Rafael Devers is fully embracing his new start with the San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox fans probably will not like it.
Devers made clear at his introductory press conference Tuesday that he would play whatever position the Giants asked of him. That includes first base, which the Giants intend to have Devers play.
“I’m here to give my 100 percent. I don’t put any buts, they’re the men in charge and I’m here to play whatever they want me to play,” Devers said.
Devers: "I'm here to give my 100%, I don't put any buts, they're the men in charge and I'm here to play whatever they want me to play."
— Mac Cerullo (@MacCerullo) June 17, 2025
Devers refused to move to first base for the Red Sox after Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury. The slugger was unhappy with the franchise for moving him off third base in the offseason, only to turn around and ask him to go back on defense two months into the season. That reaction was the beginning of the end of Devers’ relationship with the Red Sox.
Presumably, in Devers’ mind, the Giants are being forthright and asking him to move to a new position, while the Red Sox pronounced him a DH and then changed their minds. The Red Sox probably would not view it the same way, and some close to the organization have already hinted at that.
Devers’ stance essentially proves that the well had been poisoned with the Red Sox. The issues ran too deep to fix, and that is why the team decided to move on.
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