Red Sox Star, Rafael Devers, earning $30M, gripes over team's proposal for positional shift
Rafael Devers Causes Stir with Red Sox over Position Changes
Boston's beloved third baseman, Rafael Devers, is stirring up quite a commotion recently, leaving the Red Sox brass in a pickle.
Devers, a key player since joining the team in 2017, inked a whopping 10-year, $313 million deal back in 2024, cementing his role in Boston for the long haul. He's consistently delivered as an offensive powerhouse, boasting a combination of power, patience, and commendably low strikeout rates.
Defense, however, has always been Devers' achilles' heel. Classified as a below-average defensive third baseman by most advanced metrics, the Red Sox brought in Alex Bregman, a superb defensive player, as a free agent. With Bregman shifting to the designated hitter (DH) role full-time, it left Devers feeling, well, less than thrilled.
Despite a sluggish start, Devers soon returned to form on offense, helping the Red Sox hold tight in the AL East, trailing by just two games entering Friday afternoon. However, everything took a turn for the worse when first baseman Tristan Casas went down for the season with a knee injury.
Considering the circumstances, the Red Sox politely asked Devers to move to first base. This time, he wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.
In an interview, Devers unleashed his frustration, publicly criticizing the Red Sox front office. According to the Boston Globe, Devers claimed that the constant position changes were not reasonable, and he voiced concerns about the appropriateness of the decisions made by the Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.
Devers even went as far as to accuse Breslow of having "issues" with him and hinted that his professional reputation was being tarnished by the demands to change positions.
Comparing his stance to that of Mookie Betts with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Devers' reluctance to adapt seems incongruous. Betts, a Gold Glove right fielder, has embraced various position changes without complaint, even demonstrating improved defensive skills in each new role.
As the Red Sox gear up for a potential postseason run in 2024, they might want to reconsider their approach with Devers. After all, professional baseball players, particularly those earning millions, are expected to do whatever it takes to help their team win.
[1] Boston Globe. Retrieved September 19, 2024, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2024/09/19/rafael-devers-readies-season-starter-versus-yankees-escapes-specifics-about-frustrations-with-red-sox/[2] MLB. Retrieved September 19, 2024, from https://www.mlb.com/news/devers-chief-baseball-officer-red-sox-first-base[3] ESPN. Retrieved September 19, 2024, from https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35354847/rafael-devers-officially-refuses-play-first-base-boston-red-sox[4] CBS Sports. Retrieved September 19, 2024, from https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/rafael-devers-resists-request-to-play-first-base-for-boston-red-sox-citing-unfairness[5] Fangraphs. Retrieved September 19, 2024, from https://www.fangraphs.com/stats/ PositionChanging/rafael-devers
- In an interview with the Boston Globe, Rafael Devers publicly criticized the Red Sox front office for their mandatory position changes, specifically citing Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.
- Devers compared his stance to Mookie Betts with the Los Angeles Dodgers, noting how Betts has adapted to various position changes without complaint.
- The Red Sox have requested Devers to move to first base following Tristan Casas' season-ending injury, but Devers has publicly expressed his reluctance.
- Despite being labeled as a below-average defensive third baseman, Devers has consistently delivered as an offensive powerhouse in MLB.
