The Boston Red Sox have had to get creative in the infield during the 2025 campaign. Much of that falls on Rafael Devers’ unwillingness to play third base, but it is what it is. He felt slighted by the Red Sox going out and replacing him with Alex Bregman at the position, and his decision has seemingly been made.
Barring anything drastic happening, the Red Sox will either have to continue to get creative or suffer because of it.
But it's impacting more than just Devers and others on the roster. Not only has Marcelo Mayer had to play third base, his non-typical position, but the Red Sox have even flirted with the idea of Kristian Campbell playing first base.
Campbell has struggled mightily over the past month or so, a tough situation for the Red Sox to be in after paying him a pre-arbitration deal.
Some believe that Devers' decision is hurting the rest of the roster, including Owen Crisafulli, who suggested that the Red Sox need to force him to play third base to solve many of their issues with Campbell and Mayer.
"Even playing him at his native third base position could allow another young stud, Marcelo Mayer, to stop playing out of position in the field," wrote Crisafulli. "It could also allow Kristian Campbell, who has been in a month-long slump, to go back to the minors to figure things out, but as of right now, he's needed in the field because of Devers' stubbornness."
The Red Sox have been one of the more below-average teams in baseball, which is something nobody expected to be said entering the year.
Devers playing third base doesn't necessarily change all of that, but it’d allow the team to play the best nine players on their roster. When that happens, good things typically come.
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