This isn’t an Abbott and Costello routine: The Boston Crimson Sox don’t know who’s going to play third base — and it’s inflicting rigidity.
Final week’s signing of Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract with deferrals was lauded as a savvy large swing that propels the Crimson Sox into playoff rivalry.
However the addition of Bregman, the American League’s reigning Gold Glove winner at third base, has been a supply of rivalry ever since, as Boston’s incumbent on the place, Rafael Devers, isn’t curious about shifting.
“I play third,” Devers, 28, mentioned this week at spring coaching in Fort Myers, Fla.
“They asked me the question about how I feel about DH, and I gave them the answer that I just gave: No.”
Bregman performed 995 of his 1,111 video games at third base throughout his 9 seasons with the Houston Astros, however many assumed he would transfer to second base with Boston.
The 30-year-old Bregman has made solely 9 appearances, and two begins, at second base in his MLB profession however performed shortstop at LSU.
However Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora made clear this week that the infield configuration is undecided.
“We will decide when we decide,” Cora mentioned.
Regardless of the Crimson Sox resolve to do at third base will include wide-reaching ramifications.
Bregman is a superior defender to Devers, who has led the American League in errors at third base in seven consecutive seasons. Devers’ -6 OAA (Outs Above Common) final season ranked within the bottom-eight percentile, in response to Baseball Savant.
However Devers, a three-time All-Star, stays the face of the Crimson Sox and is coming into the third season of an 11-year, $331 million contract.
Bregman, in the meantime, has opt-out clauses after the 2025 and 2026 seasons, which means his keep in Boston might be as quick as one season.
Shifting Devers to designated hitter would displace Masataka Yoshida, who has three years and about $56 million remaining on his contract.
Shifting Devers to first base would displace Triston Casas, a former first-round choose who hit 24 dwelling runs two seasons in the past and simply turned 25.
“I think it’s Raffy Devers’ position,” Casas mentioned of third base. “I think he’s the third baseman, and at that point, that’s where it stands. He’s done it for a really long time now, and I think he’s only getting better at that position. I think his defense is getting better every single year. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know it holds Raffy Devers.”
Alex Bregman, pictured throughout Tuesday’s media day, is the most recent addition to the Crimson Sox. (Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos)
However placing Bregman at second base wouldn’t be the Crimson Sox’s optimum defensive association.
It could additionally block 22-year-old phenom Kristian Campbell, whom MLB Pipeline ranks as the game’s No. 7 prospect. Campbell hit .330 with 20 dwelling runs, a .997 OPS and 24 stolen bases final season throughout three minor-league ranges, together with 19 video games at Triple-A Worcester.
Bregman, for his half, has taken a team-first strategy to the Devers state of affairs.
“I’m super excited to just be his teammate,” Bregman mentioned. “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 [Cora] tells me to play.”
The Crimson Sox went 81-81 final season, their fourth in a row with out making the playoffs. The signing of Bregman marked a change in strategy for a crew that, in recent times, traded away Mookie Betts and Chris Sale and let Xavier Boegarts depart in free company.
Bregman put an exclamation level on an offseason through which the Crimson Sox additionally acquired burgeoning ace Garrett Crochet in a commerce with the Chicago White Sox and signed right-hander Walker Buehler to a one-year prove-it contract.
Some take into account the retooled Crimson Sox to be the Yankees’ biggest competitors within the American League East.
However the drama at third base is now one thing to observe.
“Things like this happen,” Cora mentioned. “Guys have their ideas. They’re proud. They say the things that they do, but then at the end, this is not about Alex or Raffy or [me]. It’s about the Boston Red Sox.”
