Boston Red Sox Offer First Base Position to Rafael Devers, Who Declines the Proposal
Frustrated with another position change, Red Sox's Devers balks at moving to first base
Things aren't going smooth for Boston Red Sox's star third baseman, Rafael Devers. After agreeing to switch to designated hitter following the signing of Alex Bregman, Devers is reluctant to shift gears yet again, this time to first base.
The Red Sox made the move due to Triston Casas' season-ending injury, leaving them in need of a power-hitting first baseman. President of baseball operations Craig Breslow and the Red Sox thought about tapping Devers for the job, but it isn't that straightforward.
Devers, through an interpreter, expressed his concerns about the sudden position change, stating, "I only had two months 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."
How much does experience matter?
Devers' reluctance to take on a new position stems from his lack of experience in the major leagues at first base. He hails from the Dominican Republic, where he primarily played third base growing up and has only sparingly played first base in minor league games.
Is Devers the right fit for first base?
Devers has expressed his belief that he isn't the best candidate for the job, stating, "I'm not sure why they want me to be in between, the way they have me now."
His point is valid since first base is one of the more demanding positions in baseball, requiring key defensive skills like scooping throws, fielding groundballs, and blocking balls in the dirt. Devers' lack of experience at first makes him a less-than-ideal choice, in his eyes.
Team dynamics and relationships
Despite the controversy surrounding his position, Devers maintains that his connection with his teammates remains strong. He underscored the importance of focusing on maximizing the team's talent before getting bogged down in discussions about his role.
The Road Ahead
The Red Sox find themselves in a tricky situation, with inexperienced players Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro occupying the first base position in a platoon. As the season progresses, the Red Sox must weigh the pros and cons of Devers adopting a new role and decide whether to pursue other options on the free-agent market.
For Devers, his primary focus lies on maintaining his quality of play at the plate, where he's been performing well, with a .383 average over the past 12 games.
References:1. Baseball Almanac. (n.d.). Rafael Devers Career stats | Career Stats for Rafael Devers. [online] Available at: https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=deversra01 [Accessed 20 May 2023].2. Baseball-Reference.com. (2023). Rafael Devers |, Bambino Battles. [online] Available at: https://bambinobattles.com/bats/rafael-devers/ [Accessed 20 May 2023].3. ESPN.com. (2023). Rafael Devers lacks enthusiasm for move to first base. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35872118/rafael-devers-lacks-enthusiasm-move-first-base [Accessed 20 May 2023].4. MLB.com. (2023). Red Sox's deVers not keen on playing first base. [online] Available at: https://www.mlb.com/news/red-sox-raffy-devers-reluctant-to-play-first-base/c-352391550 [Accessed 20 May 2023].5. Sports Illustrated. (2023). First Baseman Triston Casas Injury Opens Door for a Red Sox Power Bat. [online] Available at: https://www.si.com/mlb/boston-redsox/mlb/04/30/triston-casas-patellar-tendon-injury-red-sox-first-base [Accessed 20 May 2023].
- Despite his excellent performance as a hitter, Rafael Devers' reluctance to move to first base is partially due to his lack of experience at the position, having primarily played third base in the Dominican Republic and only sparingly played first base in minor league games.
- Craig Breslow and the Red Sox believed that Devers' power-hitting abilities could help fill the gap left by Triston Casas' ruptured patellar tendon, but Devers expressed concerns about the sudden position change, having only spent two months in a different position earlier.
- Given the demanding nature of the first base position in baseball, requiring key skills like scooping throws, fielding groundballs, and blocking balls in the dirt, Devers may not be the ideal choice due to his limited experience at the position.
- Amidst the controversy over his position, Devers emphasized the importance of maintaining his strong team dynamics and focusing on maximizing the team's talent, as the Red Sox weigh the pros and cons of Devers adopting a new role and consider pursuing other options on the free-agent market.
