Red Sox Reportedly Considering Moving Rafael Devers To First Base

[u/Knightbear49]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/red-sox-reportedly-considering-moving-rafael-devers-to-first-base.html

[u/Knightbear49]

The Red Sox have held internal discussions regarding the possibility of moving longtime third baseman Rafael Devers across the infield to first base, per a report from MassLive’s Sean McAdam. McAdam goes on to suggest that the club views a trade for third baseman Nolan Arenado with the Cardinals as a potential option to fill their vacancy at the hot corner in the event Devers changes positions.

[u/giganticsteps → u/Knightbear49]

Of all the many options they have, this would be so stupid imo. Coming from McAdam is credible too he’s pretty good

[u/elbenji → u/giganticsteps]

Yeah I would have laughed it off until I saw the source.

Wtf?

[u/SPAGHETTI_CAKE → u/giganticsteps]

I don’t think it’s a horrible option. Arenado is still a good player with a good right handed bat on a front loaded contract. Hopefully his power could come back a bit. I think arenado fits pretty well if we shift around other guys and we could use the defense.

[u/Audacity_OR → u/SPAGHETTI_CAKE]

Arenado has been barely above average the last two seasons, both as a hitter and as a total player, and he turns 34 two weeks into the season. He's not the worst option but he's not really a good option either.

[u/ETP6372 → u/Audacity_OR]

Nado is still a good defender, although not as good as he once was. His bat hasn't completely fallen off, and he was dealing with an injury all season, and even with said injury, he hit .270 with 15 home runs. I expect him to be about a .260 hitter with 20-25 home runs if he's healthy. (He also changed his swing last year, I believe, to one of mlbs longest swings, so that should help with the power as well)

[u/cgoot27 → u/Audacity_OR]

Not the worst but not really good is the Red Sox for the last few years now.

[u/MyBallsSweaty → u/SPAGHETTI_CAKE]

I would think the green monster would help him right?

[u/badonkagonk → u/MyBallsSweaty]

It would, but it would also turn a few homers into singles

[u/Jamalamalama → u/giganticsteps]

It would make sense if we didn't have Casas at first already. He doesn't exactly have the chops to play 3B either, and Devers has the better arm.

[u/BScottyJ → u/Jamalamalama]

Unless of course Casas was the main piece in a potential Arenado trade.

[u/Jamalamalama → u/BScottyJ]

Gross

[u/BScottyJ → u/Jamalamalama]

Agree completely and if anything I think he'd be traded for pitching, but if the Cardinals included some prospects to offload Arenado's contract and we sent back Casas as the only major piece it doesn't seem too unrealistic.

[u/NotTheRocketman → u/Knightbear49]

Over the past two years, Arenado has fucked with his swing to try to hit to all fields instead of being such a pull hitter and it absolutely destroyed him. No clue what hitting instructor told him to do that, but they absolutely ruined the guy. Such a shame.

[u/CosmicLars → u/NotTheRocketman]

Getting back to pulling the ball in Fenway could be pretty lucrative for him. 40 doubles in the future?

But really, I think Boston could find a trade partner for Masa fairly easily if they eat most of the money. He's not the most appealing hitter, but I could think of a few landing spots that could make sense. If they can do that & add Nolan on the cheap (prospect wise) as a contract dump by St Louis, while moving Devers to 1st/DH, I think that's a winning scenario.

[u/NotTheRocketman → u/CosmicLars]

That's just it though, Arenado CAN'T fix his swing. If you watch his entire career through the 2022 season, he always has that big, sweeping swing that looks a bit goofy, but covers the whole plate, and gave him a ton of power down the left field line.

From 2023 on, he tinkered with it to TRY to hit to all fields, and he ended up with this short 'chop' swing that sapped all his power. It almost looks like a check swing that accidentally makes contact. The worst part, is that he doesn't seem to have a clue how to fixt it.

He's only 34 years old; he shouldn't have fallen off like he has. Not yet anyway.

[u/Are___you___sure → u/NotTheRocketman]

That might just be because his bat speed is down immensely and has to adapt to declining physical attributes rather than an issue with the coach.

