Why the Red Sox moving Rafael Devers off third base makes sense
The Red Sox offseason is expected to bring change.
With potential upgrades in the rotation, bullpen, and maybe even landing a bat in All-Star outfielder Juan Soto. Another change for the Red Sox could see third baseman Rafael Devers moving off third base and becoming a designated hitter.
Devers ranks ninth in active players in innings played at the hot corner. He leads everyone with 141 career errors, including a team-worst 12 this past season. The player behind his 141 errors is Nolan Arenado with 132. The difference is Arenado has played over 7,000 more innings (about a season in a half) worth of baseball.
Devers, 28, signed an 11-year, $331 million extension during the 2023 offseason.
Approximately $30 million per year is a high average annual value as is, but for a full-time designated hitter, that would be seen as bad value. Despite the perceived bad value, moving Devers to designated hitter makes sense.
The extension is signed, sealed, and delivered. There is no going back. To have Devers remain at third base and continue to make errors at a high clip is something the front office should entertain this offseason. Not only could the Red Sox find a better glove a third base, but they could protect their highest investment in franchise history.
Devers tried to play through a shoulder injury last year he suffered at the start of the season. He played 138 games, but his offense suffered down the stretch as a result of wear and tear from the injury. In his last 30 games, he slashed .196/.284/.306 with only three home runs. In a scenario where Devers is able to mainly play as a designated hitter, it will not only take his glove off the field but could see his offensive numbers rise as a result.
While this is a lofty comparison, David Ortiz from the ages of 28-32 made five all-star appearances while mashing 40 plus home runs and over 115 RBI in three of those five years, all while being the team’s designated hitter. Not to mention his postseason heroics in that stretch where he led two World Series teams to victory.
Ortiz is a Hall of Famer for a reason; he is a once-in-a-generation player. However, $30 million per year for prime Ortiz in this day and age would be worth it.
Devers is highly unlikely to reach the level of Ortiz, but that doesn’t mean he could even have more of a positive impact at designated hitter than he would at third. Moving Devers to designated hitter makes baseball sense; refusing to make the switch because of the contract or his age does not.
