Rafael Devers 'Not Frustrated' with Red Sox Amid Alex Bregman Position Buzz

Rafael Devers clearly wants to remain at third base despite the team's addition of Alex Bregman in free agency, though he said the situation hasn't reached the point of frustration.

"I'm not frustrated," he told reporters on Tuesday. "I don't have the need to be frustrated about anything with anybody... My family is good. My kids are good. I have no reason to be frustrated about anything. I don't listen to what's said. I don't pay attention to what is said. I just know what I'm capable of. I'm happy being this way."

Devers was asked last week if he would move to designated hitter if the Red Sox wanted to play Bregman at third, and was fairly blunt in his his response.

"No," he told reporters. "I play third."

"It's my decision... My position is third base," he continued. "Whatever it is they want to do is what they want to do. But my position is third base. It's my position. I'm not just going to change on a whim like that. That's my reaction currently."

That led to some belief that perhaps a rift was growing between Devers and the organization, and manager Alex Cora said the Red Sox would ultimately do what was best for the organization in lieu of Devers' comments.

"He has a lot of pride," he told reporters. "We know that. He feels like he's a third baseman. He's going to work out as a third baseman and then we're going to make decisions accordingly. But I think here it's not about Bregman or Devers or Cora. It's about the Red Sox, right? Whatever decision we make is for the benefit of the team. It's too early right now to say that Raffy is going to be a DH or he's going to play third base, that Alex is going to be a second baseman or he's going to play third base. There's competition here, and I think flexibility and versatility is huge for us."

Bregman also responded to Devers' remarks.

"I'm super excited to just be his teammate. He's a great player," Bregman told reporters. "I think everybody in this clubhouse is worried about winning. And whatever it takes to help the team win, that's all I'm focused on. I'll player wherever [Cora] tells me to play."

Bregman is the better defensive third baseman, though if neither Kristian Campbell or Vaughn Grissom look capable of handling the everyday second base duties the entire discussion may be a moot point, as the Red Sox would simply keep Devers at third and play Bregman at second.

If either Campbell or Grissom seizes the second baseman role, however, things could get testy in Boston between Devers and the organization.

But for the time being, Devers doesn't believe the situation is that big of a deal.

"I really don't know why this is becoming such a big story," he told reporters Tuesday. "We're a team and we communicate with each other. I think the most important thing is for us to have a good chemistry together. Like I've always said since Day 1, the most important thing for me is that we win. That's where I stand."