Player News

• Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Rough opener

  13H ago • By RotoWire

  Devers started at designated hitter and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Thursday's 5-2 win over Texas. Devers, who had just 15 spring plate appearances, looked like he could have used more in Florida. He struck out swinging three times and whiffed six times in all, including five times against Nathan Eovaldi's breaking ball, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. To be fair, Devers wasn't the only one that struggled; Boston's top four hitters went a combined 1-for-16.

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• Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Officially named DH by Cora

  2D ago • By RotoWire

  Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday in a radio appearance on 93.7 WEEI that Devers will be the team's designated hitter this season. It's been clear for a while that Devers would serve as the Red Sox's primary DH, but Wednesday marked the first time Cora has officially made the declaration. Alex Bregman will man Devers' former position at third base. Devers has never been a full-time DH before, and some players can have trouble adjusting to the role, but the 28-year-old is a good bet to remain highly productive with the bat as long as the shoulder problems he dealt with last season don't flare up again.

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• Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Won't play third base this spring

  9D ago • By RotoWire

  Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that it's very unlikely Devers will play third base before the end of spring training, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. Cora still hasn't officially announced that Alex Bregman will be his third baseman and Devers will be his designated hitter this season, but that will be the setup for the foreseeable future with Devers unable to play the field. Devers has just two games under his belt this spring, as he's been working on getting his timing down at the plate following last season's shoulder issues.

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• Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Making spring debut Saturday

  13D ago • By RotoWire

  Devers (shoulders) is batting second as the designated hitter in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. It's the first official appearance of spring training for Devers, who was built up slowly during the first half of camp after his shoulder problems last year. The 28-year-old appears set to begin the season as Boston's primary designated hitter, as he said Thursday he's OK with being utilized that way after previously indicating that he was unwilling to move off third base. That development will allow Alex Bregman to step in at the hot corner after signing a deal worth up to $120 million in February, though the Red Sox haven't officially announced their plans on who will play where.

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• Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Now says he's willing to DH

  15D ago • By RotoWire

  Devers (shoulders) said Thursday that he is OK with being a designated hitter if that's where the Red Sox choose to use him, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. Devers was speaking publicly for the first time since telling reporters in mid-February that he was a third baseman and was unwilling to be a DH. The 28-year-old has spoken with manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow since then, and while he wanted to keep the details of that conversation to himself, he now appears amendable to serving as the team's DH. The Red Sox have not yet announced a decision on where Devers or Alex Bregman will play, but all signs point to Devers indeed being the DH while Bregman handles third base. Devers homered during a simulated game Thursday and is expected to finally make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday against Atlanta.

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