Did the Red Sox underestimate Rafael Devers? It seems so. The Red Sox have Devers at the third since 2017 and putting up some good numbers. However, since they had entered into contention for Alex Bregman, rumors were rife about who would take the 3B. While Devers has been playing at 3B for years at the Red Sox, Bregman is arguably a better hitter at the third. The words from the Red Sox skipper, Alex Cora during the spring fueled further confusion about who will take the charge. Now that Devers is sent to DH, what went behind the scenes for the team? 

“Raffy Devers is our third basemen. I always envisioned Bregman as a gold glover as a second baseman. We’ll see where Alex ends up, and where he ends up playing,” Cora initially said. 

However, it would be wrong to conclude that all went well between Devers and the team. “It’s my decision … My position is third base,” Devers added. “Whatever it is they want to do is what they want to do. But my position is third base.” Devers was unwilling to move to a different position. So, what made the Red Sox go for Bregman, or if they landed Bregman, keeping Devers in the dark?

“I think the plan if Bregman came, was always Bregman 3B, Devers DH, Campbell 2B. And they pushed the convo with Devers to the point of the latest moment possible knowing they had the leverage/power. They may have underestimated how pissed he’d be. Ultimately, the case is closed,” MLB insider Chris Cotillo said. The Red Sox might have proceeded with Bregman, misjudging Devers. The plan was to communicate with the Devers at the very last moment, considering the Red Sox had the leverage of a 10-year contract with him. 

So, what made the team still go with Alex Bregman at 3B, leaving Devers fuming?

With 951 games since his debut, Devers has accumulated a significant amount of experience at third base. With 28 home runs and 83 RBIs in the previous season, Devers recorded a .272 BA. Alex Bregman, on the other hand, put up a strong offensive showing with 26 home runs and a slash line of .260/.315/.453. Moreover, Devers has been leading the MLB roster in terms of errors (114) since 2017. Bregman has 72 errors during the same period. Hence, Bregman at 3B and Devers hitting as a DH is the best combination the Red Sox can have.

The Red Sox have hopes for better this year

The Red Sox couldn’t have asked for a better start! A 5-2 win over the Rangers, two monster homers from Wilyer Abreu, and a bullpen that completely locked things down. Abreu’s three-run bomb in the ninth sealed the deal, but Boston’s relievers also made a statement—four scoreless innings, just two hits allowed, and zero walks.

But not everything was sunshine and home runs. Devers’ first game as a DH? Yikes. Three strikeouts before finally grounding out in his last at-bat. And Bregman didn’t exactly light it up either. Is this just early-season rust, or a sign of trouble?

Yes, Bregman also had a below-par start with the Red Sox. Bregman was struck out and limited to a meager 0-for-4 at the plate. However, it’s a 162-game season, and it’s too early to conclude on Bregman. Historically, he tends to start slow and gain momentum with time. For reference, Bregman has never gotten off to a fast start. His March and April career batting average of .248 is by far the lowest of his monthly figures. It gets better by August with a .331. The same goes for Devers, who also needs time at DH. With Abreu hitting well, Bregman and Devers gaining steam, and Triston Casas at 1B, the Red Sox have all the reasons to go big this year.

All’s well that ends well. With so much going on between Devers, Bregman, and Cora, the team now seems to be settled with Bregman at 3B and Devers as a DH. The following months will tell how this new combination is yielding results. 

Do you think Bregman is the right choice at 3B? Share your thoughts with us below.