Alex Bregman isn’t looking to steal Rafael Devers’ position.
Bregman maintained he will play wherever the Red Sox want to employ him amid drama surrounding whether he or Devers will man the hot corner in 2025.
Devers has made it clear he doesn’t want to change positions, although Bregman is the higher-rated third baseman.
“I think everybody here believes in their abilities and I think all of us here believe if we all put together a good effort this season, we have a really good chance of being a winning baseball team,” Bregman told reporters. “For me, I can only talk for myself, but I’ll play wherever helps the team win.”
Devers is the Red Sox’s best hitter and equipped with a $331 million contract, but there are questions about whether Boston’s best roster has him at third base or elsewhere.
Bregman, who signed a three-year, $120 million deal, is the reigning AL Gold Glove winner at third base, while Devers had a negative defensive runs saved mark last season.
Devers, though, believes it’s a non-issue.
He will not shift to first base nor will he become the team’s designated hitter.
The 28-year-old signed his extension with the understanding he would be at third base.
“I believe in people’s word and I take it to heart and I was very surprising that they would suggest that,” Devers said through an interpreter of a possible position changed.
The Red Sox can easily shift Bregman to second base to avoid any conflict, and Bregman, to his credit, has not added any fuel to the fire.
He said he’s “super excited” to be Devers’ teammate, and called their interactions thus far “great.”
“We’ve been having a lot of fun, taking ground balls back here and doing our work together. Talking about winning, talking about baseball, talking about excited for the season,” Bregman said. “Last night we all got together, had dinner. It’s been great.”
Good vibes, though, only go so far when pride is on the line.
Bregman side-stepped any questions about where his defensive focus will be in camp.
If the Red Sox play Bregman it second, it means touted prospect Kristian Campbell may not have a roster spot open come Opening Day.
“(Manager Alex Cora) just told me to be ready for whatever,” Bregman said. “I’m just gonna try my best to get ready for the season and hopefully help this team win.”
One Red Sox teammate has already made it clear that he believes Devers should keep his position.
“It’s Raffy Devers’ position,” first baseman Triston Casas said. “He’s the third baseman and at that point, that’s where it stands, and he’s done it for a really long time now and he’s only getting better at the position. His defense is getting better every single year, we don’t know what they future holds but we know it holds Raffy Devers.
“He’s got to play defense, it’s going to keep him athletic and he’s going to hit and because of him being at third base, he doesn’t know any other position and he doesn’t want to play any other positions, and he’s going to fight for it, even if it’s with any of the younger guys, any new guy. I think he’s the best third baseman in the league, I wouldn’t take anybody over him. I think he should play third base.”
