Boston Red Sox designated hitter Rafael Devers is not happy with the front office and even accused the organization of going back on their word over a recent request to him.
Devers said Thursday that Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow asked him about his willingness to play first base following the season-ending injury to Triston Casas. Devers said he was unwilling to play the position, and said the Red Sox had told him to put his glove away after moving him from third base to designated hitter during the offseason.
When asked if he was upset with the team over the request, Devers responded “yes, of course” in Spanish.
Devers indicated that there are no issues within the clubhouse over the request, but made it clear he is not happy with Breslow and the front office.
“I’m not certain what (issue) he has with me,” Devers said of Breslow, via a translator. “He played ball, and I would like to think he knows that changing positions like that isn’t easy.
“I don’t understand some of the decisions that the GM makes. Next thing you know, someone in the outfield gets hurt and they want me to play in the outfield.”
Manager Alex Cora said Monday that the Red Sox had given no consideration to asking Devers to play first with Casas sidelined for the season. It is not clear if he was not being truthful or if he was unaware that Breslow had explored it.
Fairly or not, Devers feels like he is being taken advantage of by the Red Sox. The longtime third baseman was moved to DH after the team signed Alex Bregman, and while he ultimately went along with the move, he was not happy with it at first. He was clearly under the impression that his days of playing in the field were over, and that the Red Sox explicitly said as much only to go back on that statement little more than a month into the season.
There is not much Devers can do if he is unhappy with the Red Sox. He signed a 10-year contract extension with the Red Sox prior to the 2023 season that ties him to the organization through 2033.
Devers has recovered from a poor start to the season and is hitting .255 with a .455 slugging percentage through Thursday’s action. He hit his sixth home run of the season Thursday in a 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers.
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