When Boston signed Alex Bregman, it was suggested by fans and some analysts that Rafael Devers could move to first base. The All-Star slugger pushed back on the idea but eventually fully embraced his role as designated hitter. However, that idea was brought back again, and the Red Sox aren’t entirely ruling out the talking point.
“Right now, we’re not in a place to speak to that,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told reporters Saturday, per The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey. “But obviously we’ll have conversations internally, and we’ll do the best we can to find the short-term solution, and also one that we feel like can hold up over the long term.”
The Red Sox placed Casas on the injured list and selected Abraham Toro to back up Romy González, who will serve as the starting first baseman. The thought process behind Devers’ move to first base theoretically would open up someone like Masataka Yoshida to the DH. However, Breslow noted those decisions are separate, and manager Alex Cora doesn’t feel it’s necessary to disrupt the rhythm of the lineup so soon.
“From my end right now, no,” Cora told reporters of the idea of moving Devers to first, per McCaffrey. “We asked him to do something in spring training. And in the beginning, he didn’t agree with it, and now he’s very comfortable doing what he’s doing (at DH). So like I told you guys in spring training, he’s my DH.”
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Devers struggled in the first weeks of the season, but the 28-year-old picked up his production with a .921 OPS to close out the first month of the season. Also, Devers has never played first base in his pro career. While players like Kevin Youkilis successfully played both positions, Cora noted it’s not an easy switch in the modern game and that he’s comfortable with Toro and González at first.
The Red Sox will keep their options open, but it might be too early in the season to make any dramatic moves in the wake of Casas’ injury.
