The Boston Red Sox signed Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract this offseason, but the move has sparked controversy. Rafael Devers initially made it clear he had no intention of becoming the designated hitter, stating, “third base is (his) position,” per ESPN, he reiterated his stance to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, saying, “I feel like I said everything I needed to say that day. I still feel the same way.”
Bregman, meanwhile, has remained positive despite the situation. He expressed enthusiasm about joining the team and emphasized his willingness to play wherever needed. “I’m super excited to just be (Devers’) teammate,” Bregman told reporters via ESPN. “He’s a great player. 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 play wherever (Alex Cora) tells me to play.” However, Bregman has not played a position other than third base since 2019, making the infield alignment an ongoing question as Opening Day approaches.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, one evaluator believes Devers will eventually shift positions. “He’s like a lot of us—he likes to be liked,” the evaluator said. “He’s going to hang around with Bregman and his other teammates and see how good the team could be, and he’ll say yes (to changing positions).” If Devers transitions to DH, it could be a big adjustment, but Olney noted he may seek advice from Red Sox legend David Ortiz, who successfully made the switch earlier in his career.