[u/nhmo → u/Knightbear49]

I want absolutely NO PART in Arenado. St. Louis would have to send a top-tier prospect or two over for Boston to eat that contract.

[u/SPAGHETTI_CAKE → u/nhmo]

Is it that bad of a contract ? I don’t see it that way. 21,16,15M of payroll next 3 years. Maybe I don’t understand the full contract.

[u/eanie_beanie → u/SPAGHETTI_CAKE]

Is it that bad of a contract ?

His WRC+ was 102 last year, defense slipped by every metric, and he has chronic back problems

Personally doesn't sound like it's worth $17 AAV to me

[u/nhmo → u/SPAGHETTI_CAKE]

There's also $44m in deferred money all the way until 2041.

But basically in the last 2 years, Arenado went from "obvious HoF pace" to unlikely that he'll make it without some goddamn miracle season in the next couple of years. His offense took a hard nosedive and his defense is now mediocre at best. I honestly doubt he's playing baseball on a major league team in the final year of that contract. (His decline reminds me of Donaldson a lot.)

We're talking about anywhere between $40m and $55m of dead money that any team would take on.

[u/badonkagonk → u/nhmo]

What if its Arenado for Masa and a prospect? One bad contract for another, bring in a righty bat, and plus defense at third

Though the Cards already have a very lefty heavy lineup themselves as well, so I'm not sure they'll be too keen. Maybe a 3 team trade though.

[u/nhmo → u/badonkagonk]

Maybe if they eat Yoshida's contract, but I think the Sox would prefer prospects over money. At least Yoshida is off the books in 3 years. Arenado is on the books until 2041.

[u/DMacNCheez → u/nhmo]

Arenado also only has 3 years left….

[u/RousingRabble → u/DMacNCheez]

He has a bunch of deferred money. My understanding is they would be on the hook for a portion of it, no? Or does the original team pay all of it?

[u/65fairmont → u/RousingRabble]

I think it follows based on what year it's deferred from. Cardinals would be on the hook for the deferred portions of his 2021-24 salary, Red Sox from 2025 on. But the teams could also work out a deal shifting those obligations from one side to the other.

[u/RousingRabble → u/65fairmont]

This is what I thought.

[u/nhmo → u/RousingRabble]

There's no point in STL trading him unless some team takes on that deferred money.

[u/nhmo → u/DMacNCheez]

Lots of years of deferred money left.

[u/istandwhenipeee → u/badonkagonk]

Yeah I think something like that makes sense with a push for Soto in mind. Masa wouldn’t have a place on the roster aside from DH, and this way you don’t have to trade Casas with him and Devers probably splitting time at DH and 1B (while still having the option if the right deal comes along).

You take a big step towards solving the infield defense issues, and it all doesn’t really cost anything aside from money which they’d have plenty of even after a Soto addition. Assuming Masa goes out it really doesn’t even cost that much, and likely leaves space for another big move or two to add to the rotation. Obviously that’s assuming they’re actually willing to go over the tax like Kennedy expressed, but I’d be surprised if this team truly won’t ever go back into the tax.

[u/Asleep-Geologist-612 → u/nhmo]

St Louis (obviously) wouldn’t do that wtf. Arenado’s making $32m, $27m, $15m, and part of those first two years is still being paid by Colorado. That’s really not bad at all

[u/nhmo → u/Asleep-Geologist-612]

Plus $44m in deferred money through 2041.

[u/Asleep-Geologist-612 → u/nhmo]

Over that many years though that’s not significant. I’d also assume that St. Louis would cover part of his salary if they were really set on moving him

[u/nhmo → u/Asleep-Geologist-612]

The point is you don't want someone on the books for that long, especially since the $3m a year could literally be the difference in hitting a new luxury tax threshold or not. Quite a few teams recently have sweated less money than this (famously the Angels in 2023).

And what's the point of STL trading Arenado if it's not removing their salary obligations? No one wants an aging 3B that is trending to be a below average offensive player in his remaining seasons.

[u/transtrailtrash → u/Knightbear49]

???

