The Red Sox don't say the quiet part out loud, but they don't play cards near the vest.
Manager Alex Cora told reporters Wednesday that Rafael Devels “probably plays a game on 3 bases” before spring training was over, but confirmed that Boston is turning the $313.5 million superstar into a full-time designated batsman.
The move comes after the Red Sox signed a three-year, $120 million contract with former Astros stubborn Alex Bregman.
Shortly after signing, Devers rebelled over the prospect of changing roles.
“3 base is my position,” Devers said through an interpreter last month. “That's what I played. I don't know what their plans are. We know we had a conversation. I made it clear what my desires were. Yeah, no matter what happens from here, I don't know.”
But last week, 28-year-old Devers changed his songs.
“We've already spoken, and I'm good to do whatever they want to do to me,” Devers told reporters, referring to discussions with Cora and Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow. “I'm here to help. I've already talked about it with them and they know where I'm standing. I'm just ready to play.”
After Devers first expressed his desire to move from 3 base, 1 baseman Triston Casas said 3 base is Devers's position and Bregman should play second.
Devers, a three-time All-star with the Red Sox winning the World Series in 2018, was the team's third major baseman since their MLB debut in 2017.
However, the 30-year-old Bregman is considered a great infielder. He had six outs last season, surpassing the average (OAA), but Devers was at minus six.
The OAA, defined in Statcast, “The cumulative effect of all individual plays is what Fielder was credited or deducted, making it a range-based metric of fielding skills that explains the number of plays made and their difficulties.”
Bregman has not yet acquired a gamer on 2 bases, According to MassLive.com.
