’s going to cause problems if ownership rocks that boat too much. They’re trying to sell Boston fans on the idea that they have a contender, and sulky Devers would crack that facade more than they’d like I think, especially if Bregman has said he has no problem switching to second.
Verlander – I would take Bregman’s words with a grain of salt.
He wants to opt out after this season, obviously.
To do that would require him building his value this season.
He can accomplish that better playing 3B instead of learning a new position.
I’m not saying he can’t be good at 2B, but him having a GG caliber season there seems unlikely.
As for him saying he’d play 2B, it’s just him saying the right thing publicly..
I’m fairly certain his BFF Cora has had private discussions with Bregman and already told him he wants him at 3B. Unless there’s really strong blowback, Bregman will be playing 3B.
His “meager hitting skills” got him into the top 10 in the AL in quite a few offensive stats (OPS+, walks, OBP, SLG, extra base hits). I think your perception of him as a hitter is colored by your dislike of his attitude maybe. The dude can hit. What he can’t do is play defense, which is why he should accept his lot in life as a DH.
But ownership wants to sell Boston fans on the (IMO) tall tale of a contending team, and Devers throwing a fit is going to chip away that that story more than leaving him at third will. That’s what I mean by ownership not being able to afford pissing him off.
2018 to today. Which is Bregman? Which is Devers?
135 OPS+ / 33.6 WAR
vs
127 OPS+ / 21.6 WAR
First is Bregman, second is Devers, but that says nothing about whether or not Devers has “meager hitting skills”, it just says Bregman is better over that span. And that’s not relevant since they’re both going to be playing at the same time and Bregman is not going to throw a hissy about moving to second.
Devers doesn’t have meager hitting skills. Bregman is just better at ever aspect of the game of baseball. If the goal is winning baseball games, he should be at 3B. Devers only has one skill and that is hitting. He should do that and only that.
That Devers is the one throwing a hissy fit about doing what would help the team win more games is ALL you need to know about him. Not his hitting. Not even his MLB worst defense at 3B. Attitude like that is a cancer on any team.
100% agree with all that. They should lock up Devers’ glove and swallow the key. My only disagreement is that ownership will move him off of third, because they’re trying to create the perception of a winner with the fans, and a sulky player who’s a big part of the offense is going to come back on ownership – the fans will immediately think they’re trying to drive Devers out of town like they’ve done time and again with players like Betts. Ownership needs fans to buy into the illusion of a contender to keep butts in the seats.
What I think might happen is Devers gets off to a slow start, they move him to DH to let him “focus on getting his bat right” or something, Bregman goes to third and stays there. I wouldn’t expect that before maybe May though.
What will come back on ownership even more is a team that misses the playoffs because Devers’ defense loses them several wins during the season playing 3B when they have a gold glove 3B in house playing another positions because Devers is a selfish richard noggin.
Devers and Stroman are the poster boys for self centered, self absorbed players who put their wants ahead of their team’s needs.
Is this a push poll or what? MLBTR starts off by asking what position WILL Bregman play, then baits-and-switches to what position SHOULD he play. They did much the same with their push poll on a salary cap by linking it to a lost season in their question.
These guys are the worst pollsters this side of Ann Selzer.
Bregman is playing second
Devers will DH mostly and plays a little 3rd. Breg plays mostly third, a little second and a little SS because Story is always getting hurt.
Major League baseball contracts do NOT specify a position at which the player will play.
It’s a personal services contact where you do what they tell you to do or risk being held in violation of contract.
I have no idea whatsoever but I voted anyway.
Just trying to keep up the standards of these polls.
So did you vote for the White Sox or the Rockies?
Both. Twice.
This is just my opinion, but there’s 2 things at play here.
The obvious one is that you don’t want to have Campbell come to camp knowing he cannot win the second base job no matter what he does. That’s #1.
#2, and I could be wrong here, but it’s the language barrier with Rafael Devers. The question was probably presented in a way that Devers is explaining where HE would choose to play if the decision was on HIM.
“Well obviously third base, I’m a third baseman, etc.”