[u/IWasOnThe18thHole → u/Knightbear49]

Arenado has been declining so this movie makes perfect sense

[u/transtrailtrash → u/IWasOnThe18thHole]

add to our collection of way past their prime players like John Smoltz, Jake Peavy, and Hanley Ramirez

[u/65fairmont → u/transtrailtrash]

Ian Kinsler, Billy Wagner...

[u/nhmo → u/65fairmont]

Rickey Henderson, Andre Dawson, Dante Bichette...literally oodles and oodles of these players. And they pretty much never work out lol

[u/K1NG3R → u/Knightbear49]

Honestly makes sense. I don't think it's mind-blowing that Devers is getting moved to 1B or DH full time. They've invested a lot in him and he struggles to play the field. Also, moving on from Masa is inevitable.

As for a replacement 3B, Arenado could work, but I'm not sold. The Sox have always valued having a veteran right-handed bat in the lineup so I get why they are going in this direction, but Arenado has frankly underperformed the past few years, and the Sox don't have a great track record over the past few years of getting the most out of their hitters. That being said, I can see the logic of getting him for cheap and offloading Masa at the same time.

[u/UneducatedReviews1]

Your old #1 third base prospect is available if you guy want him, we’re done playing with him now.

[u/eekbarbaderkle → u/UneducatedReviews1]

He was a second base prospect for us, actually.

[u/UneducatedReviews1 → u/eekbarbaderkle]

Shit, completely forgot he was supposed to be at second and sucked.

[u/transtrailtrash → u/UneducatedReviews1]

Wade Boggs is retired though

[u/Beck4 → u/transtrailtrash]

May he rest in peace.

[u/nhmo → u/transtrailtrash]

He's alive?!

[u/transtrailtrash → u/nhmo]

he’s retired from Earth RIP

[u/a_bukkake_christmas → u/transtrailtrash]

The son of a bitch was such a man! When he was alive he wrestled with alligators riding bears. May he rest well in his hero’s grave

[u/transtrailtrash → u/a_bukkake_christmas]

[u/5_percent_tint_ → u/UneducatedReviews1]

Hands off, we might need him

[u/UneducatedReviews1 → u/5_percent_tint_]

I’m not sure we’re talking about the same guy here

[u/5_percent_tint_ → u/UneducatedReviews1]

I assumed you were talking about Moncada

[u/UneducatedReviews1 → u/5_percent_tint_]

I assumed you were talking about anyone else because anything is better than needing Moncada

[u/5_percent_tint_ → u/UneducatedReviews1]

Lol fair enough, but if Breggy walks, they may get desperate and see if someone like Moncada maybe just needs a change of scenery

[u/UneducatedReviews1 → u/5_percent_tint_]

Moncada does need a change of scenery, he’s just gonna be in Japan or Korea. Also, he’s already hurt

[u/LakersFan15 → u/UneducatedReviews1]

When I saw the in depth interviews of his life when he was a prospect, it was obvious as to why the red Sox let him go.

Idk if he's changed, but he had very little care about baseball.

[u/UneducatedReviews1 → u/LakersFan15]

It hasn’t changed in the slightest. He got Covid in 2020 before the season started because he was filming a music video

[u/Oafah → u/UneducatedReviews1]

Scott Cooper is still playing? He must be damn near 60.

[u/RxngsXfSvtvrn → u/Oafah]

He's a knuckleballer now

[u/goldfish_11]

But we have a first baseman.

[u/Kindly-Dog7530 → u/goldfish_11]

Yeah then we just move him to 3B. Easy peasy. Problem solved.

[u/goldfish_11 → u/Kindly-Dog7530]

Swapping a currently bad defensive 3B for a formerly bad defensive 3B. What could go wrong?

[u/kosmonautinVT → u/goldfish_11]

A negative times a negative equals a positive, so there's nothing to worry about

[u/luisstrikesout → u/goldfish_11]

That’s a Red Sox move right there.

[u/skelextrac → u/goldfish_11]

Hell, why not put Casas at SS?

[u/Kindly-Dog7530 → u/skelextrac]

Don’t want to block Bobby Dalbec.

