Article: Rafael Devers May Actually Play First Base, Eventually

[drewski6]

Red and Devers sounds like a basketball players/fans who refused to embrace the rising importance of the three point shot.  

Things change, and things evolve.  There are very few "real first baseman" left, almost all of them are dudes who were moved from a different position.  Its not just 1B either. Bregman came up a shortstop.  But he bulked up and had to be moved to third where he became really good.  The best defensive CF in baseball was a catcher 2 years ago.  Tatis was a SS.  It goes back even to the year 2000 , anyone remember when Alex Gordon was a 3B , got moved to RF and became freaking excellent? 

Long gone are the days where guys played one position their whole career.  Adapt or get left behind.  The seventies arent coming back. Foot stomping and whining for a "first baseman" is not only a bad look, but its also delusional.  Any 1B we could reasonably acquire is a guy who has been moved from a previous position. Thats what 1b has become, your bat is too good, but I already have a DH and you arent exactly getting it done at position x.

Refusing to adapt makes one go extinct.  Everybody I know who is over 65 and still working has had to adapt. The only thing that wont change is the fact that change exists.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

10 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

 

The worst thing Raffy did -- by refusing to play 1B -- is basically tell his teammates he doesn't want to do what's best for them, to help them win.

 

I can agree with that.

[notin]

18 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

People complain about upper management all the time. Devers himself implored the front office to obtain reinforcements for the pitching staff just last summer -- in other words, "to do their job."

The worst thing Raffy did -- by refusing to play 1B -- is basically tell his teammates he doesn't want to do what's best for them, to help them win.

Now, they're pros, so some of might just do this for a job. But to be an athlete is to be competitive.

Try telling Bregman you don't want to help him win. This whole scandal Part 2 will take care of itself in The Clubhouse very soon...

You might be right.

Devers wasn’t the only MLB player this off-season to be vocal about his move to DH.  Seiya Suzuki also did.

Both situations contain a fair amount of parallels.  Both teams acquired star players possibly for just one year, for example.  And both players did move to DH.

Assuming Cora wants Rafael there, if Devers eventually moves and this was just venting frustration, it’s fine with me.  But if he adamantly refuses this temporary move, that does make him a problem..

[moonslav59]

Only the best players can say "I won't" do what you ask me to do.

Sad.

[FredLynn]

11 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

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

He still might come around. His initial reaction to Bregman taking over at 3B was similar-"I play 3B", if I recall correctly. 

[notin]

7 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

He still might come around. His initial reaction to Bregman taking over at 3B was similar-"I play 3B", if I recall correctly. 

He absolutely might.  As far as I’m concerned if/when that happens, all is forgiven…

[notin]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Only the best players can say "I won't" do what you ask me to do.

Sad.

Did Bryce Harper balk at 1b?  Not sure.  Did Blad Jr. say “I won’t “?  I don’t know.

I do know both moved…

[Bellhorn04]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

Did Bryce Harper balk at 1b?  Not sure.  Did Blad Jr. say “I won’t “?  I don’t know.

I do know both moved…

As did Cabrera.

[notin]

36 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Red and Devers sounds like a basketball players/fans who refused to embrace the rising importance of the three point shot.  

Things change, and things evolve.  There are very few "real first baseman" left, almost all of them are dudes who were moved from a different position.  Its not just 1B either. Bregman came up a shortstop.  But he bulked up and had to be moved to third where he became really good.  The best defensive CF in baseball was a catcher 2 years ago.  Tatis was a SS.  It goes back even to the year 2000 , anyone remember when Alex Gordon was a 3B , got moved to RF and became freaking excellent? 

Long gone are the days where guys played one position their whole career.  Adapt or get left behind.  The seventies arent coming back. Foot stomping and whining for a "first baseman" is not only a bad look, but its also delusional.  Any 1B we could reasonably acquire is a guy who has been moved from a previous position. Thats what 1b has become, your bat is too good, but I already have a DH and you arent exactly getting it done at position x.