I don’t think he’s the type of guy who would demand anything like that. I believe him to be a humble, team first Player and great teammate.
I guess there is a 3rd thing and that’s the final roster make up. There’s the variables of Casas and Yoshida and maybe even Trevor Story if he can be shipped out? They’re probably looking at everything at this point.
Gary – Check out the video.
Devers couldn’t have been more blunt, he answered immediately, and he didn’t even bother to use the translator to translate the question or his answer.
Mayer is the SS of the future. Campbell is your 2b.
Campbell played 2B (and a little OF) in college.
He did play SS in high school but then so did everybody else on the field. I wouldn’t be shocked if Casas played SS in high school (though given his size and awkwardness, maybe he was pushed to 3B).
Have you seen him play SS?
Have you seen him play SS? I know you’ve seen his stat line, but have you actually seen him play?
He should play 3B. It shouldn’t be a question. Campbell might be ready at 2B. Devers can mostly DH. With inevitable injuries and days off, Yoshida still probably gets 300 AB.
Another question is this. Do the Boston Red Sox dare trade Rafael Devers?
If they want the same treatment the Mavs got for trading Luka.
Gary – I think it’s possible it will come to that, in fact I said as much several days ago.
To ask him to go straight to DH after spending his entire 11-year professional career at 3B, and to do it while he’s still in his 20’s and after just one year of the extension?
There’s a right way to do things and a wrong way ….. the way the Red Sox are handling this is 100% the wrong way, as usual.
There is no doubt whatsoever that Bregman should play 3rd. Ask the pitching staff who they prefer over there. Devers can play 1B.
They need to bundle up Casas, Abreu and Yoshida(and yes paying most of his salary) and bring in another SP. Not sure who you could convince to do that, but that would be the most logical of all moves.
Who the “F” cares. He left the Tigers hanging with a bag of cash and it was disingenuous for him to string them along for as far as he did knowing full well he never wanted to play for Detroit. What a POS of a human being…I used to defend his antics now he’s just a dirty rotten cheating scoundrel and Boston can have him!
Motown – Bregman has been a jerk forever.
sports.yahoo.com/astros-infielder-deletes-twitter-…
And let’s not forget it was Bregman and Altuve who behaved the worst after the cheating scandal was confirmed. No remorse, no humbleness, it was all arrogance as usual.
I really hope it’s one and done for him in Boston.
He was a 23 year old in his 2nd year in baseball. I want to see your social media from when you were 23.
Bregman is known as a leader in the clubhouse. See my other posts for links.
Pads – When I was 23 there was no internet, my social media consisted of occasional publications in Baseball Digest.
I never wrote anything offensive. You know why? Because I’m not a jerk like Bregman, and also because it’s not possible to delete printed copies of a magazine that have been mailed to households and have been put for sale in stores.
Yeah I understand Bregman is intense and has a presence in the clubhouse. I also understand he was a key player in the cheating scandal and is one of the most disliked players in MLB. He is BFF with Cora and Carrabis, as they say it’s all about the company you keep.
But unlike those here who have a full-on hatred of Devers and Yoshida, I will fully support Bregman and hope he has a tremendous season that allows him to get that mega-contract that he’s seeking.
No thanks from a Sox fan.
He will start out at 2nd. Then Campbell will be called up maybe due to a Story injury. Then Bregman could be moved to Short for a while. Then eventually Bregman will be moved to 3rd.
Has Bregman expressed a preference?
No. He signed under the condition that he’s willing to play second base no problem at all.
Django – It’s not cool for a player, especially a new player, to publicly state he wants to take the job of anyone …. especially when the player he’s taking it from has been with the organization for 11 years and has been the face of the franchise.
Of course Bregman wants to play 3B, but he will let Cora appear to make that decision without any public input from Bregman.
Bregman prefers they, them, and trashcan as pronouns. Trashcan prefers 3rd and is willing to play even court jester for 40 mil a year
Devers has been trained at third and knows third best. Moving him to second now would be worse than having Bregman play second. Why is this a question.
