Article: Rafael Devers May Actually Play First Base, Eventually

[Alex Mayes]

Before the start of the game on Wednesday, May 7th, Alex Cora went on his weekly appearance on “WEEI Afternoons”  and was once again asked about Rafael Devers taking over first base in the wake of the injury to Triston Casas. Up to this point, Cora has remained steadfast that Devers would not play first. On Wednesday though, his tone changed. 

Cora told WEEI, “I’m not saying we’ll never have that conversation but I think for right now, where we’re at, I like Raffy as a DH.” Then, in the pregame media session Cora was asked about those comments. He said, “I think right now the most important thing is he’s very comfortable where he’s at and we’re very comfortable with what he’s doing. His production is really good. Coming into the season, that was the red flag. Everybody was talking about is he gonna get used to it? Can he DH because he’s not playing third base? ... He doesn’t need to play third base or first base to hit … He’s hitting the ball hard. And he’s producing. So for now I keep saying, he’s my DH and I’m very happy with that.”

These quotes are a pretty decent departure from the firm ‘no’ that he has offered to date. Cora went on to say that recent call up Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez offered positives to the team and that he wants to “let Raffy be Raffy.” I think, for now, that letting "Raffy be Raffy" makes sense. Devers is still learning to be a full-time DH and having him change his routine again so early in the season doesn’t seem like it would be beneficial. We already know that Devers wasn’t thrilled about the first position change, then going 0-19 to start the season, and having to reach out to guys like JD Martinez and David Ortiz to figure out how to adapt to his new, offense-only role. 

However, there may come a time soon when Devers is needed to play first on a regular basis. There are veteran players who think he could transition to first quickly and play well, with Lou Merloni being one of the more vocal of them. There’s even precedent in the AL East for this to happen, as the Blue Jays did it with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2020. Now, that position change happened early in Vlad’s career, after his first rookie season, while Devers has gotten years of play time at third until this season. We know that Devers is proud of playing the field and getting him back out there on a daily basis could help fix some of his offensive woes that still plague his season to this point.

I don’t anticipate this being a legitimate conversation until Masataka Yoshida is ready to rejoin the big league club — and that could be months away, depending on how his shoulder feels while he throws as he progresses through his rehab program and prepares to return to baseball. When Yoshida is ready, playing him at DH on a daily basis and planting Devers at first likely puts the best lineup on the field day in and day out. At the end of the day, shouldn’t that be the goal of the organization?

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[harmony]

Rafael Devers addressed the situation on Thursday:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/rafael-devers-unwilling-to-play-first-base.html

[jad]

Why the GM wants to micromanage a team and alienating one of his star players in the process is beyond me.  You have a 300,000,000 investment!  Take care of it.   (What is most disturbing about this article is the suggestion that Breslow's prickly relationship with Raffy is due to the fact that Bloom signed him.  ... I guess a general rule would be that when your GM is as much in the news as the players, something is seriously amiss).

[Nick]

 

[Nick]

2 hours ago, harmony said:

Rafael Devers addressed the situation on Thursday:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/rafael-devers-unwilling-to-play-first-base.html

MassLive also had a similar article.

This is a bigger problem than we've been led to believe.

It maybe time to move him. This won't end will.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

2 hours ago, harmony said:

Rafael Devers addressed the situation on Thursday:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/rafael-devers-unwilling-to-play-first-base.html

He shall now be known as rafael diva!

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

1 minute ago, Nick said:

MassLive also had a similar article.

This is a bigger problem than we've been led to believe.

It maybe time to move him. This won't end will.

I agree, you can't have the inmates running the asylum.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

2 hours ago, jad said:

Why the GM wants to micromanage a team and alienating one of his star players in the process is beyond me.  You have a 300,000,000 investment!  Take care of it.   (What is most disturbing about this article is the suggestion that Breslow's prickly relationship with Raffy is due to the fact that Bloom signed him.  ... I guess a general rule would be that when your GM is as much in the news as the players, something is seriously amiss).

Nonsense, it's certainly not "micromanaging" the team. He's asking the player to do what is in the best interest of the team, which is exactly what a GM is supposed to do.

