Crimson Sox designated hitter Rafael Devers spoke to members of the media at this time, together with Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Devers mentioned that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow not too long ago requested him about enjoying first base within the wake of the Triston Casas harm. Devers mentioned that he’s unwilling to take up the place, including that the membership informed him to place away his glove after they moved him from third base to designated hitter this winter. He feels that the group has now gone again on its phrase. He additionally responded “Sí, claro” when requested if he was upset by the request.
“I do know I’m a ballplayer,” Devers mentioned, through translator, relayed by Speier, “however on the similar time, they will’t anticipate me to play each single place on the market. In break coaching, they talked to me and mainly informed me to place away my glove, that I wasn’t going to play every other place however DH. So proper now, I simply really feel prefer it’s not an acceptable choice by them to ask me to play one other place.” Devers added this about Breslow, per Speier, “I’m not sure what (subject) he has with me. He performed ball, and I wish to assume that he is aware of that altering positions like that isn’t straightforward.” Speier relayed extra from Devers: “Right here within the clubhouse, fortunately, the connection that I’ve with my teammates is nice. I don’t perceive a few of the selections that the GM makes. Subsequent factor you recognize, somebody within the outfield will get damage they usually need me to play within the outfield.” As for the primary base spot, Devers appears to assume an exterior addition is the reply, per Christopher Smith of MassLive: “Now I feel they need to do their job primarily and hit the market and search for one other participant (to play first base). I’m unsure why they need me to be in between the way in which they’ve me now.”
Maybe he’ll alter that stance in time however he appears to be taking a powerful stand for now. Per Smith, Devers doesn’t assume there’s an opportunity he’ll change his thoughts. “I don’t assume so. They informed me I’m a little bit hard-headed. They already requested me to alter as soon as and this time I don’t assume I will be as versatile.”
It’s been a wierd few months when it comes to the connection between Devers and the Crimson Sox. All through the winter, the membership was linked to 3rd basemen Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado, regardless of Devers seemingly having that spot locked down. Devers has by no means been a powerful defender, so there was some on-paper logic to the consideration of shifting him elsewhere, however there was the query about Devers himself and the way he would really feel about being displaced. The 2 sides had agreed to a nine-figure extension in January of 2023, a contract which runs by means of 2033, so the long-term relationship would clearly be an actual consideration.
Breman remained unsigned into the center of February. The Sox scooped him up at the moment on a three-year, $120MM deal, although one with notable deferrals and opt-outs after every season. The membership didn’t instantly come out and declare their intentions when it comes to defensive alignment and Devers was adamant that he would stick at third base. He mentioned that he had been promised by the membership that he might keep on the sizzling nook for the long run. Supervisor Álex Cora dismissed that promise as a result of “That was underneath Chaim,” referring to former chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. The Sox fired Bloom in direction of the tip of the 2023 season and ultimately changed him with Breslow.
It quickly turned clear that the Sox needed Bregman, the superior defender, to take over at third. Devers can be the membership’s full-time designated hitter, not even enjoying the sector often. “Raffy goes to DH,” Cora mentioned in March. “We had a dialog, we talked about it. He’s DHing. He’s the DH of the Boston Crimson Sox. One factor is we don’t need him to overthink it. Don’t get caught up in the entire thing. He’ll be OK.”
Although Devers was clearly not pleased with being moved off his place, reportedly even serious about asking for a commerce at one level, he did strike a extra amicable tone ultimately. In the midst of March, with the beginning of the season nearly two weeks away, he mentioned: “I’m good to do no matter they need me to do,” he mentioned. “I’m right here to assist. I’ve already spoken with them about that, they usually know the place I stand. I’m simply able to play.”
That every one gave the impression to be working wonderful sufficient for the primary few weeks of the season, till Casas suffered his aforementioned harm. A ruptured left patellar tendon final week led to knee surgical procedure for Casas and he’s going to overlook the rest of the 2025 marketing campaign.
