As the Red Sox work their way through spring training, with only 15 days until they open their 2025 season, optimism is running high among the Boston fan base. It’s been demonstrated objectively. The Athletic published the results of its annual “Hope-O-Meter” survey on Tuesday, finding that the traditionally downbeat Red Sox fans ranked as the sixth-most optimistic among fans of the 30 MLB teams, with a 91.8 percent optimism rating.
That’s way up from last season when Red Sox fans placed 27th in The Athletic survey, with dismal 12.2 percent optimism. In 2023 the Fenway faithful were only somewhat more optimistic, at 38.5 percent, 23rd in the league.
The 2025 “Hope-O-Meter” soared even higher than in 2022 when the Red Sox were coming off an inspiring, underdog run to the American League Championship Series. Optimism prior to the 2022 campaign — which ended with the Red Sox in last place in the AL East at 78-84 — ran at an even 88 percent.
This year, however, Red Sox superstar Rafael Devers, who should be the face of the franchise with his team record 10-year, $313.5 million contract, has cast one of the few shadows over the mostly sunny spring training in Fort Myers, Florida.
After the Red Sox wrapped up their offseason with the splashy signing of former Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, Devers publicly stated that he refused to move off of his third base position to become a full-time designated hitter and allow the Gold Glove-winning defender Bregman to take over the hot corner.
“Third base is my position. It’s what I play,” Devers said in mid-February. “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.”
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The problem is, after the Red Sox have completed 27 spring training games with just 13 left to play, Devers has yet to actually play third base — or for that matter, to play at all.
Scheduled to make his debut on Tuesday, Devers did not play in that game against the Philadelphia Phillies, which the Red Sox lost 18-8. The Red Sox had their first spring night game on the schedule Wednesday, facing the Minnesota Twins, but when the lineup card was posted, Devers’ name was not on that one either.
Instead, Devers was set to take part in a simulated game on Thursday with his debut now supposedly set for Saturday against the Atlanta Braves.
Devers has been nursing a shoulder injury which hampered him in 2024. Manager Alex Cora said Devers is now in the process of rebuilding his swing, which was thrown off track due to the shoulder issues.
“It’s not a different swing; it’s just a different path, to be honest with you. It’s been trending in the right direction. He’s been off a little bit,” Cora said, as quoted by the Red Sox cable TV outlet NESN. “I get that the whole thing (about playing on) the big field. But it’s two at-bats (per game) against big leaguers; he’s actually getting more at-bats in the back fields.”
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According to one prominent Red Sox podcast host, however, continuing to keep Devers out of games is a “bad look,” and weakens his claim to ownership of the third base role.
“You can’t really declare that that position is your position if you’re not playing in spring training games,” said “Locked on Red Sox” host Gabby Maljanian on her Wednesday program. “Obviously we can sympathize If there really is an issue injury-wise where he physically can’t play. But at the same time, he can’t be saying, ‘I play third base and that’s my position,’ if Bregman is the one getting reps at third and he’s not getting any reps at third.”
The Red Sox said that they expect Devers to be in the opening day lineup on March 27 in Texas, but that no decision has been made as to where he will play — and likely will not be made until Cora is required to submit his final lineup for that game.
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