The Boston Red Sox have now signed Alex Bregman, which should restore a modicum of credibility to their clubhouse and their chances in the American League East.
They certainly did not cheap out — Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million pact with opt-outs after each season. That, however, raises the issue of where to play a Gold Glove third baseman. In this case, the Red Sox may opt for the sieve at second base, but they still have Rafael Devers at third. One option discussed with a certain level of ruthlessness is moving Devers to first open up Triston Casas to trade, a potential move to designated hitter, or a fancy hood ornament.
Casas has gained some notoriety with his workout regime and painted nails. If Casas can bang out a nice 30 homers and 100 RBI in 2025, Red Sox Nation couldn't care less where he's stationed defensively.
Testing Devers' defensive acumen at first would be risky, but there has been a presence of risk-taking in the past. I am old enough to remember Dick Stuart, who treated a thrown or hit baseball like a marine at Guadalcanal would regard a hand grenade tossed into his foxhole.
Triston Casas, Rafael Devers will keep their corner infield jobs after Red Sox sign Alex Bregman
Devers will remain anchored at third base after the Bregman signing, as the Red Sox have announced the former Astro will post at second base. But as rough Devers's ability to corral a batted ball and toss it in the general vicinity of another fielder can be, he will never sink to the level of Butch Hobson, who was noted for (1) Bad fielding, (2) Managing the Red Sox, and (3) getting busted for cocaine.
Casas has the power tools to light it up, and a bat like that is difficult to trade off or anchor to the bench. The number that pops out is 31/80, or his projected home run and RBI total over 162 games. Of course, banking on him playing a full 162 is risky, but we've already established the Sox have taken bigger risks in the past.
Since we're now drifting into Red Sox history, who will Casas be? Vic Wertz was noted most for hitting a ball in the 1954 World Series, and Willie Mays acted like a lion after a gazelle to make it legendary. Wertz was just around for a few seasons. But, no, we'll turn to Charm City.
Casas can be this franchise's Boog Powell. Powell, like Casas, could hit mammoth homers and be that solid item in the clubhouse.
So Casas has avoided position intrusion and a trade with Bregman in the fold, since the newest Red Sox is slated for second base as of this writing. This leaves Devers to make a sensational play followed by juggling a ball that would make a great act on the Las Vegas Strip.
The audition for the second base will now be on hold with the arrival of Bregman and his potential gap-filling. Of course, like anything Red Sox, this could change. On the surface, this infield can bash with the best of them, but the corner slots defensively may cause some teeth-gashing among pitchers.