You’re right clearly Devers should just be the Closer. He’s not the right fit at 2nd.
You completely misread and misinterpreted the situation. no one anywhere has even come close to suggesting that Devers play 2B. The question is where should BREGMAN play. All of the discussion/speculation on this has Devers going to 1B or DH if Bregman goes to 3B.
He *should* play 3rd, but he will play another position after Devers was such a team player… Not!
Man, the press is really excited for this “will Devers DH?” controversy. The Globe has to articles by Abraham and Shaugnessey taking opposing perspectives on Devers attitude and behavior, including a transcription of Shank and other reporters badgering Devers into making statements that come off badly.
The Athletic has also published several. And it’s a hot topic here too.
I hear Cora and Devers have a good relationship. How about we trust Cora to handle the situation? Wherever Devers plays, it’s going to be a fun year. Get excited for Boston baseball!
I think Cora will handle it. Trolls like Shaughnessy and Fever Pitch Guy are having a field day with this.
Devers should be DH. I think he will get some time at third base. That’s fine as long as he is DH in the postseason, assuming they make it there.
bcjd – Trust Cora? Apparently you’re not familiar with him.
Sure, Devers has a good relationship with everyone. He’s a good guy, a bit on the quiet and shy side. His personality is very different than Cora’s.
Bregman on the other hand is very similar to Cora, they are BFF’s going back to their time together in Houston. And Cora was the driving force behind the signing of Bregman ….. so it’s quite obvious who Cora favors in the Devers/Bregman 3B situation.
Both Red Sox players are better than Tatis on their own.
Devers has never come close to Tatis’ best season. He is arguably the worst defensive 3B in the game. Tatis has a Platinum Glove in RF. Only playing on a broken leg kept him from winning it again.
Duran has one good season out of 4 and that was at age 27. He has a 2.5 WAR average. Tatis has a 4.3 WAR average and that includes 2020 when they only played 60 games.
Duran might be great. We will see.
Tatis is going into his age 26 season. He is 2 years younger than Duran.
Nobody with even an iota of knowledge of baseball would say either was better than Tatis.
Tatis a PED user whose performance has cratered since getting caught. Anyone with an Iota of baseball knowledge would ever trust a PED users actual abilities. Duran is a top 10 in baseball talent. Tatis will never come close to the year Duran just had.
Tatis used a product that is legal in DR and IS used to treat exactly what he said it was being used for. He is stupid for not doing more research, but at that time he could not talk to team doctors about it because MLB was in the middle of a lockout.
He had surgery to his shoulder that 82% of the time results in diminished play for 2 or more seasons and he played more than half of last season with a broken leg. You would have been curled up in bed crying and he was playing baseball.
Tatis has averaged 4.3 WAR per season and 6.8 WAR/162
Duran has averaged 2.5 WAR per season and 4.6 WAR/162
Come back when those numbers are reversed.
Until then, Tatis is the better player and its not close.
You have shown clearly that you are a troll and know absolutely nothing about baseball.
Injury prone and better than Duran. Two statements that accurately describe Tatis.
I love PED users fake excuses on why they cheated. His OPS is down nearly .200 points a season since getting caught. He was using before he got caught.Duran is a top 5 player in baseball and it’s not even close.
What part of shoulder surgery do you not understand?
Duran has a single good season at age 27. An outlier like that is more of a sign of cheating.
But hey, you keep on with your ignorant ways.
Devers will play 3B until he costs them 5 games minimum and everybody is looking around and wondering why we have a gold glove 3B playing out of position at 2B
Its not complicated at all.
Bregman is a better overall player than Devers
Bregman plays really good defense at 3B.
Devers is more valuable to the team as a DH than a 3B.
Devers defense is so bad that playing 3B at all lowers his impact on winning games.
Devers should DH
The problem is not Campbell and where he might play. Its Yoshida.
Yoshida has several things going against him.
– He is injured and probably won’t make the opening day roster.
– He cannot play defense. Not just is he bad at it when he did play in the OF, but he cannot even throw yet. He may never be able to throw well ever again.
