Aweek ago, Rafael Devers was widely panned for saying he’d refuse to move off third base to accommodate Alex Bregman. So, how does he feel now?
The Boston Red Sox superstar largely doubled down while speaking with reporters on Tuesday.
“I feel like I said everything I needed to say that day,” Devers said through translator Daveson Perez, via MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “I still feel the same way.”
Devers insisted he harbors no ill will toward the Red Sox for putting him in this position.
“I’m not frustrated,” Devers was quoted as saying. “I don’t have the need to be frustrated about anything with anybody. … My family is good. My kids are good. I have no reason to be frustrated about anything. I don’t listen to what’s said. I don’t pay attention to what is said. I just know what I’m capable of. I’m happy being this way.”
Devers’ initial remarks took on a life of their own. David Ortiz and Triston Casas both took his side, with the latter making comments that generated even more controversy. Devers, though, doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about.
“I really don’t know why this is becoming such a big story,” he told reporters. “We’re a team and we communicate with each other. I think the most important thing is for us to have a good chemistry together. Like I’ve always said since Day 1, the most important thing for me is that we win. That’s where I stand.”
Devers also said there wasn’t any tension between him and manager Alex Cora.
“We’re a team. Alex is my manager,” Devers said, per Cotillo. “He’s someone I respect a lot. He’s not an enemy of mine. I have the discipline necessary that if I’m not feeling right, I can talk to Alex and communicate that. This is a team and we have one goal.”
Time will tell whether the Red Sox force Devers to change positions. Obviously, this storyline will be worth monitoring throughout spring training.
Progress report: Boston Red Sox
Sizing up the Boston Red Sox ahead of the 2025 season
BOSTON RED SOX
- 2024 finish: 81-81 (3rd in AL East)
- Manager: Alex Cora (7th season, 521-451)
- Leading the front office: Craig Breslow, chief baseball officer (2nd season)
DOLLARS AND SENSE
- Largest luxury tax hit: 3B Alex Bregman ($31.7 million)
- Top returning player(s): OF Jarren Duran (6.7 fWAR), 3B Rafael Devers (4.1), OF Wilyer Abreu (3.1)
- Top returning starting pitcher(s): RHP Tanner Houck (3.9 fWAR), RHP Brayan Bello (2.0), RHP Kutter Crawford (1.9)
- Top returning reliever(s): RHP Justin Slaten (1.5 fWAR), RHP Greg Weissert (0.5), RHP Luis Guerrero (0.3)
ROSTER WATCH
- Key additions: 3B Alex Bregman (free agent), LHP Garrett Crochet (trade), RHP Walker Buehler (free agent), LHP Aroldis Chapman (free agent), RHP Liam Hendriks (free agent), RHP Yhoiker Fajardo (trade), LHP Patrick Sandoval (free agent), LHP Justin Wilson (free agent), C Seby Zavala (minors), RHP Austin Adams (minors), LHP Sean Newcomb (minors), RHP Robert Stock (minors), 3B Abraham Toro (minors), RHP Adam Ottavino (minors), OF Trayce Thompson (minors), LHP Matt Moore (minors).
- Key losses: RHP Kenley Jansen (free agent), C Danny Jansen (free agent), RHP Nick Pivetta (free agent), RHP Luis Garcia (free agent), LHP James Paxton (free agent), RHP Lucas Sims (free agent), RHP Chris Martin (free agent), OF Tyler O’Neill (free agent), 2B Enmanuel Valdez (trade), LHP Cam Booser (trade).
- Baseball America top-100 prospect(s): OF Roman Anthony (2), 2B Kristian Campbell (4), SS Marcelo Mayer (15), SS Franklin Arias (76).
KEEP AN EYE ON
- The Red Sox landed a big bat late in the offseason, signing Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal to join the infield. But with 3B Rafael Devers apparently balking at moving to DH, Bregman is lined up to play second base. The new-look infield also looks to get Trevor Story healthy and at shortstop on the regular as he’s played just 94 games in three years since moving to Boston. Top prospects Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer (East Lake HS) also could force their way into the infield picture this year.
- While RHP Nick Pivetta left as a free agent, Boston invested in an upside ace to build around in trading prospects for LHP Garrett Crochet. The 25-year-old had a 3.58 Era in 146 innings in his first full year off Tommy John surgery and should have the guardrails off as he moves to Boston. The question now is if the Red Sox can work out an extension before he reaches free agency after the 2026 season.
- In addition to signing RHP Walker Buehler to fill out the rotation, the Red Sox added both RHP Liam Hendriks and LHP Aroldis Chapman to absorb the loss of RHP Kenley Jansen to free agency. Hendriks hasn’t pitched since 2023 due to Tommy John surgery and Chapman has been more of a set-up man of late, but the two pitchers have 451 saves and 10 All-Star selections between them, giving the Red Sox plenty of experience to lean on in the back of the bullpen
PECOTA projection: 79.5 wins
(As of Feb. 25)
- 79.5 wins | Boston Red Sox
- 79.5 wins | Cleveland Guardians
- 79.0 wins | Detroit Tigers
- 78.0 wins | San Francisco Giants
- 77.8 wins | St. Louis Cardinals
- 75.3 wins | Pittsburgh Pirates
- 75.0 wins | Cincinnati Reds
- 74.3 wins | Los Angeles Angels
- 70.8 wins | Sacramento Athletics
- 66.9 wins | Washington Nationals
- 62.1 wins | Miami Marlins
- 62.1 wins | Chicago White Sox
- 54.4 wins | Colorado Rockies
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