Rafael Devers seemed pretty sure of himself early in Spring Training when he called the Boston Red Sox starting third base job his and his alone.
But after Devers dug his feet in, there came a bit of a surprise on Thursday in the change of tone from the franchise cornerstone.
Devers walked back his earlier comments when speaking with reporters, admitting that he would be OK with being the Opening Day designated hitter.
“I don’t make those decisions,” Devers said, and added that he’ll do “whatever they want me to do.”
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Devers added a few more thoughts to NESN.
“It’s been kind of sad,” Devers said, “that I’ve been put out there as someone who’s back in the organization or not, not about this organization, but I’ve matured a lot during this and I’m ready to move forward.”
Devers may have been backed into a corner in part by a nagging shoulder injury that has prevented him from playing yet this spring.
Meanwhile, the only position new signing Alex Bregman has played in the field this spring is third base. Bregman was the AL’s Gold Glove winner at third base in 2024 for the Astros.
Devers has led the league in errors at third base every year since 2018.
The Red Sox pay Devers for his bat, and he’s in the midst of a $313.5 million, 10-year deal.
Bregman signed in the offseason for three years and $120 million.
Devers is expected to make his spring debut Saturday, but that plan has already been delayed at least once.
When Devers takes the field, it may be mostly with a bat in his hands while leaving the glovework to Bregman. Earlier in the offseason, it didn’t seem like he was happy about that, but it appears he realized he had little say in the matter.
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