– He can’t run. Over 2 seasons his baserunning value is in the 19th percentile and his fielding run value is in 2nd percentile. How slow is he?
– Yoshida has no power. 25 HR in 1001 PA. A DH only type player with no power is not very valuable in terms of helping a team win games.
– He is not very good against LHP. He had a 108 OPS+ vs RHP but only a 73 OPS+ vs LHP. A 35% difference. Players with those numbers are platoon players.
– Last, but not least. He is owed $55.8 million over the next 3 seasons.
The Red Sox have no place to play Yoshida and it will be next to impossible to trade him.
Which do you think is Bregman and which do you think is Devers.
132 OPS+
vs
126 OPS+
Take out 2017 and which is which?
135 OPS+ and 33.6 WAR
vs
127 OPS+ and 21.6 WAR
Devers is a definite no from a Padres fan.
Trolling again I see.
Mute you. Win-win?
This shouldn’t be a question… he should play 3rd. Devers should embrace being a DH.
braves – Some players can’t handle being a fulltime DH, it’s not for everyone.
David Hamilton at 2B and SS was worth more per PA in 2024 than Bregman.
Great work, Red Sox FO, and it only cost you 30m a year in NPV for the upgrade, and that’s if you don’t decide to make Yoshida even less valuable than he already is. And that’s assuming it does turn out to be an upgrade..
Devers is going nowhere. There is a very real chance Bregman has a big yr and opts out. If healthy Story starts and plays 150 GMS at SS. Devers starts at 3b vs RHP’s and DH’s 0r rests vs LHP. Bregman starts 155 gms. mostly at 2b but fills in for both Story and Devers at 3b & SS when they either DH or rest. If healthy Yoshida starts at DH vs. RHP’s and sits vs LHP’s. Duran starts almost every gm at LF/CF. Most of the rest of the OF AB’s go to Cedanne/Abreu/Ref depending on the SP. Casas if able starts 150 gms at 1b . Some combo of Ham/Romy / Grissom (one begins the yr at AAA) fill out the April roster. Cambell/Anthony / Mayer all need at least 60 days at AAA to prove they are ready. It is possible if Yoshida isn’t healthy Cambell makes the OD roster. With Ham/Romy/Grissom having options all of these six players can be both depth and starters when injuries occur.
Wouldn’t it be weird if Bregman doesn’t come out immediately and says I will play anywhere I’m asked ….except dh
Drama boys Cora & Kennedy are slowly destroying clubhouse chemistry, it might get ugly in Boston real fast. I think Cora & Kennedy view Breslow as the person in charge of Pitching who happens to have the title of President of Baseball Operations and that they run the rest of the show, but I’m not sure how Breslow views it, maybe he agrees, but I think there might be a power struggle brewing in the front office.
dajuba – You have an excellent perspective on the situation and it’s one I mostly share.
Breslow definitely doesn’t have as much power as he should, in part because he’s got only one year of POBO experience and didn’t have any when he took this job.
And Cora has way too much power. He undermined Bloom and was the driving force behind Bloom’s firing. Henry loves Cora, and both have expressed a desire for Cora to be in the front office someday.
When Breslow took this job he was forced to keep Cora, one of the reasons why so many candidates for the POBO job turned down the opportunity. And Breslow was heavily pressured to give Cora an extension, despite the team’s poor performance in 2019 and 2022-2023. Who has the manager been during each of the second half collapses from 2021-2024? Alex Cora.
I really think there’s a good chance Breslow will leave when his contract is up, after gaining the experience and building his resume with the Red Sox. But until then, he will continue to be a Junior POBO.
I think this is the opening day line up. Bregman will make his debut at 2B in game two. And when Yoshida returns from the IL Romy Gonzalez will be optioned.
C Connor Wong, 1B Triston Casas, 2B David Hamilton, 3B Rafael Devers, SS Trevor Story, LF Jarren Duran, CF Ceddanne Rafaela, RF Wilyer Abreu, DH Alex Bregman. Bench: C Carlos Narvaez, IF Vaughn Grissom, OF Rob Refsnyder, UT Romy González.
