Red Sox star Rafael Devers sounds off on front office

Rafael Devers is once again unhappy with the Boston Red Sox, and the All-Star slugger is not exactly trying to hide it.

After playing third base for the first eight years of his MLB career, Devers was asked to become a full-time designated hitter this season. The decision came after the Red Sox signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman, who is a significantly better fielder than Devers. Still, Devers did not want to give up his position and even hinted that he might seek a trade.

Eventually, the Red Sox got Devers to buy in. But now that the team has asked the 28-year-old to change positions again, the negative emotions seem to have come flooding back.

Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury last week. That led to immediate speculation that Devers could be asked to play first base, though manager Alex Cora claimed as of Wednesday that there were no plans to move Devers.

Apparently Boston's front office privately asked Devers to play first base, however. Devers said as much on Thursday when he spoke with the media and sounded off on chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. 

Devers said the Red Sox "had the conversation with me" about playing first and that he does not think it's a good idea.

"I know I’m a ballplayer but at the same time they can’t expect me to play every single position out there,” Devers said, through an interpreter, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. “In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove — that I wasn’t going to play any other position but DH. So right now I just feel like it’s not an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position.”

Devers then had an even clearer message for the Red Sox: If they need a first baseman, they should go out and find one.

"They told me that they didn’t want to allow me to play any other position,” Devers added. “And now I think they should do their job essentially and hit the market and look for another player (to play first base). I’m not sure why they want me to be in between, the way they have me now.”

When asked if his relationship with the Red Sox is in a good spot, Devers said "thankfully" he is close with his teammates. He seemed to hint that the same cannot be said for where he stands with Breslow.

Devers has struggled early in the season and is hitting just .255. He has six home runs and 25 RBI. Some have wondered if the switch to DH has disrupted his approach, but the Red Sox clearly did not think another change would be an issue for their $313.5M player.