I know this is a Dodgers blog, but please allow me to vent about one of my pet peeves, even if it relates to another MLB team, albeit from my 2nd favorite team.
I would like to preface my comments by stating my belief that Rafael Devers is one of the very best players (hitters) in MLB. MLB ranked Devers 21 and Alex Bregman 37. Devers is a 3X All Star and 2X Silver Slugger. He is being paid as one of the very best players in MLB.
I truly disdain players under contract dictating to management what they will or will not do. I have been reading about Rafael Devers and his apparent unwillingness to move off 3B to make room for Alex Bregman.
Rafael Devers’ camp has made clear all offseason that the Sox’s longtime third baseman has no interest in a position change. Devers forcefully stated as much when speaking to the Boston beat this morning. “No. I play third. It’s my decision … My position is third base. Whatever it is they want to do is what they want to do. But my position is third base.”
One would think that a player who is being paid $313.5MM for 10 years ($291.5 NPV) would be willing to do whatever was necessary to try and win. It is not as if Devers is a quality defensive 3B. In fact he is arguably the worst defensive 3B in MLB. Using DRS as a metric, he is the worst. With Statcast’s OAA, he is 37th out of 43 3B.
Further, Devers made the most errors at 3B in MLB (5) or AL (2) the last 7 years.
There is absolutely no comparison of Devers’ defense and Bregman’s. Bregman is a GG 3B and a near elite defensive 3B.
Devers is a DH playing 3B. However, Bregman is at least equal to Devers offensively. For their careers, Bregman has a higher OPS+ than Devers, but their bWAR is not close. Bregman (1111 games) has a 39.6 bWAR while Devers (980 games) has a 22.5 bWAR. Since their offense is comparable, Bregman’s value is significantly increased by his defense over that of Devers.
fWAR is even more definitive as to whose value is greater. Devers has a fWAR value commensurate of $204.2MM while Bregman has a fWAR value commensurate of $317.3MM. Again the difference is largely due to Bregman’s defense compared to Devers.
All that being said, it may be that the BoSox are better as a team with Devers at 3B, Bregman at 2B, Triston Casas at 1B, and Masataka Yoshida a DH. But my complaint is that Devers is trying to dictate where he plays rather than allowing his manager to make those decisions. It is not as if Devers is playing for a contract. If Cora decides it is best for the team for Devers to be the DH, Devers should accept his role.
Compare Devers with Alex Bregman:
Alex Bregman doesn't seem too concerned about the situation at third base after yesterday's comments by Rafael Devers pic.twitter.com/yShYdlWAbO
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 18, 2025
There are some pundits who believe that Kristian Campbell is a can’t miss 2B, and Devers’ unwillingness to move off 3B blocks Campbell’s ascension to the Big League team.
Compare that to Dodgers players who seem to be more than willing to do or play wherever asked. However, I do acknowledge that Corey Seager said he was a SS and was not necessarily willing to move off SS. Trea Turner was more than willing to move to 2B without complaining…at least not publicly.
At the time of Seager’s extension and FA negotiations, I had no idea if LAD asked Seager to move and if that had any impact on Seager signing with Texas. Then again, I have to believe it was the $$$ that drove Seager’s decision. Interestingly, on the same day, Texas signed another SS, Marcus Semien, and he agreed to move to 2B.
To be fair, it should also be noted that former GM, Chaim Bloom, promised Devers he would be the long term 3B for Boston before he signed his 10 year extension. Bloom is gone, and current GM, Craig Breslow is under no obligation to honor any promise not included in the contract. Not every player is going to be happy with their role, and they should be able to make their case…but in private. There is no reason for the player to air out his issues with the press. I understand that Devers was asked and he did answer. But for the team, perhaps a better response is one I hear from LAD players…I will let the manager complete the lineup. I am willing to do whatever I need to do to help the team win.
Alex Cora has indicated that the Red Sox haven’t made any decisions.
“He’s going to work out as the third baseman. And we’re going to make decisions accordingly. Here, it’s not about Bregman or Devers or Cora, it’s for the Boston Red Sox. Whatever decision we make is going to be for the benefit of the team.”
This happens much more in the NFL and NBA, but players need to honor their contract without public demands. In MLB, they are guaranteed contracts. There is not an amount the player will be played by position.
Okay, off my soapbox. Let’s go Dodgers.
Another Red Sox trade opportunity for the Dodgers with Muncy on the outs?!?!?!??!
Devers for Muncy? And disrupt a very cohesive clubhouse? No thanks. Muncy isn’t that bad.
Muncy on the outs? What exactly does that mean?
Judging from his statements Devers doesn’t exactly sound like he would fit in here.
I agree on both statements. Devers is not a Dodger.
Also, just exactly where is this Max Muncy on the outs comment come from? Come on Bluto, cite your sources.
I think he is saying that if the Dodgers acquired Devers, Muncy would be on his way out. It is trivial as it is thankfully not going to happen.
He has only an option left, no?
Yes. His option is a club option at $10MM, with no buyout. To be honest, I would much rather have Max at $10MM rather than Devers at $30MM. A player who has been willing to play wherever asked to help his team, vs a player who will not agree to move for a better 3B.
If that was what you meant, then yes. I understand your comment.
Yes, was mostly facetious. A mere nod to the Betts trade.
Both Devers and Bregman–and Machado! and Rendon!–illustrate what a bargain the Dodgers have in Max.
Such a trooper.
