Article: Why the Red Sox Should Move Rafael Devers Off Third Base

[Alex Mayes]

There's been a lot of talk about moving Rafael Devers from third base this offseason. Does it make sense for the Red Sox to actually do it? In this article, Alex Mayes will argue the affirmative. Later today, Davy Andrews will argue the negative.

In what may be one of the most surprising rumors from the offseason, the Boston Red Sox have been considering moving Rafael Devers off of third base. In his entire professional career, Devers has played a grand total of six innings at a position other than third. Everyone is aware of his shortcomings on defense, but so far Devers has been a passable third baseman because of his offensive production. When healthy he’s one of the best hitters in the league regardless of position, which makes him an extremely valuable player overall. If the rumors are true and the Red Sox are looking to move Devers off of third, there are two paths for them to decide on. Let’s take a look at each option and how they'd affect any roster moves the Red Sox might make..

Option 1: Move Devers to First Base
This pathway has widespread ramifications across the roster. If Devers moves to first, Triston Casas is traded in a heartbeat, likely even before the move is announced. While first base is, on paper, easier to play than third base, a litany of issues would arise if the team moved Devers there. To start, he has never played first base, ever, in his professional career. Learning to pick balls and receive throws from different angles is going to take time. Realistically, if this is the plan Devers needs to be getting reps in at first base right now in December. Devers is a professional athlete and should be able to learn the position, but expecting him to learn it during spring training is a big ask for a player who is used to playing on the opposite side of the diamond. Devers committed 12 errors at third base this year. Realistically, that number is going to go up, at least at first, because he’s not used to playing the position, especially at the highest level.

The benefit of this options is that it allows the Red Sox to shore up third base through, whether by signing a free agent in like Alex Bregman or Willy Adames or by trading for someone like Nolan Arenado. All three players make at leas some sense for the Red Sox, but moving Adames from his natural position at shortstop to third while shifting Devers across the diamond is asking a lot from two legitimate stars. While it could work out, it could spell disaster for a while, possibly even long enough that the Red Sox dig themselves too big a while and end up eliminated from postseason contention.

Option 2: Move Devers to Designated Hitter
If moving Devers off of third has to happen, this is, in my opinion, the money move. Devers is the heir apparent to David Ortiz in many ways. Sure, you could plug Ortiz in at first and know he would make the basic plays, but the city of Boston fell in love with him because of his offense. Devers is following that same path. Getting Devers out of the field allows him to mitigate injury concerns and lets him focus on the thing he does best: hitting monster homers. Devers just put up a 134 wRC+ and hit 28 home runs with two bad shoulders. Why not let him focus on what he's best at, and do so while fully healthy? Sure, you’re now looking at a $300 million designated hitter, and that’s perfectly okay. The way money is being tossed around this offseason, Devers can be the first in a long line of designated hitters paid hundreds of millions of dollars to just hit the baseball. He's one of the best in the league at doing that, so giving him the opportunity to focus on hitting would pay dividends.

Like the first option, this would open up third base to a number of candidates. Bregman would slide right into his natural position, while Adames would be the only person on the field learning how to play a new position, albeit a less challenging one than he's used to. Arenado, like Bregman, fits naturally. However, Masataka Yoshida looms large in this scenario. He’s coming off a down and shoulder surgery. He may not be ready for spring training, and his contract makes him tough to trade without either taking on more dead money or attaching a high-level prospect. Neither option is great, but both should be on the table if it means improving the team and moving Masa to an organization where he won’t be as scrutinized. The Cardinals make a lot of sense when you consider the Chaim Bloom connection and the recent news that Arenado isn’t expected to remain with the team. While it's not a perfect fit, Bloom and company may be willing to take a chance on Yoshida in a smaller market without the contractual commitment.

Moving Devers off of third presents quite a few roster challenges, not to mention the question of whether a player signed through 2034 wants to make a change. However, there are pathways forward where that decision can make the team even stronger. Losing someone like Triston Casas would sting, but if the return was a proven playoff-caliber pitcher to help push the Red Sox over the edge in the postseason, that pill would be far easier to swallow. Moving Devers to DH makes the most sense, as long as there's a team willing to take a chance on Masataka Yoshida. Right now, most of these questions don't have answers, but hopefully by the conclusion of the Winter Meetings next week we see a drastically improved Red Sox roster, even if that means Devers is no longer manning the hot corner.