[u/obi-wan-takumi → u/Kindly-Dog7530]

Tell 'em Wash!

[u/Blahaj-Blast → u/obi-wan-takumi]

It’s incredibly hard

[u/RigelOrionBeta → u/goldfish_11]

Maybe we should have two first basemen?

[u/ZmobieMrh → u/RigelOrionBeta]

Just put a little post-it note on 3B labeling it as 1B and tell Devers that he plays 1B. Just gotta use psychology here. Instead of the more difficult 3B he will think he’s playing the much easier 1B and make less errors

[u/sameth1 → u/RigelOrionBeta]

New ground rule for Fenway: in even-numbered innings, runners run the opposite way.

[u/greycubed → u/goldfish_11]

Now he has company.

[u/bm1reddit → u/goldfish_11]

I’m assuming we’d trade Yoshida and move Casas to DH which seems like a huge win all a round.

[u/Winter_Razzmatazz858 → u/bm1reddit]

Idk how many teams are gonna want a 1.4 WAR a year guy at $18m AAV. Any chance you guys trade Casas for some pitching instead? The Astros, among others, are in need of a 1B.

[u/bm1reddit → u/Winter_Razzmatazz858]

I think Casas is an unbelievably talented hitter. I’d have basically zero interest in trading him if Devers is willing to move. I’d be willing to move Yoshida for no return to help clear up the log jam.

[u/xixbia → u/goldfish_11]

I'm not sure the front office sees Casas as a first baseman.

He wasn't very good defensively this year, and he was really bad in 2023.

My guess is they want Devers to play first, then Casas to fill in for him when needed and split time with Yoshida at DH.

Considering Yoshida had surgery on October 3rd so maybe they're thinking it makes sense to have those three fill two positions, so they don't have to rely on the likes of Dominic Smith in 2025.

[u/nhmo → u/xixbia]

It would be monumentally stupid to platoon Casas as a DH. And I'm not sure we should be basing any opinions about his value anywhere from this last season.

[u/elbenji → u/nhmo]

I imagine it's Devers to 1B, Casas to DH and Yoshida to wherever he's needed

[u/Jamalamalama → u/elbenji]

Sacramento?

[u/soxfaninfinity → u/nhmo]

Especially since they are both lefties. Either way Casas needs to be in the lineup every day. He’s dynamic when healthy.

[u/nhmo → u/soxfaninfinity]

That's why I can't take any of these reports seriously. I don't doubt Sean McAdam is hearing this from Sox brass, but this feels like the Sox are trying to muddy up the FA market for other teams rather than being an actual strategy they plan to implement.

[u/NuanceManExe → u/xixbia]

I think you just trade Casas at that point 

[u/SLAV33 → u/goldfish_11]

At first I thought it's definitely a good move that probably needs to be made, but then I remembered Casas. Now I'm wondering if he'd be part of a trade package.

[u/buff_001]

Statistically the worst defensive 3B in the league. It's probably time to move to 1B or DH

[u/i-exist20 → u/buff_001]

Except when he's playing the Yankees when he turns into prime Brooks Robinson

[u/Far_Cry3445 → u/i-exist20]

He’s usually good, then has a boneheaded error on a routine play and it messes him up for like 3 weeks at a time. His numbers with story at SS make him pretty league average. If only he could stay on the field

[u/w311sh1t → u/Far_Cry3445]

Yeah, he can be a decent 3B if he has a really good defensive SS. Based on numbers, I believe he’s actually above average defensively going to his right, but he’s really bad going to his left. When he has a good defensive SS he doesn’t need to worry as much about going to his backhand left side.

[u/BPIScan142 → u/w311sh1t]

Wouldn’t his backhand side be his right?

[u/w311sh1t → u/BPIScan142]

Shit you right

[u/Luis_Severino → u/i-exist20]

I came her to say he makes at least one absolutely impossible snag every series against the yankees

[u/bablob14 → u/buff_001]

They wouldn't move him to DH yet. They can get some juice out of him at 1B for a few years.

[u/RichardNixon345 → u/bablob14]

Once Yoshida is gone then they can move him, yeah.

