BOSTON (AP) — Boston Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora stated Wednesday that newly acquired free agent Alex Bregman will play third base this season, with incumbent Rafael Devers shifting to designated hitter.
“All of us are within the profitable enterprise, and he understands that,” Cora instructed WEEI-AM. “It’s like all the things, proper: You don’t need to agree with it, however on the finish of the day what are we going to go on the market and carry out each single day.”
Devers has developed into one of many prime hitters within the American League over the previous seven-plus seasons, batting .279 with 200 dwelling runs and 638 RBIs whereas incomes three All-Star picks and choosing up MVP votes 5 instances. Whereas the Crimson Sox refused to make a long-term dedication to homegrown stars Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts, they signed Devers earlier than the 2023 season to a 10-year, $313.5 million deal.
However Devers has struggled at third base, the place he has performed virtually 1,000 video games, main the league in errors on the place seven years in a row. When the staff signed Bregman — the reigning Gold Glover winner on the place — this spring, Devers stated: “Third base is my place.”
“We had conversations all through spring coaching, and he was very vocal about how he felt,” Cora instructed the radio station. “We decided: Alex goes to play third, Raffy’s going to DH.”
Cora stated Devers has been working to grasp the routine as a chosen hitter. He’ll bat second, with Bregman batting third.
“I believe having Alex behind him goes to learn him,” Cora stated. “I anticipate an excellent season from Raffy.”
The modifications imply Masataka Yoshida, who performed all however one sport as DH final season, is in search of a spot within the lineup. He nonetheless has three years and virtually $56 million left on his contract.
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