Alex Cora wasn’t shocked Rafael Devers publicly expressed his need to stay at third base as a result of the Pink Sox slugger stated the identical behind the scenes final week.
“We talked about each chance that might presumably occur,” Cora informed reporters in Fort Myers, Fla. on Monday, as seen on NESN. “We talked about completely different conditions, we talked about (him serving because the designated hitter). He stated, ‘I’m a 3rd baseman.’”
Cora confronted a handful of questions stemming from the feedback Devers made Monday when he spoke to the media for the primary time for the reason that Pink Sox signed Alex Bregman. Devers was requested if he would log out on a transition to designated hitter given Bregman received a Gold Glove at third base in 2024, and the 28-year-old stated he wouldn’t.
“He has loads of delight,” Cora stated. “We all know that. He seems like he’s a 3rd baseman. He’s going to work out as a 3rd baseman after which we’re going to make selections accordingly. However I feel right here it’s not about Bregman or Devers or Cora. It’s in regards to the Pink Sox, proper? No matter choice we make is for the advantage of the staff.
“It’s too early proper now to say that Raffy goes to be a DH or he’s going to play third base, that Alex goes to be a second baseman or he’s going to play third base. There’s competitors right here, and I feel flexibility and flexibility is large for us. We received some proficient guys and we’re going to take the very best roster going to Texas. There’s going to be competitions and dictated of who wins it or who doesn’t, no matter, we’re going make selections for the lineup and for the roster.”
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Cora stated was not “mad” or “shocked” by Devers’ preliminary stance and ensuing feedback. After working with Devers for almost a decade, Cora knew Devers would stay steadfast and wish to retain his spot on the sizzling nook.
“Me and Raffy, we’ve a terrific relationship. That’s one thing that I made positive, I stated, ‘Hey, man, that is the baseball facet of it, we’re nonetheless Raffy and Alex,” Cora stated. “It’s a part of the enterprise and we’ll hold working. Like I stated, selections shall be made primarily based on roster building. That’s the fact of it. And we’ll hold speaking.”
Cora credited the Pink Sox entrance workplace for the job it did enhancing the roster this offseason. Boston did so via participant improvement, a commerce for beginning pitcher Garrett Crochet and free company signings of Walker Buehler, Bregman and others. Bregman’s expressed a willingness to play second base, and the supervisor beforehand stated the two-time MLB All-Star is able to enjoying a Gold Glove-caliber at second base.
It’s made for a proficient roster — a proficient roster that features Devers.
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“On the finish of the day, Raffy is Raffy. Whoever sits right here (in entrance of media), I’m not going to teach them to say one thing they don’t really feel,” Cora stated. “However I can assure you one thing: He needs to win right here, he needs to win a hoop right here in Boston.”
