The Boston Red Sox made one of MLB’s biggest moves this offseason. Alex Bregman, a two-time All-Star and fresh off a Gold Glove-winning season in 2024, is heading to Fenway on a massive three-year, $120 million deal. And while that’s exciting news on its own, there’s just one teeny-tiny problem—what happens to Rafael Devers?
Devers has been the Red Sox’s guy at third base for years. He’s a fan favorite, an offensive powerhouse, and someone the team has built around. But now, with Bregman in the mix, things just got complicated.
Who’s playing third? Is someone switching positions? Will there be a platoon situation? With Opening Day just around the corner, this is shaping up to be the biggest storyline of Red Sox Spring Training.
How Will the Red Sox Handle This?
Let’s examine the possible scenarios. The simplest solution is for the Red Sox to rotate Bregman and Devers at third base, keeping them both fresh throughout the season.
Neither of these guys came to Boston to split time. The more likely scenario? One of them shifts positions. Maybe Bregman moves to second, giving the Sox an offensively dominant infield and defensively solid.
But that brings us to another issue—what happens to Vaughn Grissom and Kristian Campbell, the two young players expected to compete for second base in 2025? If Bregman moves there, it could block their development.
And let’s not forget the designated hitter spot. While Jarren Duran and Tyler O’Neill are projected to be key outfielders, the Red Sox could rotate one of their big bats into the DH role to keep everyone’s legs fresh over a grueling 162-game season.
There’s no clear-cut answer, which makes this so intriguing.
Big Papi Weighs In
When in doubt, turn to David Ortiz. The Red Sox legend sat down with NESN’s Tom Caron and gave his take on the situation. His advice? Keep both guys happy and find a way to make it work.
“We’ll see how the organization deals with it,” Ortiz said. “We have Rafael Devers over there, who has been our third baseman for a long time, and then you have another great third baseman like Bregman. You need to have both of them in the lineup. We have a long Spring Training ahead. Hopefully, the organization and the players will get on the same page, and the problem will be resolved by Opening Day. The most important thing is that everyone is happy.”
If there’s anyone who understands clubhouse chemistry, it’s Ortiz. He knows that talent alone doesn’t win championships—harmony and flexibility do. And that’s the challenge facing the Red Sox front office.
What’s Next For Boston?
With a month left until Opening Day, all eyes are on Alex Cora and the Red Sox coaching staff to see how they handle this puzzle.
Will Bregman get reps at second during Spring Training? Will Devers move across the diamond? Or could we see the Sox get creative with their lineup in ways we haven’t seen before?
Boston didn’t spend $120 million to have Bregman sit on the bench. The front office clearly believes this move makes them a better team.
Now, it’s just a matter of fitting the pieces. As the 2025 season begins, this will be one of baseball’s most fascinating storylines.