This lies squarely on raffy.

[Nick]

1 hour ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Nonsense, it's certainly not "micromanaging" the team. He's asking the player to do what is in the best interest of the team, which is exactly what a GM is supposed to do.

This lies squarely on raffy.

Bregman is 2 years and 7 months older than Devers.

I'd suggest extending Bregman and trading Devers, and getting rid of his annual tax payroll of $30M.

It can be completed after the season is over. Devers is not happy with the management. Let's just hope he has a great season so that the Sox will attract several suitors.

Bring up Anthony and Mayer and sign a free agent 1B. We don't have much money vested in Casas so we can be patient. I would not give him long leash. Produce or be cut next time around. The DH spot can be rotated using starting position players plus Refsnyder.

[Maxbialystock]

The best use of Devers is to leave him where he is at DH.  Think David Ortiz, who only played 1b when the Sox were playing at an NL team.  He did not get into the HOF because of his fielding nor for his versatility.  It may have helped that he hit well when the Sox won the WS in 2004, 2007, and 2013.  It also helped the 2018 Sox to have JD Martinez (OPS 1.073) at DH.  

So far this season the Sox have had just two good lefty bats--Abreu and Devers with OPS's of .988 and .834-with  Duran lagging at .709.  Despite missing ST and being moved from 3B to DH, Devers could be headed for an OPS well above his career .854.  At the very same time, his not playing 3b has dramatically improved the 3B defense with Bregman.  On top of that injuries to DH's are significantly rarer than to third basemen or first  basemen.  

Also, replaceing Casas is the easiest thing in the world right now.  His WAR was -0.8 was the lowest on the team.  Gonzalez's OPS is .785 and his WAR +0.4.  Problem solved! 

All that said, I'm also in favor of bringing up Anthony and Mayer--both good lefty batters-- as soon as practicable.  Mayer (or Story) to 1b and Anthony to LF (Duran to CF).   

If the pitching (ranked 16th in MLB in ERA) doesn't improve, the front office may decide to wait until next year.  

 

[moonslav59]

I was hoping Devers would want to play 1B. He's upset they even asked him. Yikes!

I guess the best choice is Campbell to 1B and call up Mayer for middle infield.

Even with the little life shown by Rafaela, recently, I'd also call up Anthony- sooner, not later.

 

[FredLynn]

I originally thought that asking Devers to move wasn’t fair to him. He needs to do what’s best FOR THE TEAM. It’s not about HIM. If he can’t handle it that’s an attitude we don’t need on the team as we rebuild. I’d move him. 
Rafael Diva. Screw him and his fragile ego.

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

I was hoping Devers would want to play 1B. He's upset they even asked him. Yikes!

I guess the best choice is Campbell to 1B and call up Mayer for middle infield.

Even with the little life shown by Rafaela, recently, I'd also call up Anthony- sooner, not later.

 

this makes him appear extremely selfish. he should have told them he'd do the best he could and done just that.

[Jasonbay44]

You aren’t moving a hitter like Devers and getting fair value, especially with that contract. It isn’t worth moving him.

Does what he said sound selfish? Yeah, obviously. But trading him or getting rid of him because he’s mad about position changes doesn’t help the team. 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

8 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

this makes him appear extremely selfish. he should have told them he'd do the best he could and done just that.

That's what a team player would do. Devers is strictly for Devers. Hard to root for a player who puts himself above the team.

[moonslav59]

13 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

this makes him appear extremely selfish. he should have told them he'd do the best he could and done just that.

I agree. I don't like this, at all.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

That's what a team player would do. Devers is strictly for Devers. Hard to root for a player who puts himself above the team.

Let the baby stay at DH. The FO will figure out how to deal with 1st base.

[jdc69]

Does he not speak English? It's not very team oriented to needing an interpreter to speak with your teammates having been this long in the league. Looks like he understands it pretty quick but can't speak it.