That rapidly led to hypothesis about Devers being a very good match to switch Casas. Within the preliminary aftermath of the harm, the Sox used guys like Romy González and Abraham Toro to cowl the place. These two have usually been light-hitting utility guys of their careers, lower than very best options for a bat-first place like first base.
Shifting Devers into the spot would seemingly make issues simpler for the Sox. Whereas studying a brand new place midseason would definitely be a problem, first base is usually thought-about to be decrease than third base on the defensive spectrum, with many subpar third basemen having grow to be satisfactory first basemen through the years. Doing so would additionally unlock the DH spot, opening up extra at-bats for gamers different gamers. Outfield prospect Roman Anthony and infield prospect Marcelo Mayer are each considerably blocked from common enjoying time for the time being. It’s additionally robust to discover a spot for Masataka Yoshida, presently on the injured listing, as he’s additionally an outfielder. A poor defender, he was the membership’s main designated hitter final yr.
Cora has publicly mentioned just a few occasions not too long ago that he hasn’t requested Devers concerning the change, nevertheless it seems the Crimson Sox privately thought-about the plan and Breslow initiated the dialog, which Devers didn’t take kindly to.
From his perspective, it’s understandably been a jarring half yr. As of some months in the past, he thought he was Boston’s third baseman and seemingly felt safe in that function. Now he’s been shaken from that safety and has been requested to adapt.
Nonetheless, his response has been weird and hasn’t at all times mirrored effectively on him. It’s fairly uncommon for a participant to refuse to do one thing his group asks of him. The truth is, there have been dozens of gamers through the years who’ve switched positions in an effort to assist their group. Studying first base may not be Devers’ very best end result however there’s little hurt in exploring the chance by taking some grounders and feeling it out, particularly if the group thinks it may assist them win some extra video games in the long term. Although Devers maintains the clubhouse rapport is sweet, it’s truthful to surprise if any of his teammates are upset about this hardline stance, because it’s doesn’t seem like a team-first choice.
Moreover, when discontent develops between a group and a participant, efforts are often made to maintain it personal. It’s particularly unusual for a participant to criticize his group’s entrance workplace chief, particularly for making a reasonably comprehensible inquiry.
It’s inevitable extra developments are forthcoming with this story. For now, it seems Devers will keep within the DH spot. If the Sox are sad along with his refusal, there’s not an excessive amount of they will do about it. No matter drama has been taking place off the sector doesn’t appear to be impacting him on the plate. He has a .246/.370/.430 batting line and 123 wRC+ this yr, although he went hitless in his first 5 video games of the season. They absolutely don’t need to subtract that bat from the lineup.
For the document, Devers doesn’t have no-trade safety in his contract, in order that they technically might simply run him out of city in the event that they actually needed to. However there’s no indication that could be a consideration or perhaps a distant risk. Even when they did come to a degree of wanting him gone, delivery out a contract that also runs for eight-plus years and has excess of $200MM left on it’s laborious to maneuver at any level. That may be very true in the course of a season, when golf equipment have largely spent their budgets. Additionally, different golf equipment are absolutely conscious of the general public drama and would attempt to use it as leverage in any talks if Breslow referred to as them up.
Except extra developments come up, it appears Devers will stick within the DH spot. The Sox will attempt to cowl first base with guys like González and Toro, at the least for now, although it’s doable they might pursue first basemen within the coming weeks and months.
As for the connection between Devers and the Sox, this absolutely isn’t the final we’ll hear about it. As talked about, Bregman can choose out of his contract after this season and appears to be trending in direction of doing so, since he’s having a fantastic yr. There could ultimately be questions on whether or not Devers can be an choice to retake that spot in 2026 or if the membership would need to maintain him as a DH for the remainder of his contract, whereas somebody like Mayer or Trevor Story or Kristian Campbell takes over at third. Which means extra twists and turns are pretty inevitable, in a saga that has already had lots.
Photograph courtesy of Ken Blaze, Imagn Photographs.
