The Red Sox certainly made a splash this offseason when they landed one of the biggest free agents of the 2024 market in Alex Bregman, shocking and exciting fans all together. This signing, the Walker Buehler signing, in addition to the Crochet trade, and “The Big Three”’s anticipated debuts this season are measuring up equating to a new era of Red Sox baseball that fans have long awaited to see. However, of course, all things have more than one side to them, as we’ve seen with the saga of the Red Sox infield. With rumors swirling around the baseball ether all offseason long, especially right before Spring Training when the Bregman signing happened, regarding “who is going to play where,” there has been no shortage of off-field drama.

“Third base is my position,” Devers said right after the Sox signed Bregman. Historically, yes, it has been Raffy’s; however, it’s no secret that his defensive metrics aren’t that great. According to inside sources, Raffy was working with life-long Red Sox infielder, Dustin Pedroia, on his defense at the hot corner, and fans have been excited to see him begin to shine. That day is still coming as fans and teammates alike haven’t seen Devers’ debut this spring just yet. According to him, He’s “Still not ready yet,” having pushed back his Grapefruit League debut twice now, and allegedly, Saturday would be his first game (slotted in the DH spot, exactly where he insisted he didn’t want to be come Opening Day). Unfortunately for Devers, all this time where he’s been missing in action has allowed Cora and the rest of the coaching staff to see their 2025 depth chart take shape, and Devers’ plea for being at third could be less reasonable than everyone’s thought. With just two weeks to Opening Day, he hasn’t seen much more than a few sessions in the cage, and allegedly, as of this week, batting practice sessions off Crochet and Buehler. Enter Alex Bregman. Breggy has had himself an impressive spring, and has seen no time at second base, where initially Cora and the team saw him playing the majority of the 2025 season; but with Devers’ injuries, he’s been retaining his Gold Glove status at third as opposed to switching somewhere new, and it has been incredible to see. Having that much defensive hardware on the left side of second base will help out the team more than people could let on after having 108 errors last season, the second highest in the majors. From the games the Sox have played this Spring Training, the visions of the Red Sox position players are starting to get clearer. At least for now, Bregman has to play third; there’s no other way around it. Devers is not defensively ready to be in a big league game, regardless of how many years of professional experience he’s had.

So, let’s break it down. Casas will anchor first (unless he needs a day off in which either bench utilityman Romy González or Raffy himself could hop over to first), Kristian Campbell has been getting the majority of playing time at second this preseason, and according to yesterday’s broadcast against the Phillies, he will most likely get the nod as the opening day second baseman, unless Cora and his crew don’t think he’s ready to handle major league quality pitching as he has seemed to struggle at the plate in his first big league camp. Story has a lot to prove this year; however, after his two homer game earlier this spring and an all-around extremely productive recovery and preseason, hopefully Boston fans can get the first real look at who Trevor Story truly is out there on the field, the same Trevor that Rockies fans talk about as legend at this point. Third, as we know, we will have to be Bregman until Raffy feels ready to play, then the two could have more of a flip-flop alternating as DH on their respective days off the field. The outfield is a little clearer of a picture because it’s known that upcoming superstar Ceddanne Rafaela will be manning center, where he initially started the 2024 season until Story’s injury where he then took over shortstop or second base while a parade of young players tried to stake their claim in the infield (but to no avail, sorry David Hamilton). Left field will presumably be filled by lead-off man, Jarren Duran, who is looking to maintain his elevated “superstar” status after a monster 2024 season, but right field is more of a mystery. If you had asked me before Spring Training started, the answer would’ve obviously been Gold Glover, Wilyer Abreu; however, since Abreu has also not made his Grapefruit League debut just yet, it’s looking like the starting position might go to Trayce Thompson for now. Thompson’s Spring Training has been just about as good as you’d want while you’re trying to impress your new club, and to his credit, he genuinely has. With six homers, he’s leading all of the MLB in home runs this Spring Training, and has easily made a case for himself to be the starting right fielder until Wily is ready to return.

2025 is shaping up to really be the Red Sox year, or so we can hope. With an elevated rotation and pitching staff and a starting line-up and bench filled with MLB caliber bats and fielders, there is hope where there once was none; however, if you ask anyone who has an affinity for Boston baseball, they’ll tell you that all anyone can truly hope for is us to finish above .500 this year.