Red Sox’s Kristian Campbell Decision Locks Rafael Devers Into Murky Future

In solving their biggest spring training mystery, the Boston Red Sox created a series of other questions surrounding their best player.

The Red Sox plan to make star prospect Kristian Campbell their primary second baseman, according to multiple reports. Additional reporting indicates Alex Bregman will handle third base with franchise slugger Rafael Devers transitioning to a full-time designated hitter role.

Had Campbell not won the job, Boston hypothetically could’ve put Bregman — if not David Hamilton — at second while keeping Devers at third. Such a scenario would’ve at least opened the door for Devers to show such improvement defensively that the Red Sox would consider playing Campbell at a different position, at least temporarily.

But that’s not what happened. Campbell will be the starting second base and likely will have a long leash; Devers now will move off the position he’s played since joining the Red Sox in 2014.

And, well, that makes it fair to wonder what kind of future Devers has in Boston.

It’s known Devers isn’t happy about this. He began spring training by bluntly refusing to change positions to accommodate Bregman. Recent reporting indicates the 28-year-old considered requesting a trade amid his frustration with the Red Sox, whom he feels were dishonest about their offseason pursuits of Bregman and Nolan Arenado.

So, where do things go from here? Let’s look at four possible paths, none of which are clean.

Path 1: Devers accepts and fills the full-time DH role for many years

Perhaps Devers eventually comes around, takes to DH’ing and realizes it’s the best thing for the franchise. But it’s hard to see that happening, as he views himself as a third baseman and takes immense pride in playing the position. Moreover, are the Red Sox really going to pay $253.5 million over the next nine years for a DH? That seems like bad business for an organization that places a huge emphasis on analytic-driven value.

Path 2: Devers returns to third base after Bregman leaves

For the sake of argument, let’s say Bregman crushes it this season and opts out of his contract next winter. In theory, the Red Sox could put Devers back at third base if, say, Campbell and Marcelo Mayer are locked in at second base and shortstop, respectively. But the Red Sox already have made it clear they believe Devers isn’t a viable short-term option at third. And if they think he still could be a long-term answer, taking him off the field for a year wouldn’t be a great way to foster defensive improvement.

Path 3: Devers starts seeing time at first base

This feels like a plausible outcome, especially if the Red Sox want to get the most out of Devers’ contract. Of course, this would put the writing on the wall for Triston Casas, whom many still believe can be a franchise first baseman. It’s also fair to wonder where pending free agent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could fit into all of this.

Path 4: Trade Devers

The once-unthinkable now is on the table. Even if Devers doesn’t force his way out of town, the Red Sox might talk themselves into a trade anyway. They still must extend Garrett Crochet, who could fetch at least $200 million, and multiple reports suggest extensions for Campbell, Mayer and Roman Anthony could be hashed out over the next year. Is there room for Devers, all of those other contracts, and a potential signing of Guerrero? The rubber has to meet the road at some point, as it did after Boston won the World Series in 2018.

These things have a way of working themselves out, so maybe everything will be fine. But Boston’s steadfast confidence in Campbell, who didn’t exactly light the world on fire in spring training, ensures the Devers drama will linger at least early in the season.

How will all of this end? Nobody knows, but the Devers storyline will be watched closely in the weeks and months ahead.

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