[notin]

7 hours ago, jad said:

Why the GM wants to micromanage a team and alienating one of his star players in the process is beyond me.  You have a 300,000,000 investment!  Take care of it.   (What is most disturbing about this article is the suggestion that Breslow's prickly relationship with Raffy is due to the fact that Bloom signed him.  ... I guess a general rule would be that when your GM is as much in the news as the players, something is seriously amiss).

Their $300,000,000 investment sucked defensively at his position.  Is it such a crime to find a position he doesn’t suck at?

[TedYazPapiMookie]

Devers has the most errors of any active 3B in baseball and it's not close.  He should NOT play 1B ever since he has too many defensive deficiencies.  1 - hands of stone, 2 - No balance, 3 - No footwork, 4 - poor baseball acumen judging which ground balls to go for, 5- Inaccurate arm, 6 - Likely to lose playing time to errant throws leading him into the way of the runner, 7 - slow first step, 8 - horrible at charging ground balls and throwing so 1B would be even more difficult for a player who was bad at it from 3B, 9 - Terrible on pop-ups and would need to learn the reverse spin along the first base line and 10 - Slow hands could lead to a pick-off hitting him in the face.  The worst 3B of all time for Boston won't be better at 1B, he'll be even worse so burning his gloves is still a great idea.

 

[jad]

4 hours ago, notin said:

Their $300,000,000 investment sucked defensively at his position.  Is it such a crime to find a position he doesn’t suck at?

They already found that position and he's good at it.    But I suppose in contemporary business it's a GREAT idea to alienate your productive employers and thus devalue your investment.  You can always declare victory and tank.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I just wanna say I'll do whatever I can to make this forum a better place. 

Baseball is unique from other "team" sports. Players can't pass the ball or puck to teammates, or block or set picks for them. Baseball is the sum deeds of isolated individuals.

In the same way, sports message boards comprise many different posters with various takes on team news.

I give opinions, but I'm also willing to research statistics to back up them up. I'm also always ready to crack dumb jokes -- even on myself -- because everyone involved in pro sports takes it way too seriously.

People who dish it out must be willing to take it. CBOs, star employees, amateur evaluators on keyboards and phones -- we'll all in it together. But no one should be fired or primaried or have their families threatened just because their words disagree.

 

[Old Red]

7 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I agree. I don't like this, at all.

I Love it, Love it, Love it, and Love it some more. I think Raffy is in the 100% right here no matter how many says he is wrong, call him a bad teammate, or calls him names.  Raffy was lied to in the first place, and it doesn't matter who said it, or if they are still employed by the Boston Red Sox. The fact is they were representing the Boston Red Sox. if Raffy had been told the short term plan was to move him off 3B he might not have signed. They told him to put his glove away, and now after Casas got hurt they not only want  him to pick that glove up again they want him to learn a new position. No, no, and no again. The best part of the interview Raffy gave yesterday was when he said Brez should learn his job, and go out, and get someone to play 1B. Priceless, and 100% correct.

[notin]

5 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I Love it, Love it, Love it, and Love it some more. I think Raffy is in the 100% right here no matter how many says he is wrong, call him a bad teammate, or calls him names.  Raffy was lied to in the first place, and it doesn't matter who said it, or if they are still employed by the Boston Red Sox. The fact is they were representing the Boston Red Sox. if Raffy had been told the short term plan was to move him off 3B he might not have signed. They told him to put his glove away, and now after Casas got hurt they not only want  him to pick that glove up again they want him to learn a new position. No, no, and no again. The best part of the interview Raffy gave yesterday was when he said Brez should learn his job, and go out, and get someone to play 1B. Priceless, and 100% correct.

Hardly.

Raffy being a whiny bitch. “They made me learn a new position and now they want me to learn another one.”  Seriously?  Is he playing the victim card because he had to “LEARN” TO PLAY DH?!?! Exactly what did that entail?

And really? What was he told exactly?  “No we will never move you off position and you always have a home at 3b.  Cross our hearts and hope to die.”  
 

