Sports
Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman Highlight Boston Red Sox Defensive Dilemma
The Boston Red Sox signed a third baseman who is about five times better defensively than their incumbent.
But they’re likely to continue starting the player who is one of the poorest at the position in the majors.
Yeah, that makes a ton of sense. Mark it on your scorecard as “complete nonsense.”
How the Red Sox handle having Alex Bregman join the team as Rafael Devers insists he’s not changing positions is one of the bigger storylines to watch during spring training.
Boston manager Alex Cora has to walk a fine line with Devers before eventually securing a resolution.
Bregman won a Gold Glove for his play at third base last season for the Houston Astros. Devers led American League third basemen in errors for the seventh straight season.
He led all major league third basemen in errors in five of those seasons.
The position is known as the hot corner, and it certainly has proven to be too hot for Devers to handle.
And it’s not just the horrific number of errors but also those other balls that get past Devers for hits—plays that Bregman would easily field. Bregman has led the AL or tied for the AL lead in assists in each of the past three seasons.
If putting the best team on the field is the priority, then Devers must be told that his potent bat remains valued, but it’s time for a better defensive player to man third base.
Bregman has made 81 errors in 995 career games as a third baseman. Devers has committed 141 in 955 games.
I’ll say what the starting pitchers are muttering under their breath but can’t say out loud: “Please, Alex Cora, put Bregman at third base. All those plays that don’t get made cause extra pitches and wear and tear on our arms.”
You have to respect how Bregman is handling the situation.
He could have arrived at spring training with a big ego to match his big new contract. He could have insisted during negotiations that he wouldn’t sign with the Red Sox unless he was going to be the third baseman.
Instead, he’s acting like a true professional who owns two World Series rings.
“It’s an honor to be Raffy’s teammate,” Bregman told reporters. “We’ve just been keeping our head down, getting to work.
“I’ll play anywhere. I truly mean it. Wherever A.C. tells me to play, I’ll be ready to play.”
For now, it looks like Bregman could start the season as Boston’s second baseman.
He has made nine career appearances at second base with only two starts. He made one start as a rookie in 2016 and another in 2018.
I don’t doubt that Bregman can adjust and play second base, but it’s highly unlikely that he’ll make the same impact there that he does at third.
Of course, baseball is full of instances where good players changed positions during their careers.
Robin Yount moved from shortstop to the outfield. Pete Rose went from second base to the outfield. Alex Rodriguez shifted from shortstop to third base due to Derek Jeter’s presence in the Bronx.
More recently, Fernando Tatis Jr. was moved from shortstop to right field. Jose Altuve is currently transitioning from second base to left field.
Sometimes, position changes are complete nightmares. When the San Diego Padres had an aging Willie McCovey at first base, they moved up-and-comer Mike Ivie to third base before the 1975 season. That experiment quickly ended when Ivie made 17 errors in 61 games.
Devers makes his impact with his hitting. The three-time All-Star has 200 homers and a .511 slugging percentage in eight seasons. He has hit more than 30 homers three times.
The Red Sox can’t make a legitimate playoff push without his offensive prowess. But their postseason hopes improve if he’s only at third base part of the time.
So rotate Bregman between third and second, find Devers some games at third, and figure out how to get him to understand that the team is better if he’s not using his glove as much as in past seasons.
Sports
Braves promote RHP Didier Fuentes, shuffle rotation
Mar 29, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Didier Fuentes (72) pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves promoted right-hander Didier Fuentes from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Wednesday’s road game against the Washington Nationals.
Right-handed reliever Ian Hamilton was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Fuentes.
The Braves pushed previously announced starter Martin Perez back to Thursday at Washington, giving fellow left-hander Chris Sale an additional day of rest before he takes the mound at home Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Fuentes, who made his major league debut last season, started the season in the Atlanta bullpen before being sent down to Gwinnett to build up as a starter.
He had a 2.25 ERA in four major league innings with four strikeouts and one walk before he was sent down. In three Triple-A starts spanning 16 2/3 innings, he went 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA, 20 strikeouts and six walks.
Fuentes, who debuted three days after his 20th birthday last June, had a 13.85 ERA in four starts and 13 innings in 2025, allowing 20 earned runs on 23 hits. However, his 0.66 ERA, 18 strikeouts and one walk over 13 2/3 innings this spring helped him earn an Opening Day roster spot.
Hamilton, 30, allowed three runs in one inning of his Braves debut in Tuesday’s 11-4 loss to the Nationals. Over seven seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2018, 2020), Minnesota Twins (2022), New York Yankees (2023-25) and Braves, Hamilton is 6-6 with a 3.75 ERA over 151 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Padres bolster rotation, sign RHP Lucas Giolito to 1-year deal
Sep 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Right-hander Lucas Giolito signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the Padres, however there is a mutual option for the 2027 season. He’ll begin his major league buildup at Single-A Lake Elsinore, per MLB.com.
The addition of Giolito comes with San Diego nursing injuries to its starting rotation, namely right-hander Nick Pivetta (right flexor strain). Joe Musgrove (recovering from Tommy John surgery) and Griffin Canning (Achilles) have yet to make their respective season debuts, and fellow right-hander Yu Darvish is on the Padres’ restricted list while he recovers from elbow surgery.
Giolito, 31, posted a 10-4 record with a 3.41 ERA in 26 appearances (all starts) last season with the Boston Red Sox.
He is 71-66 with a 4.30 ERA over 206 appearances (204 starts) with the Washington Nationals (2016), Chicago White Sox (2017-23), Los Angeles Angels (2023), Cleveland Guardians (2023) and Red Sox (2025). He was selected by the Nationals with the 16th overall pick in 2012.
San Diego transferred right-hander Bryan Hoeing (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday to make room for Giolito on the 40-man roster.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Germany F Serge Gnabry (thigh) to miss World Cup
Jul 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; FC Bayern Munich forward Serge Gnabry (7) warms up before a quarterfinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Germany forward Serge Gnabry confirmed on Wednesday that he will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to injury.
His pro club Bayern Munich announced on Saturday that Gnabry, 30, had torn the adductor muscle in his right thigh.
“The last few days have been tough to process,” he posted on Instagram. “A Bayern season which still holds much to play for after securing another Bundesliga title on the weekend.
“As for the World Cup dream with Germany … That’s sadly over for me. Like the rest of the country, I’ll be supporting the boys from home. Now it’s time to focus on recovery and getting back for pre-season.”
Gnabry recorded eight goals and six assists this season for the Bundesliga champions in 2025-26, his eighth season with Bayern Munich.
Internationally, Gnabry has scored 26 goals in 59 caps since making his debut for Germany in 2016. He started every World Cup qualifier and two friendlies in March leading up to this summer’s tournament in North America.
Germany is No. 10 in the latest FIFA world rankings. The four-time World Cup champions are in Group E along with Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Their opening match is against Curacao on June 14 in Houston.
–Field Level Media
Braves promote RHP Didier Fuentes, shuffle rotation
Padres bolster rotation, sign RHP Lucas Giolito to 1-year deal
