© Ken Blaze/Imagn
The Boston Red Sox are paying star player Rafael Devers a whole lot of money. $313.5 million over 10 years, to be exact. But apparently that’s not enough for Devers to suffer the indignity of trying to learn a new position, and his teammates are wondering why.
Devers, a three-time All-Star, made the move from third base to designated hitter in the offseason when the team signed star free agent Alex Bregman. Bregman won a Gold Glove last season in Houston, while Devers graded out as one of the worst field third basemen in the league.
That alone sat poorly with Devers, who felt he deserved to stay at third. But things got even more complex when first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury. Boston then asked Devers to attempt to learn how to play first base. Fellow stars such as Bryce Harper, former Red Sox player Mookie Betts, Fernando Tatis and several others have all changed positions in recent years. But not Devers. He isn’t having it.
“They had the conversation with me,” Devers said through a translator. “I don’t think me personally it’s the best decision after they asked me to play a different position, and I only have two months of playing this position.
“To all of a sudden have me try to play another position — so from my end, it doesn’t seem like a good decision.”
Okay then. You would think Devers would want to do anything possible to help his team. And it’s not like moving from third base to first base is an uncommon transition. Just ask Blue Jays star Vladdy Guerrero.
Boston Red Sox Players Don’t Respond Well To Rafael Devers Refusal To Play 1B
Unsurprisingly, Devers’ unwillingness to learn a new position did not go down well in the Red Sox clubhouse.
“On the clubhouse piece of this: you can bet teammates are not going to be thrilled about this stance,” Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo posted on X.
Shortly after, fellow beat writer Gabrielle Starr said, “Several of them were listening intently around the clubhouse and the reactions were not positive.”
But the players weren’t alone. Boston fans were just as annoyed.
“The incumbent 1st baseman blew out his knee a month into the season and they asked the guy they’re paying $300 million to, a guy they committed to for a decade, to do what was best for the team to move forward Midseason. What the hell are we doing?” one asked.
“Rafael Devers and his defenders are making it seem like playing 1B is like walking into NASA and being asked to fly a rocketship to Jupiter to start a colony to save human civilization. Your teammate’s knee exploded. Go play 100 games at first and pick him up. This is insanity,” said another.
Ultimately, it feels like Devers will either make the switch or get traded. But one way or another, someone’s feelings are going to get hurt.