The Red Sox are facing a pivotal decision with Rafael Devers as spring training approaches. The franchise cornerstone, who’s entering year three of his $313 million deal, isn’t quite where they’d like him to be in his throwing program while recovering from a shoulder injury.
Manager Alex Cora didn’t sugarcoat the situation. “The throwing part of it, the offseason was about rehabbing the shoulder, so he’s behind in that aspect,” he told Boston’s Sports Hub.
It’s a development that’s raising eyebrows, especially after Boston’s blockbuster acquisition of Alex Bregman. The natural question is whether Devers might shift away from third base, possibly into a DH role to maximize his offensive potential.
Here’s where it gets interesting. When asked if Devers’s injuries might prompt a position change, Cora offered a different perspective. “We want Rafy to play, we know that,” he said. “So, we’ll talk about it and go from there. Probably it’s the other way around. He’s gotten hurt swinging the bat.”
The numbers tell part of the story. Devers played just 138 games in 2024, and while his batting average ticked up, his power numbers dipped. The defensive metrics weren’t doing him any favors either – 12 errors and a .960 fielding percentage at third base aren’t exactly Gold Glove numbers.
What makes this situation particularly intriguing is how the Red Sox are handling it. As The Athletic’s Steve Buckley points out, the team isn’t just being coy about Bregman’s position – they’ve stopped referring to Devers as “Boston’s third baseman.” That’s a telling shift in language.
The way things are shaping up, Devers’s shoulder might not be the driving force behind a position change. But Bregman’s arrival could be the catalyst that makes it happen. The Red Sox have invested heavily in both players, and now they’ve got to figure out how to maximize that investment.
Boston’s made some aggressive moves this offseason to get back into contention. Now they’ve got to sort out this infield puzzle – and Devers’s role in it – before Opening Day.