Come August 1st…I think there is room for everyone in ‘25, Refsnyder is on his last year, so he is traded or DFA’d and David Hamilton & Romy Gonzalez have options.
C Connor Wong, 1B Triston Casas, 2B Alex Bregman, 3B Rafael Devers, SS Trevor Story, LF Jarren Duran, CF Ceddanne Rafaela, RF Wilyer Abreu, DH Masataka Yoshida, Bench: C Carlos Narvaez, IF Vaughn Grissom, OF Roman Anthony, UT Kristen Campbell.
It will clearly be 3rd base. Devers will be traded to Blue Jay’s for Vlad. Bergman 3rd Story Ss campbell 2nd and vlad/Casas spilt 1b and dh
The reality this will work itself out my guess is Devers starts at third if healthy to begin the season and Bregman spells him a couple times a week. They will probably slow play this but by the end of the season Devers will be playing third a couple of times a week and Bregman will get the lions share this is assuming no injuries. Bregman will probably be the opening day starter at 2nd while Devers plays third.
This shouldn’t affect Campbell much he is an offense first guy who if he hits they will find at bats for him. The more likely scenario is Campbell starts in AAA Worcester he struggled a bit to end the season he could probably use some seasoning in AAA. This should allow Vaughn Grissom, if he has a big spring to make the team and probably get some playing time at DH and 2nd base when Bregman plays third. Trevor Story,as long as he is healthy, is the shortstop he’s by far the best defensive shortstop Boston has and it’s not close.
I think everything will work out there isn’t even a guarantee that Devers is going to be ready at the start of the season due to his shoulders. These things always seem to work themselves out. Pitchers might have a say in this as well.
Saga we disagree on this one imo Campbell is not a big league shortstop I don’t think he has the arm to land there full time this is based on what I saw last year. He may not make a lot of errors but he’s also slow to first giving up hits due to footwork and arm. He can work on the footwork but the arm is always going to be weak for the left side.
Imo until I see Story slide defensively he’s by far the best option he was really good the last two years defensively granted in small sample sizes. He’s getting older so it’s possible he regresses athletically but right he’s by far the best choice until proven he can’t play the position anymore. I’m not sold Campbell is ever going to be a true big league shortstop.
I hope your right Saga I want you to be right because it would be awesome if he could slide into shortstop but I have my doubts.
Yes I have been wrong in the past and I will be wrong in the future. Guess what so have you it’s hard to predict a young player and especially prospects. I remember you were championing Chavis as the guy who should get third over Devers. I correctly said the guy can’t hit a high fastball and he’s barely hanging on in the minors. It’s how it works when trying to prognosticate young players. You’ve been wrong I’ve been wrong and guess what as long as you try and predict you will be wrong again and I will be wrong as well.
As for Mayer only time will tell. I’d be lying if I said I don’t have my concerns offensively he has a severe chase rate against breaking pitches ironically it’s just about as high as Rafaela’s overall chase rate. He simply can’t chase spin out of the zone at a 50% rate so he is going to have to find a way to lay off those pitches. On the plus side he buttons fastballs you can’t get even elite velocity fastballs by this guy. His power potential is real he could be a shortstop who hits 30 homers at his peak or if he can’t lay off those breaking pitches and continues to swing over the top then your prediction may be closer to the truth. I’m willing to bet on the kid he does everything smooth but there are concerns.
The Red Sox farm is still loaded and will be for quite some time my prediction the pitching will really start to show this season in the minors that will be the theme especially as Anthony and Campbell graduate early in the season. I expect that the earliest we see Mayer is September of this year but I expect a big season from Mayer in the much friendlier hitting environment of the International league.
3B is occupied for the next several years. So it’s gotta be 2B. If he’s capable of doing so.
SS. Not even listed in poll, but an option
“It can be argued, then, that the decision boils down“ is such an awkward, poorly-written sentence, but what else is new with Nick Deeds? “Then” either needs to be before “be” or not in the sentence at all, perhaps replaced by “therefore” at the beginning of the sentence.