Internal disputes rarely go public in Major League Baseball, but the ongoing situation between Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox has become impossible to ignore.
After being shifted from third base to designated hitter following the signing of Alex Bregman, the team now reportedly wants Devers to switch to first base a move he strongly opposed. On Thursday, Devers publicly pushed back against the idea and called out general manager Craig Breslow, escalating the tension within the organization.
The issue was serious enough to prompt team owner John Henry to fly to Kansas City for a face-to-face meeting with Devers.
“(Rafael) shared his perspective, and John shared his,” said manager Alex Cora. “What matters most is that we’re trying to achieve something big. There have been roster changes and evolving circumstances, and adjustments are necessary.”
Breslow described the meeting as “an honest conversation about what we value as an organization and what we believe is important to the Boston Red Sox.”
Boston currently sits at 20-19, second in the AL East, just two games behind the Yankees. Devers, under contract through 2033, is hitting .255 with a .379 on-base percentage, six home runs, and 25 RBIs so far this season.