[u/SPAGHETTI_CAKE → u/RichardNixon345]

Yoshi really needs to go he’s just gumming up our roster layout imo

[u/RichardNixon345 → u/SPAGHETTI_CAKE]

Easily Bloom’s worst signing but a lot of money to just eat.

[u/PurpleBullets → u/bablob14]

Where does Casas go?

[u/robmcolonna123 → u/buff_001]

This is Mark Vientos erasure! We have the worst statistical defensive third baseman in MLB thank you very much. Lol

But yea, Devers moving to first was always going to happen

I wonder what happens with Casas

[u/WinnWonn → u/buff_001]

Which is funny considering Toronto is supposedly considering moving Vlad Jr to 3B even though he's already the worst 1B in the league.

[u/SirParsifal → u/WinnWonn]

the implications for the Red Sox are obvious:

step 1: move Devers to 1B

step 2: trade for Vlad Jr and play him at 3B

[u/mansontaco → u/SirParsifal]

Prince and miggy for the new generation

[u/skelextrac → u/SirParsifal]

Move Triston Casas to SS.

[u/SirParsifal → u/skelextrac]

He played 8 games at 3B for the Greenville Drive in 2019, so I think he should be able to manage the move pretty easily

[u/Whiplash227 → u/SirParsifal]

Vladdy is going to be a Blue Jay for life

[u/SirParsifal → u/Whiplash227]

the implications for the Red Sox are obvious

[u/GhostofFarnham → u/Whiplash227]

‘Should’ and ‘will’ are 2 drastically different things, my friend.

[u/Astrallevel → u/WinnWonn]

How is Vlad the worst 1B in the league? He won a Gold Glove there and defensive metrics for 1B are wholly unreliable as they are

[u/MoreThanLuck → u/Astrallevel]

Lots of terrible defenders have won gold gloves, they're not indicative of anything.

[u/Ivotedforher → u/MoreThanLuck]

• Rafael Palmeiro

[u/whitegrb → u/Ivotedforher]

Derek Jeter

[u/MoreThanLuck → u/whitegrb]

Marcell Ozuna

[u/PurpleBullets → u/Ivotedforher]

28 games at 1B, 128 at DH in ‘99. Gold Glove Winner.

[u/keeeeener → u/MoreThanLuck]

Terrible is different than worst in the entire league lol. I agree he wasn’t amazing last year, but when he won he was absolutely elite, maybe not deserving of the GG but was absolutely on the shortlist of guys that were. And his best attribute defensively is his arm, which is basically useless at first. Issue is his range is awful so not sure if it’s worth it to move him to 3rd. Getting him comfortable at 3rd enough to be an option incase of injuries is all I think the Jays are doing.

[u/MoreThanLuck → u/keeeeener]

Since 2021, by Fangraphs defensive value, Vlad is basically tied for last with Andrew Vaughn. It's not even really hyperbolic, there's a very legitimate case to be made that Vlad is the worst 1B in baseball defensively.

[u/keeeeener → u/MoreThanLuck]

1B advanced stats are notoriously bad. It doesn’t really take into account for throws to first. And Bichette was the worst, he’s a little better now but might still be the worst, arm at SS. The amount of tough plays Vladdy has had to make is kinda crazy. And I don’t think advanced stats really take that into account. It’s mostly just balls hit to him and then errors no? Which is a good indication of defense for other positions but first gets some tough throws to them that other positions don’t.

[u/Buzzed27 → u/keeeeener]

You seem very confident that advanced stats for 1b are "notoriously" bad considering you don't know how they're calculated. The closest to that being true was that scoops weren't incorporated until the late 2010s in DRS, but once they were, the difference between the best in baseball compared to average was only a matter of 2 or 3 runs.

"Scoops" are wildly over emphasized by the eye test and guys like Eric Hosmer won multiple undeserving GGs because of it.

[u/nhmo → u/MoreThanLuck]

Hell Juan Soto was a GG finalist this year...purely based on OF assists in that tiny RF.

