05/09/25 09:14:00
Printable Page
05/09 09:12 CDT Rafael Devers tells Red Sox he won't move to 1B, tells front
office to 'do their jobs' finding one
Rafael Devers tells Red Sox he won't move to 1B, tells front office to 'do
their jobs' finding one
By BRENDAN McGAIR
Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) --- Rafael Devers is the Boston Red Sox's designated hitter.
And he's not interested in another position switch.
Speaking with reporters for the first time since Triston Casas was ruled out
for the season after rupturing his left knee tendon and undergoing surgery,
Devers said on Thursday that Red Sox management approached him about the idea
of filling in as Boston's first baseman.
The three-time All-Star doesn't see it in his best interest to make another
position switch after being asked to move from third base to DH during spring
training after the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman to play third.
"They came to me and talked to me about it," Devers said after homering and
driving in two in Boston's 5-0 win over Texas.
"I know I'm a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can't expect me to play
every single position out there. In spring training, they talked to me and
basically told me to put away my glove. I wasn't going to play another position
other than DH. Right now, I don't think it would be an appropriate decision by
them to ask me to play another position."
Devers, who signed a $311 million, 11-year deal to stay with Boston in January
2021, said he spoke with Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow about the
prospect of playing first in Casas' absence.
For now, Boston is filling the first base spot with a platoon featuring Romy
Gonzalez and Abraham Toro.
"He (Breslow) played ball. I would like to think that he knows that changing
positions isn't easy," Devers said through Red Sox interpreter Daveson Perez.
"They put me in this situation. They told me they didn't want me to play any
other positions."
Devers offered a suggestion to Breslow, who pitched 12 major league seasons and
was a key member of Boston's bullpen when the team won the World Series in
2013. Breslow is in his second season leading the Red Sox baseball operations
department.
"Now, they should do their jobs essentially and hit the market and look for
another player. I'm not sure why they want me to be an in-between," Devers
said. "Next thing you know, someone in the outfield gets hurt and they want me
to play in the outfield. I know the kind of player that I am and that's where I
stand."
Asked about changing his mind in the event the Red Sox receive little
production from the current group of first basemen, Devers reiterated that he's
a full-time DH.
He also stated that he was upset that Boston would consider him taking over a
position where he's logged zero innings as a big leaguer.
"They told me that I'm a little hard-headed, but they already asked me to
change (positions) once. This time, I don't think I can be as flexible," Devers
said. "I don't feel they stayed true to their word. They told me I was going to
play this position, DH. Now they're going back on that."
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
|