Refusing to adapt makes one go extinct.  Everybody I know who is over 65 and still working has had to adapt. The only thing that wont change is the fact that change exists.

True.  Most first basemen in MLB move there.  The ones who came up playing 1b fall into one of 4 physical categories .

1. Left-handed

2. Really tall

3. Both

4. Paul Goldschmidt and Pete Alonso

 

[notin]

1 minute ago, Bellhorn04 said:

As did Cabrera.

Miguel Cabrera came up as a SS and basically played wherever they told him, including the OF at one point.

The 2024 Padres went to the NLCS with a lineup featuring 7 players they told to move off shortstop.  Only Higashioka never played the position…

[moonslav59]

22 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

He still might come around. His initial reaction to Bregman taking over at 3B was similar-"I play 3B", if I recall correctly. 

Yes, and hopefully his inner circle of friends tell him the bitter truth.

[FredLynn]

20 minutes ago, notin said:

He absolutely might.  As far as I’m concerned if/when that happens, all is forgiven…

Not in my book. This is the second time he has put himself over what is best for the team. For the amount of money he is getting payed he should agree to play on the moon if they tell him to. 

Its not a good look at all.

[drewski6]

8 minutes ago, notin said:

True.  Most first basemen in MLB move there.  The ones who came up playing 1b fall into one of 4 physical categories .

1. Left-handed

2. Really tall

3. Both

4. Paul Goldschmidt and Pete Alonso

 

Even some of the most first-basemany first-baseman that I can think of didnt exclusively play 1b.
 Big Sexsie - in 99 and in 2000 split his time between 1b and the of

 

10 minutes ago, notin said:

Miguel Cabrera came up as a SS and basically played wherever they told him, including the OF at one point.

The 2024 Padres went to the NLCS with a lineup featuring 7 players they told to move off shortstop.  Only Higashioka never played the position…

Great examples. Props to Belhorn on the Miggy pull.
 

Regarding Notins comment on 2024 Padres. I love it. I would add: "welcome to the present"
 

[Duran Is The Man]

32 minutes ago, notin said:

Did Bryce Harper balk at 1b?  Not sure.  Did Blad Jr. say “I won’t “?  I don’t know.

I do know both moved…

Mookie has been at 2B and SS, besides all over the outfield in LA. i never heard him whine like a little bitch about switching positions because someone got hurt.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Modern Manager to Ghost of Ballplayer Past: 

"Hey, Raffy -- we want to shake up the batting order. Will you agree to bat second?"

"NO! All my life I've batted fourth. I am Clean-up Man."

"But #2 gets more at bats than #4... our analytics department ran the data -- 2 comes before 4!"

"Well in that case... Skip, pencil me in!"

[Hitch]

51 minutes ago, notin said:

You might be right.

Devers wasn’t the only MLB player this off-season to be vocal about his move to DH.  Seiya Suzuki also did.

Both situations contain a fair amount of parallels.  Both teams acquired star players possibly for just one year, for example.  And both players did move to DH.

Assuming Cora wants Rafael there, if Devers eventually moves and this was just venting frustration, it’s fine with me.  But if he adamantly refuses this temporary move, that does make him a problem..

The best thing the Sox could have done this off season was say to Devers - look, we hear you, we want to make the team better, but the only impact bats left to us are 3rd basemen, and gold glovers at that. Would you be up for us bringing them in, and you taking reps at 1st base and playing some DH every now and then. We can really improve the team this way.

Instead they lied through their teeth at him.

Which doesn't excuse his ******** yesterday. And really doesn't excuse the - 'do your job and get a 1st baseman' in spiel.

[FredLynn]

3 minutes ago, Hitch said:

The best thing the Sox could have done this off season was say to Devers - look, we hear you, we want to make the team better, but the only impact bats left to us are 3rd basemen, and gold glovers at that. Would you be up for us bringing them in, and you taking reps at 1st base and playing some DH every now and then. We can really improve the team this way.

Instead they lied through their teeth at him.

Which doesn't excuse his ******** yesterday. And really doesn't excuse the - 'do your job and get a 1st baseman' in spiel.