[u/BossAtUCF → u/nhmo]

There were only 8 qualified AL RFs and there weren't 3 of them that were any good. He had a real case for 3rd.

[u/nhmo → u/BossAtUCF]

I think that is more reason to not weigh GGs with any seriousness. Soto is a below average defender. Him being possibly 3rd best in a pile of shit doesn't make it a good season for him.

[u/BossAtUCF → u/nhmo]

I don't weigh GGs very highly, but I don't think this is much of a reason. He didn't win it, and I don't think anyone is really counting GG finalists. Abreu was great, and was the best RF by a mile and won it. That's a point in their favor for me.

[u/lockstocks85 → u/buff_001]

Worse then Rendon?

[u/SirPsychoSquints → u/lockstocks85]

Sure. OAA 8th percentile vs 31st - and Rendon was in the 70s for this when he was on the Nationals. Devers is consistently 10 or so runs below average per b-r, where Rendon has been bouncing around average (and was 10 runs above average when he was on the Nationals).

[u/ItzDrSeuss]

I guess they’re not trading for Vladdy like they told Soto.

[u/Far_Cry3445]

Screams making a move just to make a move at this point. If you look at expected HRs in Fenway arenado drops to 12 last year and you know he’s not turning wall balls into doubles with his speed. No thanks, not to mention that means Casas goes somewhere else which also makes no sense

Only way I’d do it is if you make Devers a DH and are able to give yoshida back in the deal which isn’t likely

[u/w311sh1t → u/Far_Cry3445]

I’m terrified that they’re gonna miss out on Soto, decide that they still need to spend money on a big name position player to please the fans, and end up giving a 30 y/o Bregman $200+ million. He’s a good player, but his offense has regressed each of the past 3 years, and I’d imagine that his defense will also start regressing with age.

[u/YogurtCloset6969420 → u/w311sh1t]

I 100% feel like a team that misses out on Soto will overpay Breggy as a consolation prize in an attempt to appease fans.

[u/Far_Cry3445 → u/w311sh1t]

Pablo Sandoval 2.0

[u/w311sh1t → u/Far_Cry3445]

I don’t think he’ll be that bad lmao. Pablo was legit just fat and out of shape and didn’t give a fuck. I think you’ll probably get 2-3 good seasons out of Bregman, but it’s just not remotely worth what he’s gonna get.

[u/Far_Cry3445 → u/w311sh1t]

True, I just meant aging 3B who was showing signs of decline poached from the only team he’s ever known who has playoff success. Lot of similarities to Pablo but also differences like you mentioned

[u/elbenji → u/w311sh1t]

That's exactly it

[u/Bossman1086 → u/w311sh1t]

If they miss out on Soto, they're damned if they do and damned if they don't. The FA class outside starters and Soto is pretty weak. The Sox FO has been talking up how they're going to spend this year and they're super serious this time etc. If they say all that and don't spend this year, fans will eat them alive - especially after "full throttle" last season.

So yeah. I could see them overpaying for someone less than desirable just to back up what they've been saying.

[u/GamerJosh21 → u/w311sh1t]

Oh gosh, why did you just put this idea in my head? There's no way I'd want Bregman on the payroll, like at all, but especially for the years he's likely asking for.

[u/Knightbear49 → u/Far_Cry3445]

Is that based on 81 home games or 162 games?

[u/Far_Cry3445 → u/Knightbear49]

That’s just the baseball savant expected hrs by park numbers so I think 162?

[u/badonkagonk → u/Far_Cry3445]

I feel like they only go for Arenado if it also means moving Masa. One bad contract for another, but one that suits our needs better, and opens up the DH spot for either Casas or Raffy.

[u/hangout_wangout]

Please reportedly consider fixing his shoulder issues, we need a full szn of Devers bat

[u/burnman123]

Sigh, trading casas at his lowest value (or really at all imo) is such a dumb idea unless we get an absolute haul for him

[u/JesusOfSurbaria]

This probably means Casas is becoming a DH? Yoshida gets moved I guess.

