Article: Who’s the Red Sox Third Baseman? It's Messy

[Bellhorn04]

5 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Wouldn't shoulder issues make it a smarter idea to move him to 1B, or, better yet, DH?

Affirmative.

[wyo-sox]

50 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

All good points.  Cora will figure it out, but I have no idea how.  The fact that Devers is reportedly still having some shoulder issues could certainly play into it.

Yes for sure... my post we assuming all thing equal with their health.  But that does make it more interesting... I think they are about the same age.... Bregman's body looks like its better designed to endure... and Devers has these should issues... so ?????

Of course very little of this matters if Bregman takes off to a different team next year- then we've blown up our 3B position for very little long or mid-term value.  Another reason I'm probably inclined to keep Devers at 3B.  If Bregman is wanting to extend and be under Sox control for a few years... maybe you consider blowing the roster up a little more for him... but he's only committed to being a one year piece... so ???

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

3 minutes ago, jad said:

Yup.  Go for it.   And if the union strikes and we don't have baseball for a year, that's just the cost of doing business (i.e., lining the pockets of fat capitalists).

LOL, the union is not going to go on strike because devers violated his contract. Geez..........

[Old Red]

57 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Wouldn't shoulder issues make it a smarter idea to move him to 1B, or, better yet, DH?

Raffy hurt his right shoulder diving for a ball, but his left shoulder, which bothered all season came from swinging a bat? Either way his hard swings will come no matter where he plays.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

3 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Raffy hurt his right shoulder diving for a ball, but his left shoulder, which bothered all season came from swinging a bat? Either way his hard swings will come no matter where he plays.

Either way, 1B or DH would be less strenuous than 3rd.

[moonslav59]

A good "selling point" for convincing Devers to DH or play 1

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

A good "selling point" for convincing Devers to DH or play 1

No doubt a good selling point to you, but I doubt no selling point at all to Raffy. He’s more likely to get hurt taking those wild swings with the bat than anything else.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

6 minutes ago, Old Red said:

No doubt a good selling point to you, but I doubt no selling point at all to Raffy. He’s more likely to get hurt taking those wild swings with the bat than anything else.

Well, if he can't swing a bat without getting hurt than he's in the wrong sport.

Shuffleboard maybe?

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Well, if he can't swing a bat without getting hurt than he's in the wrong sport.

Shuffleboard maybe?

True, if he's bound to get hurt just swinging, then no much we can do about it.

The "selling point" was more about easing his psyche.

He can tell himself, he was moved due to injury and not suctitude.

 

[mvp 78]

6 hours ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

LOL, the union is not going to go on strike because devers violated his contract. Geez..........

Manfred is already threatening a lockout in 2027, so I don’t think we’re getting a strike before then. 

[jad]

6 hours ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

LOL, the union is not going to go on strike because devers violated his contract. Geez..........

You really think the union would go along with this?  You really do?  Guy doesn't want to play a certain position? we bench him without pay.  We don't like a guy's attitude? Bench him without pay.  Guy doesn't get in perfect shape? Bench him without pay. Even the cowardly-ass unions I've been paart of (and you too, I imagine), would not accept that .    Actually, I'm pretty sure the ONLY place such idiotic discussions are taking plaace are on sports boards and in some minor-reporter's head.

[Hitch]

20 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

A lot of the players have said that even during and after the 3b talk that they vibes are good. Threatening your most expensive player with the Disqualified List really tanks all those vibes. 

It's always nice to reminded that I'm more level headed than most sports journalists even though some of my posts are pretty out there. Put Cotillo, McAdam or any number of beat writers in as CBO and the Red Sox become what we are seeing in the South Side of Chicago.

You must have missed my reply first time around to this. I'll try again. Care to explain why Cotillo and McAdams deserves this ire? Considering you've posted both their tweets and stories on this forum down the years, its interesting that you now feel inclined to attack them. Cotillo twice in a week. The timing is interesting. I wonder what could have brought this on?

The fact you've chosen to bring them up in the same conversation around clickbait articles, seems to indicate you're trying to link them? Or that you think these people all do the same job? Newsflash - they don't, and they don't hold the same value.

And lets make no mistake about it, while I don't want to get in the way of your self-congratulatory moment, only a select group of people have the immense amount of varied skills needed to run a massive sports organisation. Why beat-writers are expected to be part of that group is beyond me, but they are by quite a degree of magnitude, more plugged in and with better access to information and people at the top, than fans that get their news from trawling Twitter could ever dream of. 👍

[notin]

18 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

A good "selling point" for convincing Devers to DH or play 1

You can’t sell something to someone who refuses to buy…

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

You can’t sell something to someone who refuses to buy…

Exactly! Especially when someone doesn’t want it, or even thinks he needs it, which Raffy doesn’t.

[Hitch]

If Devers' shoulder issues continue, there's every chance he has to start as a DH anyway. And if Bregman starts well at 3rd...its kinda resolved itself.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

17 minutes ago, Hitch said:

If Devers' shoulder issues continue, there's every chance he has to start as a DH anyway. And if Bregman starts well at 3rd...its kinda resolved itself.

