Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers have been central figures in early Boston Red Sox spring training discussions, especially after Devers made it clear he was unwilling to move off third base.
Throughout the offseason, the Red Sox targeted right-handed-hitting third basemen to strengthen their lineup while consistently assuring fans that Devers would remain the starting third baseman unless the front office decided otherwise.
Devers took those assurances seriously—particularly since he wasn’t informed about a potential position change until two days after the team signed Bregman.
The eight-year Red Sox veteran believes former chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom had guaranteed him years of starts at third base. When asked about Devers’ firm stance, manager Alex Cora responded bluntly: “Chaim is in St. Louis now.” Meanwhile, current CBO Craig Breslow took a more diplomatic approach to the situation between his two veterans—one of whom dislikes being called that.
“These things tend to have a way of working themselves out,” Breslow told Sean McAdam of MassLive (subscription required). “This isn’t the first time a player has been outspoken about something they take a lot of pride in. And that’s OK. Like I said, they tend to work themselves out.”
Craig Breslow confident Red Sox third base battle will work out for the best
Breslow also expressed confidence in Alex Cora’s ability to unite the clubhouse. While he didn’t explicitly say so, the main adjustment Devers may need to accept is a position change—signaling that his future at third base could be in jeopardy.
Despite his defensive struggles, Devers has always taken pride in his play at third. Over his eight-year career, he has led MLB in errors at the position five times and topped the American League in two other seasons.
However, he may feel slighted by the request to move, especially since 2024 was his best defensive season yet. He committed 12 errors—still the most in the AL, but the fewest of his career—over 130 games.
Both Bregman and Devers are essential to Boston’s lineup, meaning they’ll find playing time regardless of where they play. Bregman remains an option at second base, a position where Cora believes he could be a Gold Glove-caliber player.
He has been splitting reps between second and third, while Devers, dealing with lingering shoulder issues, is slightly behind in his workouts.
As the position battle unfolds, there doesn’t appear to be any personal conflict between the two infielders. Cora noted that Bregman and Devers had a “45-minute” conversation at a team dinner at his house, suggesting there’s no tension between them.
Regardless of who wins the third base job, Breslow views the competition as a positive. Having two talented veterans competing for a spot is preferable to scrambling for replacements.
With both Bregman and Devers—each a World Series champion and longtime MLB veteran—focused on winning, Breslow hopes his belief that things will work themselves out proves true. After all, many spring training disputes tend to fade before Opening Day.
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