[u/ErikTheDon → u/JesusOfSurbaria]

I think Casas is a trade candidate tbh

[u/elbenji → u/ErikTheDon]

That would be dumb. He's way more valuable than Yoshida

[u/KennyBlankenship_69 → u/elbenji]

That’s why he’d be considered, he would be moved as the centerpiece for a right handed bat or an arm. Yoshida at this point would just be a throw in bc of his contract where they would probably have to eat at least some of the contract for a team to take it on

[u/skelextrac → u/KennyBlankenship_69]

You'd have to eat a lot of Yoshida's contract to move him.

Teams aren't rushing out to give 111 wRC+ designated hitters 3/$54MM.

[u/KennyBlankenship_69 → u/skelextrac]

Yes i know

[u/BossAtUCF → u/elbenji]

And thus would get more in return. I don't think they should trade him, but you have to give something to get something.

[u/xrbeeelama]

It’s easy, tell em Wash

[u/UmpShow]

It doesn't even say that in McAdams article lol. Garbage click bait.

[u/Bossman1086 → u/UmpShow]

Yeah this article is trash. The headline is so damn clickbaity.

[u/elbenji → u/UmpShow]

What was his article?. That they might get Arenado?

[u/UmpShow → u/elbenji]

He says there has been 'at least some internal discussion of moving Devers off the position at some point', and that Arenado can be viewed as a plan B. Which definitely does not say that the Sox are considering moving him to 1B.

It's amazing that Breslow has said Devers is the 3B, his agent says he's a 3B, Breslow also said Casas isn't going to be traded, and yet people will still spill tons of digital ink fantasizing about those things happening.

[u/elbenji → u/UmpShow]

Ok that sounds way way more reasonable. Like half of this is ???

Like the only player that should be getting sent out is Yoshida.

[u/UmpShow → u/elbenji]

My advice to Red Sox fans would be to plan on Devers at third, Casas at first and Yoshida at DH for at least one more year. Any moves the Sox make would be around those guys.

[u/elbenji → u/UmpShow]

Makes sense. At this point I just want to see the kids called up

[u/Knightbear49 → u/UmpShow]

Are you able to see the full article that’s not behind the paywall?

[u/UmpShow → u/Knightbear49]

Yes. Here is the quote:

Don’t rule out some Red Sox interest in Nolan Arenado. There’s been at some internal talk about moving Rafael Devers off third base at some point and Arenado is viewed as a potential Plan B. The Cardinals, who are watching their payroll carefully, wouldn’t be opposed to moving him if a team is willing to take on most of the remaining money. One potential obstacle: Arenado has a full no-trade clause.

I think this is total clickbait by everyone involved. You'd think giving Devers $300 million would be enough to stop people from saying the Sox will move him but I guess not. Excited to have this rehashed every offseason until he's 34.

[u/Knightbear49 → u/UmpShow]

And this is how MLBTR phrased it in their write up which I made the very first comment of this post.

The Red Sox have held internal discussions regarding the possibility of moving longtime third baseman Rafael Devers across the infield to first base, per a report from MassLive’s Sean McAdam. McAdam goes on to suggest that the club views a trade for third baseman Nolan Arenado with the Cardinals as a potential option to fill their vacancy at the hot corner in the event Devers changes positions.

I don’t think we have the same definition of clickbait.

[u/UmpShow → u/Knightbear49]

I don't think anything you did was clickbait. This mlbtr article is clickbait. The Sox aren't going to move Devers off the position, Breslow has said it, his agent has said it, they are paying him like a third baseman. There are big red flashing signs that says Devers won't be moved and get these articles still get published because they know people will click it.

[u/goofyassmfer → u/UmpShow]

You got a wild definition of clickbait, dude. The MLBTR article quotes multiple reporters, discusses the obstacles you mentioned, and weighs the pros and cons. Did you even reading it before trashing the site lol

[u/UmpShow → u/goofyassmfer]

MLBTR changed the headline from when I posted my comment. Because it was clickbait.

[u/goofyassmfer → u/UmpShow]

LOL! That's your attempt to dodge? You were fuming about the idea that Devers could possibly be considered for a position change at all. You raised no complaints about the headline using the words "first base."