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[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

A first baseman should have good hands, nimble feet, and an accurate throwing arm -- all basic tools for a professional baseball player. But let's be honest: Raffy has had issues with all three while trying to play third base.

That doesn't mean -- with enough practice reps (for a guy set for life, but with enough pride to want to earn it) -- that Devers can't improve and become an acceptable first sacker.

Just remember, the transition isn't always smooth. Vlad Jr. definitely isn't, and Miggy was pretty bad over there. Ernie Banks was a Gold Glove shortstop, before he led the NL in range factor his first four seasons as a first baseman. Yaz was ok, but got moved back to the outfield in his late-30s, where he was better. 

Youk made himself a good first baseman -- but he didn't lead the league in Es for seven years at third like Raffy before that. Boggs played a lot of first as a rookie, then made himself a good third baseman. Bagwell was an All-Star soccer player in high school, so was athletically skilled enough to move around.

The current Red Sox sure have plenty of future DHs...

[mvp 78]

I think Raffy's biggest issue has been his arm. I think he'd be an average 1B at worst. He's not a "butcher" at 3B, the ball just gets away from him once it's headed towards 1B, especially on slower plays where he has time to think. 

At some point, not this year, I'd move Raffy to 1B. To me, that would happen once Casas is either traded or uses up his ARB years. Could he eventually be a DH? Maybe for the last year or two of his contract? I just don't think there's value of putting a 300M guy at DH especially when Yoshida is still on the roster. You aren't getting anyone to eat Yoshida's salary so it's too much CBT space for a position that doesn't take the field. 

Devers earliest 1B: 2025 if Casas is traded

Devers latest 1B: 2029 once Casas leaves via FA (so 4 more years of Devers at 3B) 

Devers earliest DH: 2032

I know it was mentioned on the TS podcast that teams may start signing 300M DH's, but I really don't see it anytime soon due to the current CBT constraints. DH has always been a position that has been underpaid by the market because they don't get on the field. Not sure that would change now simply because the NL has the DH. 

[Patrick LaCourse]

Well not to state the obvious but I doubt Devers defense should be the at the boiling point of what keeps the Red Sox from regaining a perennial spot in the ALDS. It is clear much like other teams have the road is paved by having stars in the lineup and then build around them. I like Nolan Arenado as much as anyone but at this stage seeing him as a financial albatross that no team should be willing to inherit. Maybe the Sox should continue to build, eschew the free agency for a couple seasons and let the fruit of a robust farm system play out. Here is betting Chapman is dealt at the deadline if he has anything playoff worthy left in the tank. Actually O'Neill leaving the hub is not a great move although he came at a low cost. Let your infield corners continue to develop along with what should be a decent harvest over the next 2 seasons from the farm.

[Brock Beauchamp]

3 hours ago, Patrick LaCourse said:

Well not to state the obvious but I doubt Devers defense should be the at the boiling point of what keeps the Red Sox from regaining a perennial spot in the ALDS. It is clear much like other teams have the road is paved by having stars in the lineup and then build around them. I like Nolan Arenado as much as anyone but at this stage seeing him as a financial albatross that no team should be willing to inherit. Maybe the Sox should continue to build, eschew the free agency for a couple seasons and let the fruit of a robust farm system play out. Here is betting Chapman is dealt at the deadline if he has anything playoff worthy left in the tank. Actually O'Neill leaving the hub is not a great move although he came at a low cost. Let your infield corners continue to develop along with what should be a decent harvest over the next 2 seasons from the farm.

Welcome to Talk Sox!

[Patrick LaCourse]

Well the harvest from the farm system just manifested in the form of Garrett Crochet. A solid move for both teams as the Pale Sox get 24 years of player control and the Beantown nine return is a young pitcher who came of age in 2024. Nice to see an actual trade now where both teams gain on the field as opposed to a salary dump which a name like Nolan Arenado would be at this stage. I think Breslow did well on this knowing he needed to roll up his sleeves with the Orioles and Bombers making big splashes. With the way teams are manipulating their bullpens, the next step might be to continue to chip away at building depth.