And he bleeds Dodger blue for how the organization got the best out of him. He was about to retire as a minor leaguer when the Dodgers came calling. Then he started hitting 35 HRs a year while playing 1B, 2B and 3B.
How much does Max have left in the tank? I expect him to play through the ’26 season. He’s just too much of a bargain..
As for Devers, yeah, he’s really being a dick.
Won’t happen, but here’s a solution to Boston’s problem: Trade him to the Blue Jays for Vlad Jr. Vlad is positioned as the next big hitter FA, and the Jays won’t pony up the $400 milion-plus he’ll be seeking.
Same division, so it won’t happen. But it sort of makes sense. If I ran the Red Sox, Devers is giving me all kinds of reasons to deal him away.
I don’t have any idea what Bluto meant, but one might assume that if the Dodgers were to land a longer-term third baseman, they might not bring Max back after his contract expires in 2025.
I agree with you. It’s a selfish look for Devers.
Jeff I believe your knowledge of baseball is in the upper five percent along with Bear and Mark, I don’t know if there is an inside story to this signing of the clown from the Astros. Devers as you stated isn’t a good fielding third baseman, but he has been the Red Sox’s third baseman for nine years.I would hope that the Boston front office had a long talk with Devers before the signing otherwise this was a dumbass move on Boston’s part. Moves like these can rip a team apart.if your (arguably) best player is not happy and is somewhat out spoken. It could for a long season, with that being said, who gives a rats ass on what is going on in Boston. I hope the Red Sox’s turn on Bregman the second he steps on the field.
Since my son played with Boston and has a 2004 WS ring, well, I care. As indicated in the post, I heartily acknowledge that this has nothing to do with the Dodgers, and will have limited appeal. The story got my dander up, and I wanted to vent. There really is not a whole lot going on that we have not discussed THOROUGHLY. With respect to Bregman and being booed by Boston fans…they have accepted Alex Cora, one of the ring leaders of the “cheat”. If Bregman can help Boston to move past NYY, the Boston fans will accept him just fine. At the same time, Boston fans can turn on a player on a dime, but it will be because of his play, not what he did while with Houston.
Jeff, I appreciate your response to my melt down. I have family members that are huge Red Sox’s fans. Where I live there is aa huge east coast bias and to hear about the Sox’s Yankee’s especially really gets old. My disdain for the Sox’s came when they hired Cora. Cora was a favorite of mine when he played for the Dodgers and I hoped he would manage the Dodgers one day. I still can vividly recall when he had a 17 pitch at bat or so and then hit a homer. I was following the game on game day. I try to respect anyone’s opinion on most issues and I love my Red Sox’s fans in my family. I still have to mouth off when something comes up about the World Series against Houston and people dogging the Dodgers when the won the World Series in the Covid year. In my mind with the playoff system set up in 2020, it made it more difficult to come out on top to whichever team won it. As far as the Devers’s situation plays out, (1) yes Devers looks selfish and (2) if the Red Sox’s front office didn’t talk to Devers prior to the signing, that is absolutely a major mistake on the front office part. My guess the public will never know how that situation evolved but the consequences could be catastrophic for the clubhouse.
Jeff or Bear please take out my last name on my lat post. Thanks
Done
Thanks
Last two posts:)
Trade him.
That might just be the ultimate solution. I wonder if he has a no trade clause.
To Houston.
The Bosox have created a problem for themselves. Didn’t they have discussions with Devers before they signed Bregman? Did hey think it would all just work out because they are professionals?
Sure Devers looks bad but the team owner should have anticipated this and communicated.
On the other hand, JT, who is now officially a Cub, played wherever the team needed him. Superstars dictating to the team what they want to do over team success is just not a good thing. Look what Lebron James meddling has done to the Lakers. I had not realized, simply because I did not check, that Devers was that bad defensively.
.testing
Just what do you want to test???
Bear, I believe this is the website administrator testing the edit function.
10-4 my liege.
Wowww, we are 27 hours away from Dodger baseball!
Yep, and I cancelled my optical appointment just so I could watch the game. Eyes are fine, ankle is not.
LHRP Scott Alexander has signed a one year deal with Colorado. It will be interesting to see how his breaking ball works in Denver. He was a good Dodger for four years and I wish him nothing but success except when he faces LAD.
Former Dodger reliever, Scott Alexander signed by the Rockies
Everybody’s talkin’ at me
I don’t hear a word they’re sayin’
Only the echoes of my mind
Wah, wah-wah-wah-wah
Midnight Cowboy. I wonder how many here remember that movie.
I definitely do since John Wayne won the best actor Oscar over both stars of that movie.
Harry Nillson vocals.
But not Nillson lyrics…
Jeff,
Did your web admin eliminate the ability to go straight to latest comments? I don’t see that option.
I just got the word yesterday. The cost of reprogramming the site to allow this is between $4K and $6K. I opted to not add this feature. Sorry, but that cost is way out of my comfort zone.
Jeff, I think we can all survive
Well, I’ll kick in… hold on …. $6… and some change.
4-6k. It was a nice feature, but not that nice.
Former Dodger Ross Stripling has signed a minor league deal with the Royals.
I hope he breaks camp with KC.
Saw an interview with Joe Kelly on Facebook. Kelly said the only team he would consider pitching for is the Dodgers. Right now, he is busy rehabbing from his latest arm injury.
Offer him 9 million. Pesos.
He might take it
I always hated 3rd base, one bloody nose after another.
Ended up in CF and loved it.