When Arenado looked more likely to be this offseason's infielder/righty bat addition, I said the key reason for the acquisition was to signal the shift in the Sox' defensive structure -- going forward.

As in: even if Arenado was cooked, he would ignite the transition of Devers to DH. And that would make it easier for all to accept a young, unproven prospect like Mayer or Campbell inheriting the hot corner.

The same holds true if Bregman plays third this season, has a monster year and opts out. There's no going back.

[Hitch]

5 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

When Arenado looked more likely to be this offseason's infielder/righty bat addition, I said the key reason for the acquisition was to signal the shift in the Sox' defensive structure -- going forward.

As in: even if Arenado was cooked, he would ignite the transition of Devers to DH. And that would make it easier for all to accept a young, unproven prospect like Mayer or Campbell inheriting the hot corner.

The same holds true if Bregman plays third this season, has a monster year and opts out. There's no going back.

Completely agree. Once that move is made that's it.  Hopefully it's sooner rather than later.

Likely won't help if Devers is moved off 3rd because he's booting it around.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

You can’t sell something to someone who refuses to buy…

True, but do we know Devers will never change his mind? You gotta try.

[moonslav59]

There are too many reasons the Sox are better with Bregman at 3B and Devers at DH or 1B for it not to happen.

A possible pouting Devers aside, if the biggest issue involved with the move is where and when to play Yoshida, then maybe even that turns into a plus.

(BTW, I still see some ways to play Yoshida without significantly benching any one player. The one who might see the most effect is Rafaela, but he can still get a lot of PAs in 2025.)

[Hugh2]

Devers is clearly an endomorph.  Dude probably looks at a cupcake and gets fat.  He has to work twice as hard as everyone else just to look as soft as he is know.

 

take that boy off 3rd and let him hit the weight room more often.  Both shoulders and his stat line will thank you for it

[notin]

17 hours ago, jad said:

You really think the union would go along with this?  You really do?  Guy doesn't want to play a certain position? we bench him without pay.  We don't like a guy's attitude? Bench him without pay.  Guy doesn't get in perfect shape? Bench him without pay. Even the cowardly-ass unions I've been paart of (and you too, I imagine), would not accept that .    Actually, I'm pretty sure the ONLY place such idiotic discussions are taking plaace are on sports boards and in some minor-reporter's head.

There’s a big difference between “not accepting” and going on strike…

[Hugh2]

FTR I think the Sox are much better with Bregman at 2nd and Devers at 3rd. A healthy Story and a better Rafaela (if he’s can learn the position) grades out Devers defense closer to average there.  Campbell or Anthony can still break camp at a corner OF spot.

this alignment allows you to build value up in Yoshida.  Who becomes much more tradeable if he stays healthy.  The guy isn’t a bad hitter, if healthy I can see him putting up a .800 OPS+
 

I just happen to think they can be even a little better than that with Bregman at 3rd.

if that’s the decision, and when the time comes the Sox brass sit down with Devers behind closed doors to tell him he’s either going to DH full time or part time.  It will happen and he will be fine.  Dude got confused, imagine being asked by reporters in a language you don’t speak if you are going to accept your wives divorce and sign the papers before she even told you she was leaving? You’d probably be a little jacked up, and combative too.  Devers dealt with it by laughing in frustration.  There’s a difference between hearing it from the Sox and hearing it from a translator.  
 

for those of you who can see the Forrest for the trees, remember that when some Jacko goes off on Devers when he hits a slump this year or next at some point that they on that media teet.

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

True, but do we know Devers will never change his mind? You gotta try.

I think he will, but does it need to be today? Tomorrow? By opening day at the latest?

Believe it or not, the overall defense might be BETTER with Devers at 3b.  Bregman is a terrific all around fielder who’s probably equal or better defensively at 2b than any of the Romy/Hammy/Grissom triumvirate.  
 

Which set of players contributes to an overall better defense?

1b: Casas

2b; Hamilton/Grissom/Romy

3b: Bregman

Lf: Yoshida

CF: Duran

DH: Devers

 

or

 

1b: Casas

2b: Bregman

3b: Devers

Lf: Duran

Cf: Rafaela 

DH:: Yoshida

[Randy Red Sox]

On 2/19/2025 at 8:16 AM, sk7326 said:

Ultimately this is a good problem.  I kind of expect Devers to get a lot of starts at DH ultimately.  But Campbell's progress, Cora's communication ability and Bregman's bat will sort this all out.  

i agree that this depends on how Campbell fares in ST.  If he looks ready then he will likely start at 2B and Devers becomes the DH.  Otherwise Bregman goes in at 2B and we suffer with Devers { I have a glove for no apparent reason} at 3B

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

FTR I think the Sox are much better with Bregman at 2nd and Devers at 3rd. A healthy Story and a better Rafaela (if he’s can learn the position) grades out Devers defense closer to average there.  Campbell or Anthony can still break camp at a corner OF spot.

