The irritated slugger Rafael Devers probably would benefit individually by switching to first base, and the Boston Red Sox seemingly would, too. No matter: Devers said he doesn’t want to switch and, to this point, the Red Sox can’t seem to persuade him.
Should it all really be this complicated? Apparently it is — but only because the Red Sox have botched it.
For the second time this season, the Red Sox have gotten into a public spat with Devers over where they want him to play (or not play) in the field. It first happened in spring training after the Alex Bregman free-agent signing, and it’s happening again in the wake of Triston Casas injuring his left knee a week ago Friday.
Devers said no — before changing his mind — about switching to DH when Bregman came aboard. It was a topic the Red Sox front office obviously should have worked out with Devers before the ink dried on Bregman’s deal. Well, obvious to most.
Devers now has refused to move to first base after the Red Sox asked. Saying no makes Devers look selfish and like a prima donna. Even assuming so, the Red Sox still bear most of the responsibility for this debacle. Devers is being obstinate. The Red Sox have been obtuse.
Club owner John Henry, recognizing the communication breakdown, flew to Kansas City to have a one-on-one with Devers amid Boston’s series against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. We shall see if the personal time from the big boss will advance an agreement.
The bungling goes back further, though — to Boston driving Mookie Betts away. Henry didn’t want to pay him the going rate, but about three years after the horrendous trade the Red Sox made to move Betts, they ended up giving Devers most of Mookie’s money with a $313.5 million contract extension. They also knew how to schmooze Devers, with Red Sox brass flying to the Dominican Republic to close the deal.
Not only that, but it’s funny how the Red Sox have had trouble getting Devers to play where they need him to, yet Mookie enthusiastically has moved wherever the Dodgers asked him to. And his transition to shortstop has worked to a remarkable degree.
Ohhhhh, Henry. It all has to give him a headache. It’s OK, though, because there’s probably another soccer team for him to buy across the pond, or real estate unrelated to baseball to develop at Fenway.
Anyone feeling aggrieved about Devers not coming to Boston’s rescue instantly should focus their animosity on Henry, the front office (Craig Breslow and Brian O’Halloran), and manager Alex Cora. For the haphazard roster building, for the division of labor on defense, and for how they handled Devers.
Devers has played nearly a thousand games at third base, and while his results on defense have been below average, he did make the All-Star Game three times in the past four years at the position. While it’s also true that Bregman is better defensively, the Red Sox have ignored that Devers is a person with an ego and not just a printout with negative-4 dWAR.
While he hemmed and hawed about switching with Bregman — and this is where the Red Sox screwed up an extra amount — Cora reminded Devers that the front-office person who gave him the contract extension, namely Chaim Bloom, doesn’t work there anymore. Devers doesn’t have any more friends in high places. It was unnecessary strong-arm tactics. Do any of these guys remember flattery?
Cold to their approach, Devers has told the Red Sox to find someone else to play first base on the same open market they found Bregman. It’s possible that Henry interceding in Kansas City will be the act that persuades Devers to play first base after all. He’s only 29 years old, and playing a defensive position should help his hitting. Evidence says it will, despite how David Ortiz turned out as a mostly full-time DH. Devers’ current teammates also would appreciate it.
Devers should be the big man now, and accept the olive branch. But if he doesn’t, it’s still the Red Sox’s fault.
