Rafael

Devers

There has been rampant speculation this off-season that the Red Sox are looking to add a third baseman and move Devers to first base; however, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said those conversations never happened with Devers. Now Breslow is stating firmly that Devers will indeed be the starting third baseman in 2025. Perhaps he will move at some point in his career but that doesn’t figure to be happening next year.

There’s been rampant speculation throughout the offseason that Devers would shift across the diamond in the event that the Red Sox include first baseman Tristan Casas in a potential trade package or swing a trade for Cardinals defensive wizard Nolan Arenado. The 28-year-old franchise cornerstone has graded out as a subpar defender at the hot corner in three of the last four years, but has consistently told reporters that he has no interest in moving to another position. For the moment, it sounds like the Red Sox are holding off on considering moving Devers off third base, likely to first base or DH, until they make a significant move.

There are a lot of moving pieces here, so none of this should be treated as anything close to certain, but Devers’ defense at third base has become enough of a question in recent years that the idea of moving him to first base makes some sense. What that would mean for Triston Casas’ role on the Red Sox is another domino that would have to fall. While it’s still early in the offseason, the Red Sox are reportedly talking about the move with Devers and they have expressed interest in Arenado, Alex Bregman, and Willy Adames as potential third base options if Devers does move. Arenado would seem to be the lowest priority of the three since he’s the oldest, is coming off a poor season, and would require giving up assets in a trade, but this is an intriguing storyline to monitor this offseason.

Devers, who has been having issues with both shoulders, was placed on the injured list Saturday, ending his season.

Devers is being shutdown for the year with left shoulder inflammation. He missed time in August with shoulder soreness, which appeared to be an issue again in September. Expect Nick Sogar and Romy Gonzalez to see the most time at third base over the last eight games of the season for Boston.

Devers has been limited by his right shoulder for weeks, and it looks like he’s finally calling it with the Red Sox essentially done. Boston could finish out the season with Nick Sogard and Romy Gonzalez at third and give Vaughn Grissom a brief look at second.

Devers is hitless in his last three games. He’s 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts in that time. It’s a frustrating stretch at this point of the season for fantasy managers. Devers missed multiple games in August with a shoulder injury, though he didn’t go on the injured list. It’s possible his shoulder is contributing to his problems at the plate right now.

Devers was hit by a pitch in the first inning, then was intentionally walked in the fourth before he stole second and scored on a double by Masataka Yoshida. He then drove in two runs in the fifth on a base hit. The 27-year-old star third baseman is slashing .278/.360/.531 with 28 homers, 86 runs scored, and 83 RBI across 581 plate appearances.

Devers is 1-for-13 with four strikeouts in his last three games since he received a few days off to rest his sore shoulder. It was a rough series for Devers in Detroit. He got one hit and it was just a single. His bat looked slow all weekend. Maybe he’ll turn it around next week, but his shoulder is certainly an issue to monitor. Devers is hitting .284 with a .919 OPS and 80 RBI on the year.

After missing each of the Red Sox’ last three games with a sore shoulder, Devers is back in there as the club’s designated hitter on Friday night. He’ll bat cleanup and take his hacks against Tigers’ right-hander Casey Mize.