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Why Kevin Youkillis is the perfect blueprint for how Red Sox should handle Rafael Devers

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photo credit: Cincinnati Enquier^.com

Kevin Youkilis over 8.5 years with the Red Sox provided grit, determination, ^ a power-bat. Yet it was his defensive versatility that let the Red Sox get better.

When the Red Sox drafted Kevin Youkilis out of the University of Cincinnati where he put together a .410/.549/.714/1.263 offensive stat line. Yet it was the fact that Youkilis also led the nation with 59 walks compared to just striking out just 21 times, that attracted then-GM Theo Epstein to draft the young third baseman in the 8th round of the 2001 draft.
Youkilis would spend three seasons in the minors before reaching the Majors during the 2004 season, where he would play a minor role that season during the team's championship run, appearing in 72 games that year, hitting .260 with 7 home-^runs driving in 35.
Yet between 2007 and 2011 is when Youkilis would truly prove to be one of the best players in the game.  Over that five years, Youkilis would average 130 games played,^ hitting .294/.395/.517/.913/ with an OPS+ of 136.  ^ He would hit ^ 22 home runs knocking in 87 while also earning  Gold Glove recognition in 2007 for his play at first base as well as earning 3 All-Star appearances in ^08-09-2011^.
Currently, the Red Sox now have a young, talented player who possesses similar attributes on both sides of the ball, that^ Youkilis once used to his advantage with the Red Sox. That player is Rafael Devers.
Devers who made his MLB debut last August, quickly proved himself to like Youkilis once did ^ have the ability to impact the game with his power potential, hitting 10 home runs in just 58 games last season. Yet it was Devers struggles at third that may have the Sox considering once again trying to find success by moving Devers from third to across the diamond to first.
The Red Sox for 2.5 years had to deal with Pablo Sandoval,^ the rotund and overpaid disaster of a third baseman struggled to not only keep his weight under control but also to just stay on the field. Devers is still just 20 years of age and is entering his first full season as a Red Sox full-time player, yet many project the current third baseman to eventually need to move across the diamond to first base due to potential issues on defense, as well as the prospect of turning into Panda part two.
Devers is listed as 6'0 ft and 195 pounds, but he has had continued struggles defensively at third since he has been in the Minors both in regards to his positioning as well as his throws from across the diamond. ^ Last season Devers played 507.2 defensive innings at third base and in 149 plays, he made 14 errors split between throws as well as fielding.  The Red Sox have brought up his former AA manager Carlos Febles as the new infield instructor, who may have dual roles of being the infield instructor, as well as the personal instructor to try and help make Devers into a better defensive third baseman.
Yet, if during Spring Training, the team realizes that Devers struggles are not worth keeping him at third and moving him across the diamond to first makes more sense, they should DO IT^.
Now under this scenario of Devers moving across the diamond, it would open up third base for potentially, for the Red Sox to try and sign current free-^agent Mike Moustakas.  Similar to when the Red Sox acquired Mike Lowell prior to the 2007 season, which saw the team move Youkilis to first, if the Red Sox were able to move Devers to third  and IF^ they were to able sign Moustakas, they would be adding a player who last season, hit 38 homers and slugged .521 for the Royals. Plus he's only  29 he’s firmly in his prime and could be willing to sign a 1-^year pillow contract with the Red Sox for this season.
That season of 2007 saw,^ both Youk and Lowell go on to have great years, leading the Red Sox to yet another World Series title.  Entering this season, could the Red Sox once again make a move that not only benefits them for this season by adding Moustakas but by allowing Devers to move to first and split time there as well as seeing time at third ^ and DH allow for the Red Sox to potentially get that much better?
Dombrowski and Cora the choice is yours, but if you're asking me, look at what occurred in 2007 and the results of that season, and use it as a blueprint for this and future seasons.

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