Nobody saw this coming, but here we are—Alex Bregman is a Red Sox. But let’s be real, the transition wasn’t smooth. The biggest hurdle? Rafael Devers wasn’t budging from third base. The Red Sox had been hunting for a right-handed bat all offseason, and Bregman was the perfect fit. He had bigger deals on the table—six years, $171.5M from the Tigers and four years, $120M from the Cubs. But he chose Boston’s three-year, $120M contract with a higher annual salary, opt-outs, and deferrals. Sounds like a win, right? Not so fast. Devers made one thing crystal clear—he’s not moving. And just like that, the Red Sox had a brand-new headache. And now, what does A-Breg have to say?

All offseason, the Red Sox were hunting for a right-handed bat like a pack of wolves, and Alex Bregman seemed like the perfect catch. But it took a while to seal the deal. Eventually, Boston locked him in with a three-year, $120M contract—complete with an opt-out after 2025 and deferrals.

But here’s the twist—Bregman had bigger offers on the table. The Tigers dangled six years, $171.5M, while the Cubs put up four years, $120 M. Yet, he chose Boston. Why? Higher annual pay. Makes sense… or does it?

Getting associated with a team like Boston is always a privilege; however, things took a drastic turn as Bregman experienced a welcome that he never expected. The Red Sox’s current third baseman, Rafael Devers, confirmed that he won’t move to third base for Bregman, giving rise to speculations surrounding him getting sidelined and even seeking a trade.

Now, amid all the drama and debate, Alex Bregman finally opened up during an interview with NESN’s Tom Caron, saying, “It’s been great. Obviously, I’ve always admired him. I feel like he’s one of the best players in all of baseball. I’ve always admired playing against him. And now, I’m super thrilled to be on his team and compete together for one goal, and that’s to win baseball games and bring postseason baseball back to Boston.”

Bregman finally cleared the air, revealing that both of them are on good terms, as they play for the same team. Bregman admires him, heaping praise on how Devers has been an exceptional talent who contributed a lot to the Red Sox. He feels much better with the team, and now playing alongside him makes it even better as they focus on the common goal of bringing the postseason back to Boston. For Bregman, winning remains the topmost priority, and it doesn’t really matter at which position he plays. All that matters is how they are winning the game for the team.

However, manager Alex Cora seems to be planning to change Devers’ position in the lineup. So, what will the lineup look like?

Red Sox’s Alex Cora reveals his plans regarding the 3B

The Boston Red Sox’s manager, Alex Cora, plans to let Alex Bregman play the usual position, third base, and shift Rafael Devers to second base. Although Devers’ desire to stay at third base was taken into consideration, Alex Bregman can give the best at third base, as believed by Cora. That’s the reason Rafael Devers will begin the season as the designated hitter, while paving the way for Bregman to take over the third base. Does it make sense at all?

Definitely! Alex Bregman had a good 2024 season, where he posted a .260/.315/.453 slash line across the 145 games, making 635 plate appearances while hitting 26 home runs, 75 RBIs, and 30 doubles. The two-time All-Star was okay with shifting to second base. But given that Bregman fits his usual position and can be the most productive in that position, Cora has made it official.

Anyhow, this also creates an opportunity for the Red Sox’s top prospect, Kristian Campbell, to play second base. Following the productive spring training sessions, Boston signals a promising start in 2025, and all they expect is some strong commitment and dedication from every player, which can lay a solid foundation for winning and tackling challenges when moving forward.