RAFAEL Devers is causing a rift within the Boston Red Sox locker room.
Devers has been asked to move positions multiple times this year, but has been stubborn about moving.
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Devers initially played third base for the Red Sox, but after the team acquired Alex Bregman he was asked to become a designated hitter.
At that time, he opposed the move and indicated he wouldn’t give up his spot.
He eventually moved to DH to start the season, but now the Red Sox are asking him to move positions again.
After a season-ending injury to first baseman Triston Casas, Boston asked Devers to play the position.
Devers has since refused, and his teammates’ reactions are reportedly “not positive,” according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald.
“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,” Devers said via translator, according to the Associated Press.
“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.”
Boston has used a combination of Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro at first since Casas’ injury, but they are looking to upgrade the position’s production through Devers.
Regardless of how it makes him look, Devers won’t move.
“They told me that I’m a little hard-headed, but they already asked me to change (positions) once,” Devers said.
“This time, I don’t think I can be as flexible. 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.”
Devers is a star player in the league, but many of his caliber have made the transition to first base without complains.
Take Bryce Harper for example. He is one of the best players of this generation, makes an absurd amount of money, but willingly moved from the outfield to first base for the Philadelphia Phillies.
For some reason, Devers thinks he is above making the position change, and the previously mentioned reports indicate it isn’t helping his reputation.
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“He [executive Craig Breslow] played ball. I would like to think that he knows that changing positions isn’t easy,” Devers said.
“They put me in this situation. They told me they didn’t want me to play any other positions.”
Devers didn’t mince his words when talking about the Red Sox front office, and offered his advice about how they should do their jobs instead of talking to him.
“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,” he 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.”