this alignment allows you to build value up in Yoshida.  Who becomes much more tradeable if he stays healthy.  The guy isn’t a bad hitter, if healthy I can see him putting up a .800 OPS+
 

I just happen to think they can be even a little better than that with Bregman at 3rd.

if that’s the decision, and when the time comes the Sox brass sit down with Devers behind closed doors to tell him he’s either going to DH full time or part time.  It will happen and he will be fine.  Dude got confused, imagine being asked by reporters in a language you don’t speak if you are going to accept your wives divorce and sign the papers before she even told you she was leaving? You’d probably be a little jacked up, and combative too.  Devers dealt with it by laughing in frustration.  There’s a difference between hearing it from the Sox and hearing it from a translator.  
 

for those of you who can see the Forrest for the trees, remember that when some Jacko goes off on Devers when he hits a slump this year or next at some point that they on that media teet.

Devers has been in MLB for 7.5 years. He could possibly improve his defense, but I'm not sure why we should expect that to happen. He has to have known this was an area of need for years.

I will say, he has had some pretty long stretches where he looks okay to even decent on defense, but he tends to have periods of lost focus or whatever it is, where he basically sucks, bigtime, most notably with bad throws to 2B and 1B.

We know Bregman is a top 3-8 defensive 3Bman and should remain there for a while longer.

I don't see the benefit of forcing Campbell into an already very good and crowded OF, just to keep a poor defender at 3B. Anthony is already set to put the squeeze on Abreu & Rafaela, but creating a platoon with those two might work out very well. Benching them or trading them, so Yoshida can DH and Devers stay at 3B makes no sense, to me.

There is not great rush, until we are ready to call up Campbell and or Anthony. We could probably go a while mixing and matching, whereby Yoshida, Rafaela, Abreu, Ref and others all get enough PAs to prove they need to keep playing or playing more often, by moving people around, but I'm not sure that is the best plan: Bregman at 2B and 3B, Devers at 3B and DH or 1B, casas at 1B or DH, Rafaela in CF and RF, Duran in LF and CF, and on and on....

I'm fine with some shifting and platooning, but not a merry-go-round at nearly every position but catcher and SS.

[notin]

10 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

i agree that this depends on how Campbell fares in ST.  If he looks ready then he will likely start at 2B and Devers becomes the DH.  Otherwise Bregman goes in at 2B and we suffer with Devers { I have a glove for no apparent reason} at 3B

Campbell isn’t an option right now; he’s not on the roster.  We don’t even know of a good spring training will get him on the roster, let alone put him in the starting lineup…

[Hugh2]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Devers has been in MLB for 7.5 years. He could possibly improve his defense, but I'm not sure why we should expect that to happen. He has to have known this was an area of need for years.

I will say, he has had some pretty long stretches where he looks okay to even decent on defense, but he tends to have periods of lost focus or whatever it is, where he basically sucks, bigtime, most notably with bad throws to 2B and 1B.

We know Bregman is a top 3-8 defensive 3Bman and should remain there for a while longer.

I don't see the benefit of forcing Campbell into an already very good and crowded OF, just to keep a poor defender at 3B. Anthony is already set to put the squeeze on Abreu & Rafaela, but creating a platoon with those two might work out very well. Benching them or trading them, so Yoshida can DH and Devers stay at 3B makes no sense, to me.

There is not great rush, until we are ready to call up Campbell and or Anthony. We could probably go a while mixing and matching, whereby Yoshida, Rafaela, Abreu, Ref and others all get enough PAs to prove they need to keep playing or playing more often, by moving people around, but I'm not sure that is the best plan: Bregman at 2B and 3B, Devers at 3B and DH or 1B, casas at 1B or DH, Rafaela in CF and RF, Duran in LF and CF, and on and on....

I'm fine with some shifting and platooning, but not a merry-go-round at nearly every position but catcher and SS.

im fine with him at 3rd with his bat, but im more than fine with him moving off.

I don’t believe Devers can improve his defense without greatly putting his offensive production at risk.  He is better suited for either 1B or DH.  
 

 

[Hugh2]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Campbell isn’t an option right now; he’s not on the roster.  We don’t even know of a good spring training will get him on the roster, let alone put him in the starting lineup…

The odds of one of him or Anthony breaking camp is very high IMO

[notin]

1 minute ago, Hugh2 said:

The odds of one of him or Anthony breaking camp is very high IMO

I think it will take an injury for either one…

[Bellhorn04]

19 minutes ago, notin said:

I think he will, but does it need to be today? Tomorrow? By opening day at the latest?

Believe it or not, the overall defense might be BETTER with Devers at 3b.  Bregman is a terrific all around fielder who’s probably equal or better defensively at 2b than any of the Romy/Hammy/Grissom triumvirate.  
 

Which set of players contributes to an overall better defense?

1b: Casas

2b; Hamilton/Grissom/Romy

3b: Bregman

Lf: Yoshida

CF: Duran

DH: Devers

 

or

 

1b: Casas

2b: Bregman

3b: Devers

Lf: Duran

Cf: Rafaela 

DH:: Yoshida

I would agree that the second option is not so bad.