Craig Breslow Issues Update On Rafael Devers Fielding Saga
The pieces are starting to fall for the Red Sox, even if Boston is still trying to put the puzzle together across the infield.
With Alex Bregman and Triston Casas sidelined with injuries, the Red Sox have been forced to make changes at third and first base. The changes apparently will not include Rafael Devers, who has not taken reps at either corner since the injuries.
“Conversations are ongoing,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told reporters in Atlanta, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam. “It’s best to keep them internal. But obviously, there’s nothing to show right now. He’s still DHing and doing a hell of a job there.
“If it were to happen, it would require a transition. I don’t know exactly what that would look like, how long (it would take) or when it would begin. But as of right now, this is where we are.”
Boston manager Alex Cora told reporters last week he wasn’t “closing the door” on Devers picking up his glove again, but Breslow admitted he hasn’t approached the Red Sox slugger about playing the field.
“I did not,” Breslow said, when asked if he talked to Devers about going back to third base. “Trying to be sensitive and respectful of the conversations that went into moving him off of third base initially. We recognize that there’s a balance here between needing to do what we need to do that’s best for the team and also, trying to provide some stability.
“All of these are conversations with no finality, but at this point, we’re feeling like it makes more sense to have somebody like Marcelo (Mayer) there.”
Mayer was recalled from Triple-A Worcester last weekend after Bregman was placed on the 10-day injured list. With Mayer taking the reps at third, Boston has been working with rookie Kristian Campbell at first. He is slated to make his debut on the corner on Sunday in the Red Sox’s finale against the Braves.