The Boston Red Sox signed Alex Bregman to make the team unbreakable, but his addition has only exposed the cracks in Boston’s foundation. After the deal was announced, one big question remained: Where does this leave Rafael Devers? Boston’s manager, Alex Cora, stated the spring training would decide the final lineup, but many are calling out the diplomatic approach. But an MLB insider isn’t buying it—he’s calling out the Red Sox management for how they’ve handled the 3B mess.
The Boston Red Sox signed Alex Bregman on February 15, 2025, with a three-year, $120 million contract, with opt-outs and deferred money. Before that, in 2023, they signed a 10-year, $313.5 million deal with Rafael Devers under former Chief Baseball Officer Heim Bloom. This was with the expectation that he would hold his 3B spot for long. Now, just two years later, there’s a possibility of Devers having to shift his role, maybe to DH.
Devers was quick to push back against these possibilities. At a press conference on February 17, the Red Sox slugger made it clear, “Third base is my position.” As a result, this made things even more intense. In response to the dilemma, Manager Alex Cora stated, “Decisions are gonna be made here about roster construction. I think here it’s not about Bregman or Devers or me; it’s about the Red Sox.” Furthermore, he added, “Whatever decision we make is for the benefit of the team.” However, while Cora is pushing for flexibility, not everyone is happy with how the Sox are handling the situation.
On Fair Territory with Ken Rosenthal, the veteran, Ken Rosenthal, said, “The Red Sox argument that this was Heim Bloom, who made this decision, not the current leadership group—I don’t buy it.” Adding on, Rosenthal candidly said, “It was not Heim Bloom who said to Rafael Devers, ‘Listen, you’re gonna play third base for a long time.’ They all kind of indicated that to him.”
Rosenthal suggests that Devers had every reason to believe 3B was his spot—for a long time. And now it sure looks like Red Sox management blindsided him. “They didn’t really give him a heads-up,” Rosenthal added to the discussion with Alanna Rizzo. “It seems like he found out after Bregman signed… this was the way it was going to be.”
But there’s more to just the 3B position being replaced. It’s about the Red Sox on a bigger level. Craig Breslow has taken over the front office after Chaim Bloom’s exit. As a result, the Red Sox are reevaluating all their past roster moves. Cora noted that there was a shift and said, “Different people here, right?” Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman’s situation isn’t just about the 3B it’s about where the Red Sox is headed. Now, going for the best possible lineup on the field might just cost them their franchise star. With spring training coming up, they need to make decisions fast.
Devers’ has been known for his offensive power, but defensively? He’s not the best. Devers has committed 124 errors since 2018. In that period, this is the highest number of errors among all MLB third basemen. In 2023, he had 19 errors in 153 games with a .949 fielding percentage. 2024 was slightly better; he came down to 12 errors in 138 games, with his fielding percentage being .960. Devers had minus nine defensive runs, and Bregman was at plus six in recent stats. On Outs Above Average, Devers was in the 10th percentile, and A-Breg performed in the 91st percentile for third basemen.
Bregman is an elite baseball player. With his 2024 Gold Glove win, he has a reputation for being one of the most reliable defenders at third base. The list of his accomplishments doesn’t end there—he was the 2018 All-Star Game MVP, a 2019 Silver Slugger, and a two-time World Series champion with the Astros. Additionally, he’s also good at offense, boasting a .272 batting average, 1,132 hits, 191 home runs, and 663 RBIs.
MLB Analyst Rosenthal is also well aware of the difference in numbers between Devers and Bregman. Keeping that in mind, he adds, “You gotta put the best team on the field, and for that reason, I would expect at least Bregman to play some third base this year.” Furthermore, pointing out the difficult lineup situation, he said, “I don’t know how they would work it out exactly. In fact, I don’t know that it’s even viable or smart to play a guy there part-time and split positions between third and second for Bregman again.”
And while Devers has made his stance clear, Bregman said, “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 AC tells me to play.” Can the Red Sox balance these two stars in the lineup without letting the situation get more out of hand? How much will the 3B spot affect the clubhouse’s vibes?
David Ortiz has a message for Alex Cora as Rafael Devers’s 3B dilemma grows
The 3B drama between the Red Sox, Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman, continues. Now we have another big name chiming into the drama. Red Sox legend David Ortiz believes that Devers plays an essential role on the team. Ortiz said, “You are not talking about just another ball player, you are talking about Rafael Devers, the current David Ortiz-type player the Red Sox have.”
Ortiz acknowledges Bregman’s defensive skills but still thinks Devers is extra special. “Listen to me, that’s the team’s best player. Bregman might have better defensive numbers, I’ll give you that. But you are not talking about a ‘Mickey Mouse’ type of player, you are talking about Rafael Devers.“
Ortiz isn’t just another voice adding to the chaos. He’s big in Boston. As a three-time World Series champion and Hall of Famer, he has truly seen it all, from the clubhouse dynamics to front-office shake-ups. He knows how roster changes can affect and test teams; this isn’t just about supporting Devers but also about Ortiz’s leadership.
But Alex Cora isn’t one to just take a statement like that. In a recent interview, reporters asked Cora if he would talk to Ortiz to smooth things over between Devers and Bregman. “I don’t need help for that. I’m the manager of the team,” Cora said in a direct response.
Cora doesn’t need outside voices chiming in. But will the 3B chaos sort out before the season begins? Coming up with a solution that satisfies all three entities—Rafael Devers, Alex Bregman, and The Red Sox—will indeed be difficult. Balancing talent, loyalty, and team dynamics in a time of change is not easy. Fans can only hope this doesn’t impact Boston’s upcoming season.
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