What will the Red Sox do with Rafael Devers?
Now that he has spoken out about not going the team-first route and playing first base while also criticizing the general manager in the process?
For starters, owner John Henry flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers regarding his comments, and what has followed is that while Devers has started to heat up at the plate, the team has found itself on a three-game losing streak, and as of this writing, has a record of 22-23.
This season for the Red Sox has been disappointing, as many expected the team to have a better record than it has shown. However, the Sox can’t get out of their way regarding the win-loss column.
Is Devers a part of that problem?
That is anyone’s guess, but if you look at the facts here, when Devers was asked to move off third base to become the designated hitter, this was not a slight by general manager Craig Breslow. Alex Bregman is a superior third baseman in the field, and Devers isn’t. Craig Breslow then asked Devers to adopt a team-first attitude and to operate as the team’s first baseman after the injury to Tristan Casas, which was met with a no, and to go out instead and find a free agent.
There is no question that Rafael Devers is this team’s best hitter right now. He has been heating up over the last six weeks, playing like the Sox expected him to. It’s also understandable to see where Devers is coming fr, as he said he was told he would be the designated hitter and would not use a glove this season.
So, why should he do what he was asked after he begrudgingly did so with the arrival of Bregman and moving to DH?
PHOTO: MLB Network/FacebookOn the other hand, you can look at the general manager, whose job is to put forth the best team possible on the field for the Boston Red Sox, rather than catering to a single player. Was Breslow out of line for asking Devers to operate first base? No, he was not. I am willing to bet there would be 29 other general managers around the league who would have done the same thing. Could the Red Sox go out and get a first baseman in free agency? Yes, they could, and the rumor mill keeps suggesting Anthony Rizzo, but honestly, he is no longer the hitter he once was, and he is not an upgrade over Devers at the plate.
Craig Breslow was not demeaning Rafael Devers by asking him to pick up his glove and go to first base. He was looking ahead and opening up possibilities to allow other star players a day off from the field while keeping their bats in the lineup. How about putting a current outfielder at DH and bringing up the number one prospect in baseball, Roman Anthony, to man the outfield and add his promising bat to the lineup. We tend to forget about Masataka Yoshida, who is returning from an injury and has nowhere to go.
Hopefully, Rafael Devers will soon be more open-minded and consider all the options rather than letting the bitterness of losing his third base job cost the Sox this season.
Let’s not forget that the Red Sox believe in Devers, which is why they gave him a 10-year, $313 million contract.
Devers likes to point out that he was promised he would be the third baseman in the future, and that is true; he was pledged to this, but that was under Chaim Bloom, who is now in St. Louis and is set to take over there next season. Baseball is full of superstar players who have switched teams not once, but multiple times, to benefit the team. One singular player does not win a World Series Championship; it takes a team.
I hope Devers comes around to the idea that this team has the talent to compete in the East. Adding more impactful players is always a good option if spots are available. If that cannot be done, then maybe it’s time to explore the trade market and send him on his way, but always remember that the grass is not always greener on the other side.
The Boston Red Sox have a dilemma, and which way it goes is anyone’s guess.
PHOTO: MLB Network/Facebook
