Rafael Devers calls out Red Sox CBO Craig Breslow, won’t play first, upset he was asked to move off DH

Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers was approached by Craig Breslow about the idea of playing first base following the season-ending injury to Triston Casas last week.

Devers rejected the idea of playing first base and was upset that the team even raised the discussion after he was told he was moving from third to become the club’s everyday designated hitter this spring.

“I’m a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can’t expect me to play every single position out there,” Devers said after the game on Thursday through a team translator. “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 took issue with Breslow asking him to move to first base and called out the chief baseball officer.

“It was the GM that I spoke with. I’m not certain what he has with me. He played ball, and I would like to think that he knows that changing positions like that isn’t easy,” said Devers. “They put me in this situation, and they told me that they didn’t want to allow me to play any other position. And now, I think they should do their jobs essentially, and hit the market and look for another player [for first base]. I’m not sure why they want me to be in-between the way they have been.”

When asked if he was upset, Devers responded: “Sí, claro.”

“I don’t feel that they stayed true to their word. They told me that I was going to be playing this position, DH, and now they’re going back on that. So I just don’t think they stayed true to their word,” said Devers. “They’ve told me I’m a little hard-headed. [But] they already asked me to change once, and this time, I don’t think I can be as flexible.”

How would Devers describe his relationship with the team?

“Here in the clubhouse, thankfully, the relationship that I have with my teammates is great,” said Devers. “I don’t understand some of the decisions that the GM makes. Next thing you know, someone in the outfield gets hurt, and they want me to play in the outfield. I think I know the kind of player that I am, and that’s just where I stand.”

CORA NOT CLOSING DOOR ON DEVERS AT FIRST BASE

Since Casas’ injury, Alex Cora has maintained that he has no thoughts on moving Devers to first base. Cora also said that the team never had a conversation with Devers about moving again.

“From my end, right now, no,” said Cora. “We asked him to do something in spring training. In the beginning, he didn’t agree with it. Now, he’s very comfortable doing what he’s doing. Like I told you guys in spring training, he’s my DH.

“It’s not delicate at all,” Cora continued. “We made a decision. We talked to him. He’s a DH.”

Cora went on WEEI on Wednesday and began to change his tone about Devers playing first.

 “I think right now the most important thing is he’s very comfortable where he’s at, and we’re very comfortable with what he’s doing,” Cora said. “His production is really good. Coming into the season, that was the red flag. Everybody was talking about, 'Is he gonna get used to it? Can he DH because he’s not playing third base?'... He doesn’t need to play third base or first base to hit.

“Obviously things might change, but as of now, I think (Abraham) Toro and (Romy) Gonzalez make sense for us and let Raffy be Raffy,” Cora added. “And I’m very happy with the production. You take away the Texas series — and I know we cannot take it away — but he’s been one of the best hitters in the big leagues. The walk rate is up there. The strikeouts are going down. He’s hitting the ball hard. And he’s producing. So for now I keep saying, he’s my DH, and I’m very happy with that."

When the Red Sox signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman in the spring to bolster the lineup, Boston opted to move Devers off his natural position and to DH. Devers expressed his displeasure at the move but ultimately gave in and became Cora’s everyday DH.

The left-handed slugger opened the season and struggled tremendously at the plate, starting 0-for-19 with 15 strikeouts in Boston’s first five games. He slowly worked his way out of his funk and has been a consistent hitter at the plate, particularly over the last 12 games. Devers is batting .383 with a 1.205 OPS, with four doubles, four homers, 11 RBI, eight walks, seven RBI, and 13 walks.

The defiant Devers went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two RBI in Thursday’s 5-0 win over the Rangers.

ARE THE SOX AFRAID OF DEVERS?

On WEEI’s Greg Hill Show Thursday morning, Breslow attempted to clarify Cora’s reasoning for not wanting to discuss Devers playing first base.

“We’ve had that conversation internally and just batted around ideas as we’re trying to surface every possible solution. I think what Alex is pointing out, rightfully, is we want to make sure we’re not creating one problem by solving another,” Breslow said. “Raffy’s greatest impact is going to be what he can do in the batter’s box. So if and when the time comes to have that conversation, we want to make sure that we’re mindful of all things."

WEEI’s producer Chris Curtis followed up and asked Breslow if the team is afraid of having tough conversations with Devers.

“I don’t think anybody is afraid of Rafael Devers,” Breslow replied. “Obviously we had a difficult conversation with him in spring training, moving him off of third base and into the DH spot because we felt like that was best for the team. We’ll continue to operate with what is best for the team front of mind.”

Curtis asked the Sox’ front office leader if moving Devers to first base is truly the best thing for the club.

“It could be, if Raffy is able to make that transition pretty seamlessly,” Breslow said. “If it doesn’t impact what happens on the offensive side. Then, sure. But those are all factors that we need to consider when making this decision.”

Breslow doesn’t necessarily think that Devers simply grabbing a first base glove and learning the position is as easy as many insinuate.

“I don’t know that it’s as simple as that,” Breslow said. “Because I think you put a glove on his hand, and he goes out there, and he starts to get to work, and then there’s a bunch of questions about, ‘Is he ready? How good will it be? When will he be ready?’ So I would say all options need to be on the table, and we need to be what is anchored to what is best for the team — and we will do that.”

EVERYONE COMES OUT LOOKING BAD

In 2023, the Sox signed Devers to a 10-year, $313.5-million contract extension that was set to begin at the start of the 2024 season. Devers was under the impression he would be the club’s everyday third baseman following the extension. After Chaim Bloom's firing and Breslow's appointment, plans changed.

The situation between the team and Devers has hit an all-time contentious point.

It’s inexcusable that the Red Sox front office has failed to address the first base depth within the system. After losing Casas for the majority of the season, you’d think that Breslow would have prioritized adding a veteran who could play the position.

Now Breslow must decide on first base for the rest of the season, so Gonzalez and Toro will fill in for now. 

Devers is upset and will likely end up playing first base after Cora smooths over the situation. However, the Red Sox, a team currently playing at.500 ball, don't need this story of Devers refusing to play first base to loom over the clubhouse.

The fact that Devers was unclear on the decisions that Breslow makes is baffling. It isn’t exactly out of bounds for Breslow to ask Devers to play first base after Devers has played third base his entire career. It makes the most sense for the team, and it allows them to add Roman Anthony or Masataka Yoshida to add another left-handed bat in the lineup.

Up until this spring, Devers has been considered a good teammate; he’s been a big contributor in the middle of the lineup. Now he seems defiant, unwilling to do what’s best for the team, giving off the impression he’s a bad teammate.

Mookie Betts who has been the right fielder for the Dodgers, has seen time at both second base and shortstop, when injuries impacted the roster the last year. There’s not been one quote out of Los Angeles that he was unwilling to do what’s best for the team.

The Red Sox did a poor job communicating with Devers; they’re to blame. Devers’s refusal to play first base is a bad look for a team with playoff aspirations, and they should be doing everything possible to field the best team on a nightly basis as possible.

No one is going to come out of this looking good. The team should focus on playing consistent baseball, but Breslow, Cora, and Devers now have to deal with this latest outburst.