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I think they will. Just because a player wins a Gild Glive at one position didn’t mean they’re incapable of playing elsewhere. A couple weeks ago, the talk was Devers’ shoulders and Casas’ injury and how any recurrence could derail the season, which struck me as a legitimate concern. Now the Sox have addressed that issue and the media keeps telling us about all these petty bickerings and how it’s so much worse now. What’s the over/under date for the Devers and Casas trade demand stories?

It’s not even just the Boston sports media. It’s media in general. But ant sports media finds creating these situations to be easy and low risk. If the Patriots draft a QB in the first few rounds and he’s pretty good, these same media will start taking about a Quarterback CONTROVERSY. Huh? By definition a controversy is a “prolonged and heated disagreement.” How does having two QBs apply? It’s not a controversy; it’s depth. But they’ll tell us “the Patriots don’t know who they’re starting quarterback is!!” They probably do, but at worst they’ve narrowed it down to two candidates; quit pretending there’s a void. Or my favorite “if you have two quarterbacks, you have none.” No. You have two. One of them will be the backup, but the rest of the team has to get used to playing with him regardless. Injuries happen. Depth is good. Stop trying to incite a panic over it…

The only reasons former LSU SS Bregman was the Astros third baseman was he came up with a team that had Carlos Correa entrenched at SS and future Hall of Famer Jose Altuve at 2b…

No mess. Devers in April. Did anyone not expect this to blow up disproportionately in the media? This is from the same folks who once screamed “OMG!! The pitchers who aren’t pitching are EATING CHICKEN!!” Of course Devers’ initial reaction isnt going to be favorable. The Sox signed another 3b who has been openly stating all along that HE will change positions, and the first thing he hears upon the signing is “how do you feel about 1b?” Especially since his own manager initially backed up moving Bregman. But now that it’s reality, it’s all on Raffy to make the sacrifice and fix the infield. The subject has been broached before, when Devers’ initial contract extension paralleled Matt Olson’s. It’s not something that’s never been discussed and Devers is aware. But until players suit up and bats start striking balls, there isn’t much else for the media to talk about. Come late March, Devers will open the season at 3b, Bregman (who gets the advantage of relative sainthood in this) will be at 2b. Whether it’s injuries or Campbell forcing his way to Boston, Bregman will find his way over to 3b. And Devers will do what Cora tells him. Let the initial shock wear off. This new alignment was always possible - did anyone think Arenado was going to walk quietly across the diamond to 1b with an open mind? The man’s track to Cooperstown is carried by his glove. Devers might play a kid’s game, but he is no kid. If he doesn’t come around sooner, things will work out later. But I’m the meantime, there’s the same level of confusion (aka “controversy”) in the outfield that could be further complicated by Roman Anthony, and no one is giving it the same level of attention. The Sox are in a position where they have too many good players for a lineup. This is not a bad thing, and a much better one than the opposite scenario…

I’m not fully onboard with this being some insane blowup Cora can’t handle. I’ve seen how the media likes to take charge in driving stories before. Ive said all along, Bregman will start at second and eventually make his way over to third. This is a Cora team - positions are fluid. The reason I trade Casas for O’Hoppe is simply because good catchers are harder to find than good first basemen…

I would trade Casas for O’Hoppe in a minute, and it has nothing to do with this silly, overblown, media-fueled controversy that will bring itself to a satisfactory conclusion long before the first meaningful game is played…

If 27yo Devers was a free agent right now, what do you think his contract looks like?

I’m predicting a Gold Glove. He will field that position as if his glove was made out of solid gold…

You need to add a rimshot to your signature…

He needs to bump someone off the 40 man first…

His huge contract might look like a bargain given the $40mill AAV to Bregman, who is 4 years older…

It goes beyond that. When he first joined the Dodgers, he took infielder practice frequently. When asked about, he replied “in case they need me there.” Devers isn’t Mookie, and shouldn’t be held to that standard. Because he’s not alone. A few posters on this thread mentioned ARod moving to 3b to accommodate Jeter. Did anyone mention this happening because Jeter refused to move off shortstop? I do think Devers will eventually move and Bregman starts his career at 2b. But at some point, Devers might see where his future is…

Absolutely. It would teach him how to expedite a trade demand.

Probably all of them, because “best employees” are often workaholics who put in far too many hours…

Devers will be on bread and water until he concedes. And we’re not talking about good bread and water either. No fancy European breads with names that sound like expensive sports cars, like Focaccia or Ciabatta. He gets Pepperidge Farm raisin bread and Aquafina until he comes around. May at the latest…

If Devers insists and Cora caves in, just keep Bregman at 2b and DH Campbell. I have my doubts Campbell breaks camp in Boston if everyone is healthy. But one of the infielders will probably go down at some point and clear a path for him..

Devers can’t lose value. He is owed some $280mill on a contract that will see him turn 36 years old. And that’s guaranteed regardless if he plays third base, first base, or Tiddlywinks…

It will work out. And until it does, Bregman likely plays second except on Devers’ scheduled days off (since Cora is still managing). Bregman won a Gold Glove because he is a good fielder, not because he is an automaton programmed for third base. It’s very possible his defensive skill set translates very well to 2b, and he could still be a defensive upgrade for this team…

It sounds like the idea here odd the Closer is more important than the setup guys, but runs in the 7th and 8th innings count the same as runs in the 9th. And since 1/3 of all saves start with facing one of the 6-7-8 hitters, that means the setup guys had to face the 3-4-5 hitters to start their inning. I wouldn’t get too worked up about the closer, especially if you think the setup squad is good enough…

Raffy learned English? Maybe just that one phrase?

Also not every blown save is a loss. The Sox did lose their fair share of those games, but did they lose all 17?

Holmes lost the job outright to a pitcher with 0 closer experience, which might serve as a reminder about how important that part of the role is. (Slaten? Whitlock?) But Phillips was always just holding down the fort for Treinen. He didn’t really lose it…

Misleading. Most blown saves occur in innings before the ninth inning, as there is no Blown Hold stat. Now the 2024 team did have a horrible bullpen stretch after the All Star break that included blowing multiple run leads in the ninth inning or later. But quite a few of those 17 blown saves were in the 6-8th innings…

We do have two experienced (ok, possibly TOO experienced) closers in the bullpen. But swapping out closers mid-stream is hardly a death knell for anyone…

My theory is - holding out for a chance at a ring, otherwise he just retires. He hasn’t won anything since 2009, and back then he was just Mariano Rivera’s understudy…