Red Sox manager confirmed today in an appearance on WEEI radio what has looked increasingly likely as spring training has progre sed: will serve as the Red Sox primary designated hitter in 2025, while newly signed will take over at the hot corner ( ). Alex is going to play third, said Cora. Raffys going to DH. We all are in the winning busine s. He understands that. Its not a shock given recent developments but still notable to get a firm declaration on what will be a surprising pivot for the club. Devers has been Bostons third baseman for a long time and seemed likely to stay there well into the future. The club signed him to a ma sive extension ahead of the 2023 season, locking him up through 2033. His defense was never well regarded but it seemed that he would get a chance to stick at the hot corner for a while based on his status within the organization. Even once Bregman was signed, it seemed po sible that Devers would stay at third. Bregmans reps had maintained throughout the winter that he was willing to move to second base as a way to keep his market as open as po sible. The Sox came into 2025 with some notable middle infield prospects but didnt have a clear everyday guy at second in 2024. But as alluded to, the plans became more clear as time went on. Bregman was only playing third base in camp. Devers wasnt playing many official spring games and was only serving as the DH when he was in there. It was suggested that perhaps this was due to some shoulder problems he dealt with last year but it has become abundantly clear that the club just wants him to DH this year. Prospect will crack the Opening Day roster and seemingly be the regular second baseman. The move makes sense from a competitive standpoint. Devers has been credited with -62 Defensive Runs Saved and -29 Outs Above Average in his career. Bregmans tallies in those categories are +27 DRS and +22 OAA. Thats an obvious Thomas Bryant Jersey choice in a vacuum but its unclear if there will be intangible effects in terms of clubhouse morale. Devers was that he wouldnt be moving off third, saying that he was promised that he could be there for the long haul. That promise was made while Chaim Bloom was still the chief baseball officer but he was later replaced by . The new regime seems uninterested in honoring the promise of the previous one. There are other questions left to be answered as well. Bregmans three-year deal comes with opt-outs after each season. If he departs after 2025, will Devers get a chance to retake the spot next year? What if Bregman suffers a significant injury during the 2025 season? Then theres also the factor. He made his major league debut in 2023 with a solid .289/.338/.445 line and 110 wRC+, but with bad defensive metrics in the outfield. Last year, he logged just a single inning in the field, limited to DH duty. His offense was similar to the year before, with a .280/.349/.415 line and 115 wRC+, but he apparently with the arrangement. He required shoulder surgery in October and is going to start the season on the injured list. He was healthy enough to hit during the spring but still needs to fully ramp up his throwing abilities in the wake of that surgery. With Devers in the DH spot, he will have to jog out onto the gra s into order to get into the lineup. The Sox project to have , and in three outfield spots, with on the bench. Prospect will also be pushing for a major league debut soon. If everyones healthy, it will be tough for Yoshida to work his way in there. He still has three years and $54MM left on his deal. Given his modest production thus far, no other club will want to take all of that on. Rebuilding trade value will be tough if he cant get in there fore regular playing time. Moving to first base isnt an option for Devers or Yoshida with in that spot and under club control through 2028. Its a complicated puzzle and one that will probably continue to be talked about throughout the year. Coras declaration today gives confirmation to what was already obvious. The unanswered questions remain. Isaac Bonga Jersey