Alex Cora sends message to Rafael Devers after Bregman addition

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Alex Cora sends strong message to Rafael Devers after Alex Bregman addition

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andrew McCarty | Last updated Feb 19, 2025 4:02 PM ET

Just last week the Boston Red Sox won the Alex Bregman sweepstakes, which appears to have made for an awkward few weeks before the 2025 season commences.

In 2023 Rafael Devers signed an 11-year extension with the Red Sox, which he believes came with the assumption that he'd be playing third base. After the addition of Gold Glove-winner Bregman, though, Devers is doubling down on his position.

"No. Third base is my position. It's what I play. I don't know what their plans are. We had a conversation. I made it clear on what my desires were. Whatever happens from here, I don't know," he said plainly, per MLB.com.

"I'm someone that believes in people's word," Devers added. "I take it to heart. And, yeah, it was very surprising that they would suggest that. I've known that this is a business. I know that each side is going to do what is best for them, what is most comfortable for them. I don't think that was the right way to do business."

Red Sox manager Alex Cora initially suggested that Devers will get every chance to earn the third baseman role.

"The decisions that are going to be made here about roster construction and about what we're going to do in the future, we're going to make sure we have the best team possible out there," Cora said, per MLB.com. "[Devers] has a lot of pride. We know that. He feels like he's a third baseman. He's going to work out as a third baseman, and then we'll make decisions accordingly."

However, when asked about Devers being "promised" the role by former executive Chaim Bloom, Cora didn't hold back.

“Different people here, right?” he said bluntly. “There’s a different leader here. Chaim is in St. Louis now.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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