 

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I Love it, Love it, Love it, and Love it some more. I think Raffy is in the 100% right here no matter how many says he is wrong, call him a bad teammate, or calls him names.  Raffy was lied to in the first place, and it doesn't matter who said it, or if they are still employed by the Boston Red Sox. The fact is they were representing the Boston Red Sox. if Raffy had been told the short term plan was to move him off 3B he might not have signed. They told him to put his glove away, and now after Casas got hurt they not only want  him to pick that glove up again they want him to learn a new position. No, no, and no again. The best part of the interview Raffy gave yesterday was when he said Brez should learn his job, and go out, and get someone to play 1B. Priceless, and 100% correct.

A player's job is to play where the manager tells him to and do the best he can to help the team.

So, the GM and or manager made a mistake. That does not change the fact the player is expected to do his job, too. My boss makes mistakes, too. I don't tell him, I'm not doing my job, because you made a mistake.

[Old Red]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

A player's job is to play where the manager tells him to and do the best he can to help the team.

So, the GM and or manager made a mistake. That does not change the fact the player is expected to do his job, too. My boss makes mistakes, too. I don't tell him, I'm not doing my job, because you made a mistake.

Wha, wha, wha. Like Raffy said that Brez should learn how to do his job, and go out, and find someone to play 1B. You know an actual 1B. Once again the Red Sox don’t have an act 1B as a backup, and that’s all on Brez. It’s very evident he didn’t learn anything from last year. I’m 100% behind Raffy on this one, and I’ve never been a Devers Forevers guy. Go Raffy, and stick to your guns.

[notin]

1 hour ago, jad said:

They already found that position and he's good at it.    But I suppose in contemporary business it's a GREAT idea to alienate your productive employers and thus devalue your investment.  You can always declare victory and tank.

The only position hes been good at is DH.  His defense devalues their investment.

Well, that and his attitude…

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Wha, wha, wha. Like Raffy said that Brez should learn how to do his job, and go out, and find someone to play 1B. You know an actual 1B. Once again the Red Sox don’t have an act 1B as a backup, and that’s all on Brez. It’s very evident he didn’t learn anything from last year. I’m 100% behind Raffy on this one, and I’ve never been a Devers Forevers guy. Go Raffy, and stick to your guns.

Cheering on insubordination is so "you."

[notin]

6 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Wha, wha, wha. Like Raffy said that Brez should learn how to do his job, and go out, and find someone to play 1B. You know an actual 1B. Once again the Red Sox don’t have an act 1B as a backup, and that’s all on Brez. It’s very evident he didn’t learn anything from last year. I’m 100% behind Raffy on this one, and I’ve never been a Devers Forevers guy. Go Raffy, and stick to your guns.

Right.  Not having another MLB caliber first baseman just sitting on the bench is the problem here.

You’re possibly the only person ever to complain about the Sox not having enough 1b/DH types..

[Hugh2]

2 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Wha, wha, wha. Like Raffy said that Brez should learn how to do his job, and go out, and find someone to play 1B. You know an actual 1B. Once again the Red Sox don’t have an act 1B as a backup, and that’s all on Brez. It’s very evident he didn’t learn anything from last year. I’m 100% behind Raffy on this one, and I’ve never been a Devers Forevers guy. Go Raffy, and stick to your guns.

When Wong went down Narvaez got more playing time and has shown he may be a better option at catcher. If an outfielder goes down the have Anthony, if an infielder goes down they Mayer and Grissom.  When pitchers went down they had Dobbins and Fitts step up.

First base is seemingly the only position they didn't have great depth at, and to be fair how often do we see infielders move to 1B in season? not that it's terribly common but it's got to be the easiest transition to make.  It's not like the Sox lied to Devers about DHing him all year they would have kept him there if Casas didn't go down.  Asking Devers to slide to 1B is the type of move every single organization and every single GM in baseball is going to ask a guy like Devers. It's the most natural movement. 

Devers to 1B make this team so much better, the open spot at DH gives the Red Sox so much flexibility to figure things about between the likes of Yoshida/Grissom or to make a spot for Anthony/Mayer. 

I don't blame Raffy for being upset, I was one of his biggest defenders during the offseason.  But there's zero reason he shouldn't move to 1B, it's easily the best move for the team and one he should jump at if he really wanted to play the infield.