David Ortiz Offers Rafael Devers Advice Amid Spring Training Uncertainty

Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz understands where Rafael Devers is coming from as the team gathered in Fort Myers, Fla., for spring training.

Devers spent seven-plus seasons as Boston’s starting third baseman, making three All-Star appearances along the way. The Red Sox saved their biggest offseason spending splurge to sign third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract, immediately opening the door to a new possibility. Boston manager Alex Cora now has two third basemen to choose from before Opening Day.

Initially, when asked about the possibility of moving from third base, Devers was defiant. The 28-year-old wasn’t open to the idea of giving up the hot corner, sparking a massive debate before Bregman had ever suited up for a spring training exhibition. But Ortiz, watching from afar, leveled with Devers and offered some blunt advice.

“At some point, it’s all about putting the ego aside,” Ortiz told WEEI’s Rob Bradford on Audacy’s “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast.

Ortiz continued: “I’m in his corner at all times, but I want him to understand that this organization is trying to build up good players around him, so he doesn’t have to take the pressure all times.”

The Red Sox weren’t in a position to act content this offseason. With three straight playoff misses and three last-place division finishes in the past five seasons, urgency was the No. 1 priority, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow demonstrated that. Boston added relief pitching, starting pitching and just before everyone returned to JetBlue Park, the front office delivered Bregman to get the clubhouse buzzing this spring.

Bregman isn’t joining the Red Sox to do anything else but help get the team back on track. The two-time World Series champion is coming off a Gold Glove Award-winning 2024 with the Houston Astros and is a proven playoff performer. Bregman has played in 99 career postseason contests, hits .375 at Fenway Park and can also play second base.

Boston committed an American League-worst 115 errors last season, which put the club three miscues shy of leading MLB.

After adding Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval among others, the Red Sox weren’t done. The team had been linked to Bregman and fellow third baseman Nolan Arenado for months before Bregman and Boston reached an agreement. So Ortiz also, from experience as a 20-year veteran, understands the organization’s perspective.

“I don’t want (Devers) to feel like he was left alone,” Ortiz said. “Or I don’t want him to feel disappointed about the way the organization made the move because the organization would never try to hurt — especially a guy like Devers. Sometimes, there’s a situation that happens, and you have to move fast and go in that direction. (Devers) said a year ago, we gotta get good players. I wanna win. And that’s what the organization is trying to do.”

Ortiz isn’t worried about the whole third base situation causing any damage. The 49-year-old is confident everything will work itself out, and the new-look Red Sox will get right to work once the season kicks off on March 27.