How the Red Sox Can Resolve Rafael Devers Situation and Save $27.5 Million

The standoff between the Boston Red Sox and Rafael Devers has elicited many possible scenarios for resolution.

Devers is refusing to move off third base even after the Red Sox announced the $120 million signing of the reigning American League Gold Glove Award winner at third base, Alex Bregman. For his part, Bregman told reporters he's willing to play "wherever AC (manager Alex Cora) tells me to play."

Even Red Sox first baseman Tristan Casas has offered his opinion on who should play where.

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"I think it's Raffy Devers' position," Casas told reporters in the Red Sox's spring training camp in Fort Myers, Florida. "I think he's the third baseman. He's done it for a really long time now. And I think he's only getting better at that position. I think his defense is getting better every single year. We don't know what the future holds, but we know it holds Raffy Devers."

Opinions abound, but ultimately those that matter most belong to Cora and Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. For proof, look no further than the example of former Washington Nationals star Alfonso Soriano.

In spring training in 2006, Nationals manager Frank Robinson and general manager Jim Bowden — who had acquired Soriano in a trade with the New York Yankees months earlier — tried moving the former All-Star from second base to the outfield. Washington already had a slick-fielding second baseman, Jose Vidro, who had played the position the previous eight seasons and made three All-Star teams.

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Robinson listed Soriano in left field for his spring training debut. Soriano refused to play.

According to the Associated Press, Bowden threatened to put Soriano on the disqualified list, which would prevent him from playing, accruing service time, and receiving his $10 million salary. Soriano then acquiesced to playing the outfield.

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If any of this story sounds familiar, it's worth noting the Red Sox could take the same hard-line approach with Devers. Writes Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors:

That's what needs to be done here with Devers: Craig Breslow must convince him to move to DH and/or first base for the good of the team. If Devers refuses, he'd be placed on the disqualified list and would not receive his $27.5 million salary. The Nats did not leave the door open for Soriano to back up Jose Vidro second base; I'm not sure if the Red Sox should take the same approach with Devers and third.

This might not be Plan A for Cora and Breslow at the moment, but it's an option baseball's rulebook permits.

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