REPORT: Alex Bregman responds to Rafael Devers’ comments in attempt to downplay Red Sox drama

The Boston Red Sox haven’t had the smoothest start to spring training. While new acquisitions Walker Buehler, Garrett Crochet, and Alex Bregman have taken the field for the first time with their new team, they haven’t been the main focus.

Instead, Rafael Devers has stolen the spotlight after bluntly shutting down any speculation about switching positions to accommodate Bregman at third base. When asked about the possibility, Devers simply responded, “No.” Not exactly the best way to build team chemistry, though Bregman took the high road and downplayed the situation.

“I think everybody here believes in their abilities, and if we all put in a strong effort this season, we have a great chance of being a winning team,” Bregman said. “For me, I can only speak for myself, but I’ll play wherever helps the team win.”

Bregman is coming off a 2024 season in which he won the AL Gold Glove at third base, posting a 1.0 defensive bWAR for the second consecutive year. Devers, meanwhile, has never recorded a positive defensive bWAR in his career, despite playing 951 games at the position.

Alex Bregman responds to Rafael Devers’ comments in attempt to downplay Red Sox drama

Although Bregman is clearly the stronger defender at third base, he remains open to playing wherever manager Alex Cora decides. This attitude not only makes a great first impression but also reinforces the team-first mentality that Boston needs as they aim to contend in the AL East and potentially rank among the league’s top teams.

However, Devers’ comments have already created tension within the clubhouse, with some players beginning to take sides. Triston Casas has publicly supported Devers, which is admirable from a teammate’s perspective, but airing that support could further divide the locker room. To be fair to Devers, he wasn’t aware coming into spring training that a position change was even a possibility, so his frustration is understandable. Still, his response could end up working against him.

Ideally, Red Sox fans would love to see Devers and Bregman coexist. Last season, they ranked second and third among AL third basemen in home runs (28 for Devers, 26 for Bregman) and doubles (34 for Devers, 30 for Bregman). At the end of the day, their defensive alignment shouldn’t matter as long as it helps the team win. Hopefully, Devers can move past this as Boston sets its sights on a big season.