Rafael Devers knew that change was in the air. He just didn’t realize the potential severity of the change. After the Red Sox signed All-Star free agent third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract, there was rampant speculation about what the move would mean for Boston’s own All-Star third baseman.
Among the rumors that circulated was that the team would install Bregman at third, moving Devers to the designated hitter (DH) Role. Reaction from Devers was swift and to the point. On Monday, he clarified that he was not interested in changing positions to accommodate the Gold Glove-winning Bregman.
The Case for Switching Devers
For all of his mastery with the bat, Devers is no wizard with the leather. He has led the American League (AL) in errors at third every season since 2018. Last season, he posted a negative -6 Outs Above Average. And in the category of Defensive Runs Saved, Devers was minus-nine last year, per FanGraphs.
By contrast, Bregman won his first Gold Glove last season. He led all AL third basemen in putouts (103) and assists (242), double plays (23), and fielding percentage (972). And he ranked sixth overall and second in the AL in Defensive Runs Saved with a plus-six in 2024.
