3rd base? 2nd? Where will Bregman play for Red Sox?

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Now that the Red Sox have filled their need for a right-handed bat by agreeing with Alex Bregman on a three-year, $120 million contract that includes two opt-outs and some deferrals, here is the big question: How will the move impact the club’s infield alignment?

Here’s a look at how things could unfold following a major transaction that has yet to be announced by the Red Sox, but should become official in the coming days.

Bregman moves to second base

Not only has Bregman been a third baseman for most of his career, but he’s been stellar at the position, winning a Gold Glove Award in 2024. However, the Red Sox have star slugger Rafael Devers entrenched at the hot corner, and nowhere else to put him based on the team’s current roster.

Power-hitting Triston Casas, who finished third in the American League’s Rookie of the Year voting two years ago, is the first baseman. Masataka Yoshida, who has three years left on his five-year, $90 million contract, projects as the primary DH.

Bregman is known for his athleticism and likely wouldn’t have any trouble transitioning to second base, a position he’s played nine times in the Majors, including two starts.

Manager Alex Cora -- who was the bench coach for the Astros in 2017 -- discussed the scenario of Bregman moving to second base at the Winter Meetings two months ago.

“We actually had that conversation in '17 when I was with the Astros. We made some adjustments at third base, kind of like where he was playing because he was feeling uncomfortable.

"At the end, it paid off for him,” Cora said on Dec. 9. “He's a Gold Glove defender at third. I always envisioned him playing in the middle of the diamond, and those were conversations in '17. He can adjust, and he has a baseball IQ to do that. People might think the double play might be an issue. I don't believe so. I think he can do whatever.”

If Bregman winds up as the second baseman, how does this impact prospect Kristian Campbell, who came to camp in a competition with Vaughn Grissom and David Hamilton for that position?

Campbell is an uber-athlete who can play all over the field, so second base doesn’t have to be his landing spot. However, if there is no room for Campbell -- MLB Pipeline’s No. 7 overall prospect -- to get regular at-bats, he could start the season at Triple-A to get more seasoning and be on standby should another regular get injured.

Devers moves off third

The best reason for having Devers switch positions is so that the team’s best defensive third baseman (Bregman) would be the one playing at that position. But it’s not the only potential plus. Moving Devers away from the hot corner could also take less of a toll on his body. Devers played through discomfort in both of his shoulders last season and his offense was hampered significantly for the final two months of the season.

The Red Sox were pressed numerous times this winter about the possibility of taking Devers off the hot corner. Each time chief baseball officer Craig Breslow or Cora was asked about it, they said they would discuss the move with Devers before revealing any such plans to the media.

In his press conference on Tuesday, Cora indicated that the subject might have been broached with Devers recently, at least in hypothetical terms.

“We've been talking about everything from what are we trying to accomplish roster wise to what we need to accomplish for him,” said Cora. “And I think right now, the main thing is not positions or additions or whatever. It’s for him to have a healthy camp. He had a good offseason as far as the shoulder. He's in a good spot.”

Yoshida or Casas gets traded

Seemingly, the only way it would be feasible for Devers to slot in somewhere other than third base is if Breslow trades Yoshida or Casas.

Given that Casas is 25 years old and isn’t eligible for free agency until the 2029 season, the Red Sox would have to get a pretty big piece to deal him. Never say never. What if he could be part of a package that could pry front-line starter Dylan Cease loose from the Padres? The Mariners are stacked in the rotation but need more punch offensively, so that is another potential fit.

Trading Yoshida, who hasn’t lived up to his price-tag in his first two seasons, would make more sense. Also, Yoshida was acquired by former chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, so Breslow might be more willing to move on from the left-handed hitter, even if it means picking up a significant portion of his remaining salary.