The Boston Red Sox are among the most improved teams heading into the 2025 season. After missing the playoffs in each of the last three years, expectations are much higher this time around.
The additions of Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman provide a major boost. Crochet is one of the best pitchers in baseball, and Bregman strengthens an already formidable lineup. However, his arrival creates a potential positional conflict with Rafael Devers, who also plays third base.
Rafael Devers Willing To Convert to DH After Initial Apprehension
At first, Devers said he was not willing to switch to a full-time designated hitter and wanted to continue to play third base for Boston.
“Third base is my position,” Devers said in February. “It’s what I’ve played. I don’t know what their plans are. I know we had a conversation. I made it clear, kind of what my desires were and whatever happens from here, I don’t know.”
However, he retracted that statement on March 13, saying, “I’m good to do whatever they want me to do.”
Rafael Devers spoke with reporters today and is now open to being the Red Sox DH after being adamant that third base was his position earlier in the spring
Quote via @IanMBrowne pic.twitter.com/SWT5lJUOvc
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 13, 2025
Devers is one of the best hitters in baseball, so having his bat in the lineup is crucial. However, his willingness to do whatever is best for the team is important for Boston’s outlook and could put to rest any potential drama circulating the clubhouse.
The Dominican three-time All-Star is coming off a shoulder injury that hindered him over the second half of the 2024 season. He has yet to play in any spring training games, but his debut is expected this weekend.
Potential Lineup for the Red Sox in 2025
Red Sox manager Alex Cora recently shared what he thinks the Opening Day lineup will look like for Boston: Jarren Duran leading off, followed by Devers, Bregman, and Triston Casas
It will be hard to find a better 1-4 in any lineup in the league, as Casas is the only player who has not established himself as an All-Star but is expected to have a breakout season in 2025.
The Red Sox play in one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks, Fenway Park, a legendary field for right-handed hitters due to the Green Monster in left field. The only real question mark on this team pertains to the starting pitchers outside of Crochet.
With a lineup of Tanner Houck, Walker Buehler, Brayan Bello, and Lucas Giolito, the Red Sox have some big-name players on the mound, but their recent inability to stay healthy has hurt their value.
Boston has a chance to be one of the top teams in the American League this season. The AL East is loaded, but Gerrit Cole’s injury is detrimental to the New York Yankees’ outlook, and the Baltimore Orioles lost Anthony Santander and Corbin Burnes this offseason.