The Boston Red Sox have found themselves in the middle of a media crisis after Rafael Devers publicly noted his displeasure with chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and his request for him to play first base.
According to MassLive’s Christopher Smith, Devers has decided he will not be switching positions after Breslow approached him, asking him to do so. While some are applauding him for making a stand, after the team already made him make one “permanent” position change, others think he is being selfish.
Regardless of what the outside world thinks, the players in the clubhouse will have their own opinion on Devers refusing to play first base in the wake of Triston Casas’ season-ending injury. According to the Boston Herald’s Gabrielle Starr, his stance was not well received by his teammates.
“Several of them were listening intently around the clubhouse and the reactions were not positive,” wrote Starr on X.
Devers said he was approached by Breslow to play first base, despite manager Alex Cora continuously telling the media there was no plan to move Devers. Devers felt the team was not staying true to their word after they had already asked him to change positions.
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“They had the conversation with me,” Devers said, according to Smith. “I don’t think for me personally it’s the best decision after they asked me to play a different position and I only have two months of playing this position. To all of a sudden have me try to play another position … from my end, it doesn’t seem like a good decision.”
Devers even said that Breslow and the front office should do their job and hit the market to find a first baseman instead of asking him to switch positions again. Clearly, Devers’ refusal to switch positions in a time of need is not being viewed as a statement against front office treatment of players. Rather, it is being viewed as a selfish move by the players in the clubhouse. Devers said that he has no issues with the players in the clubhouse, but rather does not understand Breslow’s thought process.
“Here in the clubhouse, thankfully, the relationship that I have with my teammates is great,” Devers told reporters. “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 I am. And yeah, that’s just where I stand.”
While Devers may have thought his relationship with the guys in the clubhouse was strong, his recent statements may change that feeling in a hurry.
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