Alex Bregman is having the best start of his career, Kristian Campbell is leading the American League Rookie of the Year race, and Rafael Devers seems to have settled into his role as the Red Sox’s designated hitter.
Yet, despite these bright spots, Boston’s offense still needs a spark. The team leads the AL in strikeouts with 340 through 37 games and continues to struggle in clutch moments with runners in scoring position. There may be an internal solution ready to help—if the roster is adjusted.
One option would be shifting Devers to first base, which would open the DH spot for Masataka Yoshida, whose contact skills could reduce strikeouts. However, there’s a catch: Devers might not be eager to switch positions again after his well-publicized move from third base to DH this offseason. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, manager Alex Cora said on May 6 that he hasn’t brought up the idea of moving Devers to first—and has no intention of doing so.
Yoshida, meanwhile, has been rehabbing from offseason labrum surgery and remains unable to throw, which limits him from returning to the outfield. The original plan was to use him there while Devers handled DH duties, but with Triston Casas now out for the year, first base is suddenly open—potentially paving the way for Devers to return to the field and Yoshida to rejoin the batting order.
Even if Devers is hesitant, it’s worth at least starting the conversation. While he’s been avoiding media availability since Casas’ injury—possibly anticipating these questions—the team can’t force another change after already misleading him about his DH role. Still, many third basemen have transitioned to first later in their careers, including past Red Sox players. Devers might even see this as a chance to prove his fielding ability after losing third base to Bregman.
If Devers declines the move, the Red Sox will need to explore outside options for first base help. But if he agrees, getting Yoshida’s bat back in the lineup could be a much-needed boost—especially with top prospects like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer potentially joining the roster later this season. Yoshida has posted a .285/.343/.433 line across 248 games in his first two years with Boston—not elite, but consistent enough to help stabilize the offense.
Right now, the Red Sox aren’t putting their best possible lineup on the field. Despite having the easiest schedule to start the season, they’re sitting at 18-19, largely due to underwhelming pitching and inconsistent offense. These issues could be addressed with a few sensible roster moves, but the front office’s reluctance to act is beginning to raise concerns.
