Craig Breslow Weighs In On Rafael Devers, Red Sox Third Base Situation

The Boston Red Sox are in a bit of a pickle given the situation over who will be the team’s starting third baseman this season.

Rafael Devers made it abundantly clear last week that he had zero intention of moving on from the position even after the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman, who won a Gold Glove at third last season, to a three-year, $120 million deal in free agency.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora and Bregman already addressed Devers’ pointed comments. And Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow had his chance Sunday to weigh in on the matter as well.

“These things tend to have a way of working themselves out,” Breslow told MassLive’s Sean McAdam. “This is not the first situation where a player’s been outspoken about something that they take a lot of pride in. And that’s OK. Like I said, they tend to work themselves out.”

The Red Sox have not outwardly said what infield position Bregman will play in his first season with Boston. Reports following the signing suggested the veteran would make the move to second base, where the Red Sox have an opening.

But Bregman played the vast majority of his career at third base — he has 977 starts at the hot corner compared to just two at second — and clearly is a better defensive option at that spot than Devers. Devers has committed more errors than any active third baseman in the entire league.

It seems reasonable to think the Red Sox would want to put Bregman at third and move Devers to designated hitter. And if highly touted prospect Kristian Campbell was ready, give him the starting job at second base.

“I think having really good players that are talking about positions is not a terrible place to be in,” Breslow said. “I said it when we were talking about Alex (Bregman) and introducing him, that my obligation is to put the best team on the field, on both offense and defense that I can possibly can.”

The Red Sox probably will go through most of spring training before coming to a definitive decision. That time could also possibly allow them to sell Devers on a position change.

Bregman was the one at third base Sunday as he made a terrific first impression in his Red Sox spring training debut. On the other hand, Devers is still working his way back from a shoulder ailment that hampered him throughout last season.