David Ortiz Backs Rafael Devers as 'Best' Red Sox Player After Alex Bregman Contract

Baseball Hall of Famer and Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz still believes that Rafael Devers is Boston's best player despite the addition of ex-Houston Astros star Alex Bregman on a $120 million deal.

MLB insider Héctor Gómez of Z101 Digital relayed the remarks.

Devers, a three-time All-Star who has played all eight of his seasons in Boston, hit .272 (.871 OPS) with 28 home runs and 83 RBI in 2024.

Bregman's an exceptional player in his own right, a doubles machine who hit .260 (.768 OPS) with 26 home runs and 75 RBI last year. He's a two-time World Series champion and two-time All-Star who carved out a great career in Houston.

Devers is still Boston's top star, but there seems to be at least some concern about how everything will shake out defensively.

Big Papi's comments dropped shortly after Devers made it clear that he has no desire to move off third base for Bregman, who just won a Gold Glove at the position.

“Third base is my position,” Devers said Monday, per Ian Browne of MLB.com. “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.”

Boston's plans are unclear at the moment. Manager Alex Cora had this to tell reporters Monday, per Browne.

“It’s too early right now to say Raffy is going to be a DH or going to play third base, or that Alex is going to be a second baseman or going to play third base,” Cora said. “There is competition here, and I think flexibility and versatility is huge for us. We have some talented guys. We’re going to take the best roster going to Texas [for Opening Day].”

Frankly, Boston has bigger issues to worry about.

The Red Sox just went a disappointing 81-81 after being 10 games over .500 at the All-Star break. Their pitching staff did not fare well, leading to Boston acquiring reinforcements in the form of three new starting pitchers (Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler and Lucas Giolito). Boston also added left-handed relievers Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson.

The team must also traverse a tough AL East featuring the defending AL champion New York Yankees and a Baltimore Orioles team that's made the playoffs each of the past two years.

Still, the Red Sox certainly look better on paper. We'll see how it all shakes out soon enough, with Boston beginning the season on March 27 at the Texas Rangers.