Boston – Rafael Devers said he was frustrated that the Red Sox asked him to play the first goal following the knee injury of the season of Triston Casas last week, and he is not willing to go to the post.
“I know that I am a ball player, but at the same time, they cannot expect me to play each position,” said Devers through the translator of the Daveson Perez team after a 5-0 victory against the Rangers. “During spring training, they told me about it and essentially told me to put my glove to put away, that I was not going to play any other position than DH, so at the moment, I just have the impression that it is not a decision appropriate by them to ask me to play another position.”
The 28 -year -old said that Director of Baseball Craig Breslow spoke with him after Casas’ injury and asked him to consider a move first.
“I am not sure of what he has with me,” said Devers about Breslow. “He played ball (Breslow launched in the majors for 12 seasons), and I would like to think that he knows that changing positions as it is not easy.
“They put me in this situation, and they told me that they did not want to allow me to play another position,” said Devers. “Now, I think they should do their job, essentially, and hit the market and look for another player. I don’t know why they want me to be between the two as they were.”
Until Thursday, Devers had not spoken to the media since Casas’ injury, despite several requests.
When the Red Sox signed the third third goal player in the title of Al Gold Glove Alex Bregman in spring training to strengthen their range, they made the decision to move the third basis to an designated striking role. After having expressed initial frustrations and refused to leave the third goal, Devers finally agreed and resumed the role of DH.
The tensions between Devers and the team had calmed down when they settled in a routine as a designated striker. Although he strikes .255 with a .834 ops and six circuits in the season, he struck .285 with a .896 OPS in the last month after a first rock week.
But the tensions between the team and its franchise player have apparently flared once again.
When asked if he was upset by the investigation into the positions of change, Devers did not hold back.
“Yes, of course,” he said. “I don’t think they stayed faithful to their word. They told me that I was going to play this position, DH, and now they come back to it. So I don’t think they have been faithful to their word.”
Although Devers finally changed their minds on being the DH, he does not think he will have a similar change in heart about the first base.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “They told me I’m a little hard. And they have already asked me to change once, and this time, I don’t think I can be so flexible. ”
Although the refusal to play first may seem that he puts himself above the team and potentially threatened the culture of the team, he thinks, at least, he is on good terms with his teammates.
“Here in the clubhouse, fortunately, the relationship I have with my teammates is great,” said Devers. “I do not understand some of the decisions that GM takes. The next thing you know that someone in the outside field is injured and they want me to play in the outside field. I think I know the kind of player I am, and that’s right that I stand.”
In 2023, Devers signed an extension of a contract of $ 313.5 million over 10 years which was to start at the start of the 2024 season. With eight more years in the agreement, he and the team seem to be at the crossroads.
Since Casas has broken its left ball joint tendon, the Red Sox used public service men Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro at the post.
For the moment, the Red Sox seem to go ahead with the pair, but last weekend, Breslow left the door open to the addition of a player outside the organization.
Speaking shortly after Casas’ injury, manager Alex Cora was categorical that Devers would remain in the designated striker, but recognized earlier this week which could change.
“I think that at the moment, the most important thing is that it is very comfortable where it is in Dhing, and we are very comfortable with what it does,” Cora said on Wednesday. “Everyone was talking, will he get used to it? Can he DH because he does not play the third goal? He must play the third for him to strike. Well, no. He does not need to play the third basis or the first goal to strike. Obviously, things could change. But from now on, I think Toro and Gonzalez make sense to us, and let Raffy be Raffy.”
After the comments of Devers Thursday, it does not seem that there are changes with his position.
The Red Sox sit at 20-19 after consecutive victories against the Rangers, they head on the road for six difficult games against Detroit and Kansas City.
Devers spoke 20 minutes before the team’s bus left for the airport while several players kicked out their bags for a next road trip, so there was little time for any reaction from the rest of the clubhouse. Cora had already addressed the media for the day.
Athletics contacted Breslow to comment after the remarks of deours but has not yet received an answer.
Anyway, the situation with Devers does not seem to go anywhere.
(Photo: Jaiden Tipi / Getty Images)