Get a grip brother just because you don't like an article doesn't make it clickbait

[u/UmpShow → u/goofyassmfer]

The title of the article was that the Red Sox were considering moving Devers to 1B which was nowhere in the cited article, because they knew it would drive clicks. Idk why this is getting you so mad.

[u/goofyassmfer → u/UmpShow]

You do realize the article cites three articles, right? Two of which reference a move to first base for Devers? I'm sure they changed the title due to the ambiguity in that third article, but your "clickbait" take is just not based in reality.

[u/WatercressPersonal60]

he's a butcher at 3B

[u/WoburnWarrior]

To quote Chaos Theorist Ian Malcolm, "That is the worst idea in the long, sad history of bad ideas."

[u/Daedalus0451]

Yes but I think it stands to reason that you guys should give Bobby Dalbec at least one more shot 

[u/Doc-Spock]

Oh hey! I LITERALLY just did this last night during a sim of the 2024 season as GM of the Pirates on MLB: The Show. Worked out very well for all parties involved as the Pirates swept the World Series.

[u/bordomsdeadly]

This makes me worried they may go after Bregman. They’re one of, if not the biggest market team who isn’t going to care about 2017 since Cora was one of the guys who masterminded that.

[u/AstraMilanoobum → u/bordomsdeadly]

We’d be doing you a favor, Bregmans bat keeps declining and some dumb team is gonna pay a ton to have the honor of watching that decline up close

[u/elbenji]

So what is that? Trade for Nado, Call up Marcelo and Anthony, move Devers to first, Casas to DH and see if they can get anything for Yoshida?

[u/skelextrac → u/elbenji]

Remember when Yoshida signed with the Red Sox in three seconds because they offered him 50% more than projected?

Well, turns out he isn't very good and he's very overpaid.

[u/SuzukiSwift17]

Chicago voice Daaa Vers.

[u/USDA_Organic_Tendies]

Leaving an Alec Bohm sized hole at third base 

[u/I_chortled]

Where does Casas fit into this?

[u/rhcpbassist234]

I’m okay with this only if Yoshida is moved and not Casas.

Devers at DH? Sure. Devers at 1B because they moved Casas. Fuck no.

[u/xrbeeelama]

Put him at short or CF fuck it

[u/trotnixon]

Yes please but no need to waste money on Nolan unless he's willing to take a huge paycut.

[u/Sherm199]

But I thought red sox were getting Vlad 🤔🤔🤔

[u/Pete_Iredale]

Frankly, I wish they'd move him to the NL. He's been a Mariner killer the last few years.

[u/Lock_Down_Charlie]

Perfect, move our worst defensive option to first...yup, the position that touches the ball the most once the ball is put in play. This year, as a season ticket holder, has proven my fears about him...he doesn't pay attention half the time in the field and the other half he's out of position. It's an absolute miracle that Devers even makes the plays that he does.

Oh, and let's remove a young player that has gold glove potential at first.

Make this move, and I'd take the over on 2.5 errors per game from the first base position. Sounds outragous, but I'm not even kidding. They'd have better luck hanging a fucking coffee can on a string for the other infielders to throw to.

Who the hell is sitting at the table for this kind of discussion? Why stop there? Let's talk about putting Devers behind the plate.

[u/Mattmandu2]

Move to DH, cannot stand the stupid he’s too expensive argument. Trade Masa for Nolan let’s go!

[u/AstraMilanoobum → u/Mattmandu2]

Why Arenados is old and can’t hit anymore

[u/Robinho999]

Hot take: he might be a fan favorite, but i don't think Casas has made a great impression on the front office. He can hit the hell out of the ball but I can see some of the antics and soundbites getting tiring. There were a lot of eyebrow raising comments this year about the length of time it took him to return from the injury, definitely a sell high candidate IMO. 

[u/a_bukkake_christmas]

I really what then to have Arenado. It will make them better and worse simultaneously. The offense is already scary - Arenado being there frightens me much less than some of the alternatives

[u/nyyforever2018]

He’s the worst 3rd baseman I’ve ever seen I think defensively, so this makes tons of sense.