Rafael Devers should have done what the team asked and played first base. However, from the Boston Red Sox's perspective, it might not be the worst thing that he denied it and made a big deal about it to the media.
Devers, one of the worst infielders in Major League Baseball, wasn’t a lock to figure things out at first base.
As the Red Sox look to find a first baseman over the next few months before the trade deadline, it could come in the form of Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who has been believed to be available over the past few months.
In a proposed trade idea from Zach Pressnell of Newsweek, they'd do exactly that. He wrote that the Red Sox could ship two prospects to the Orioles to acquire the right-handed hitter, adding that it would help Devers go out and play baseball after his comments.
“Rather than jumping on the wave and screaming the Red Sox should trade Devers, which they absolutely shouldn't, it's time to look at potential first basemen they could acquire. The best option on the market is Baltimore Orioles star Ryan Mountcastle...
“Boston could ship two prospects to the Orioles in order to acquire the slugger. This would put to bed all the doubts the media is stirring up about Devers. It would give the team a solid Casas replacement and allow Devers to continue to play baseball rather than deal with the media,” he wrote.
In the short term, adding somebody like Mountcastle makes sense.
However, for the Red Sox, Devers’ comments can't go away. He made them, and it's concerning that he feels the way he does.
That could be a sign of what's to come, and who knows, possibly a trade could be on the way.
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