While Devers typically prepared for the season on his own in the Dominican Republic before heading to the Tampa area in January, this year he is following a strength and conditioning program established by team staff that includes the date the earliest start of his career.

“In recent years, injuries have played a role (in his performance),” Montes de Oca said. “Injuries happen to him just because of the way he plays. And I think he understands that, so he’s preparing this year earlier.

“He wants to play 150 or 160 games. He understands that he is getting older, so he has to start a little earlier with this preparation and try to do everything he can to avoid injuries next year.

Devers, despite injuring his left shoulder early in 2024 and bruising his knee early in the season, was in the midst of his best season until late July. But on a diving grounder to his left in Colorado on July 23, he landed awkwardly on his right shoulder.

“I don’t think he ever fully recovered from it,” Montes de Oca said. “I told him, ‘You’re probably better off going to the IL.’ But he wants to play every day. He said, “No, I’m fine. I am in treatment. It should be fine. He’s one of those players that, even though he understands his numbers might take a hit, his presence on the field helps the team, so he’s going to be on the field.

Although Devers remained in the lineup and continued to perform at a high level over the next two weeks, his health and performance deteriorated. From August 3 through the end of the season, he hit .197/.287/.299 with just three home runs and a strikeout rate of 28 percent, down from a .304/ line. .383/.609 with 25 homers and a 23. percent strikeout rate through August 2.

Over the final five weeks of the season, his bat speed collapsed. He couldn’t drive the ball, hitting .169/.261/.182 without a home run in his final 21 games before sitting out the final nine days of the season, his absence proving particularly painful.

“He understands he’s the face of the franchise and he’s proud of that,” Montes de Oca said. “He is proud of the team’s victory. When the team is not doing well, he puts a lot of pressure on himself and takes full responsibility.

With that in mind, the Red Sox contacted him about changing his offseason schedule, which will still take place in his native Samaná before moving to Florida in January. Devers signed.

“There is an opportunity to help build strength and durability by getting a head start in the offseason,” said Director of Baseball Craig Breslow. “It’s a recommendation that comes from the organization. We saw last year, Raffy has the will to play through discomfort and injuries, but as long as we can get him healthy and feeling good, that will help him a lot.

Devers hopes the extra work will increase his durability and allow him to improve his defense.

Although advanced metrics such as DRS and Outs Above Average (OAA) rank him as one of the worst defensive third basemen, he was in the midst of one of his most consistent defensive seasons until July. But he had to cut back on his defensive work and ultimately struggled to throw due to his shoulder injury.

He finished the year with a minus-6 OAA rating, meaning he converted six fewer balls in play into outs than an average third baseman. This performance led to questions about his long-term place in third place.

Breslow, who noted that Devers “has made progress” at third overall in 2024, did not rule out a position change, saying only that the team would not entertain the possibility without discussing it with Devers. But Montes de Oca made it clear that Devers still considers third base part of his identity.

“He’s a third baseman, and he’ll continue to play third base and work hard to get better. This is his position, this is what he likes to play and this is what he will play,” Montes de Oca said. “At least in the near future, this is where he will be. Ultimately, it’s hard to say, but for now, for the foreseeable future, he’s a third baseman.

Above all, Devers is a force in the lineup when healthy, but has worn down over time. Over eight seasons in the big leagues, he has a .294/.348/.553 line through July that has fallen to .257/.318/.446 over time.

He’s aware of this trend and, from early reports this offseason, he’s ready to do something about it. At a time when the Red Sox are exploring ways to improve in general manager meetings — rotation and bullpen improvements, as well as right-handed thunder — a full season of peak Devers offers an added factor in the pursuit of improvement.

“A motivated Raffy is a very good thing for the Boston Red Sox,” Breslow said.

Alex Speier can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him @alexspeier.