Casas was to be this year's everyday 1B. They didn't lie to him. They got Bregman to improve the IF defense and to add a good RH bat so AT THE TIME the plan was to move Devers to DH. Things changed. Just like our GM said Devers is being "hard headed".....and SELFISH AS HELL.

[Hitch]

4 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Casas was to be this year's everyday 1B. They didn't lie to him. They got Bregman to improve the IF defense and to add a good RH bat so AT THE TIME the plan was to move Devers to DH. Things changed. Just like our GM said Devers is being "hard headed".....and SELFISH AS HELL.

They did lie to him - they kept parroting the nonsense that Bregman was destined for 2nd base. Even after he signed. 

Which of course, doesn't change that Devers is coming out of this looking terribly now.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

9 minutes ago, Hitch said:

.Which doesn't excuse his ******** yesterday. And really doesn't excuse the - 'do your job and get a 1st baseman' in spiel.

Which is why I will for now on refer to him as raffy diva

[vegasbob]

I take great pride in the fact that I never liked this player nor his attitude .   He has been and will be paid a ton of money but is not an exceptional player in the field nor at bat.   

I am glad that the truth finally came out of his mouth , ripping Breslow was a great idea,  Raffy.

Play out the rest of the season as a well compensated DH , assclown, and I truly hope Breslow trades you this winter .      You were the wrong one to get paid , jerk.

Finally  we have some actual reason to  justify criticizing about your phat a@@.

Who will be the teammates to verbally defend or critique Devers?   That could make it more interesting

[win red sox]

4 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Casas was to be this year's everyday 1B. They didn't lie to him. They got Bregman to improve the IF defense and to add a good RH bat so AT THE TIME the plan was to move Devers to DH. Things changed. Just like our GM said Devers is being "hard headed".....and SELFISH AS HELL.

Im pretty sure that Cora made several statements about seeing Bregman being a gold glove second baseman even though he never took reps at second base in spring training and Im pretty sure if Bregman didn't sign then Arenado would have been traded for. If Devers wasn't lied to, at the minimum he was misled.  I personally don't believe anything out of Cora's mouth, I think one thing we can agree on is integrity will never be associated with him, and to have him be a leader of young men is a bad choice.

No doubt this shines a bad light on Devers, but the way the front office and Cora handled the situation was piss poor. I thought it was good chance that Devers was going to be moved next off season, but now I wouldn't be shocked if it's by July.  

 

[iortiz]

Wonder what exactly his contract says. 
 

if the contract says, you will play wherever your manager tells you to play, why they bother asking him. You just tell him to play 1B and end of the story. 
 

Devers is still a young man. IMO he’s been terrible advised. Terrible. He sucked at 3B reason why they brought Bregman in the first place. Now an opportunity to play 1B is open and he refuses to at least try and help the team while a slot at DH would be open to Yoshida or one of our youngsters. 
 

I like Devers but this diva attitude speaks volumes how resentful he still is. 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Did Bryce Harper balk at 1b?

Not at all.

In fact, this past offseason he said he would move off first if they acquired alonso.

That's a guy you want on your team.

[iortiz]

16 minutes ago, win red sox said:

Im pretty sure that Cora made several statements about seeing Bregman being a gold glove second baseman even though he never took reps at second base in spring training and Im pretty sure if Bregman didn't sign then Arenado would have been traded for. If Devers wasn't lied to, at the minimum he was misled.  I personally don't believe anything out of Cora's mouth, I think one thing we can agree on is integrity will never be associated with him, and to have him be a leader of young men is a bad choice.

No doubt this shines a bad light on Devers, but the way the front office and Cora handled the situation was piss poor. I thought it was good chance that Devers was going to be moved next off season, but now I wouldn't be shocked if it's by July.  

 

No one will take a 300 M diva who can’t field and is not elite with his bat. 

[illinoisredsox]

3 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Once again, you create a position I do not hold. I want Campbell at 1B not Devers.

I also want the GM and manager to run the team, and not a player. If they want Devers at 1B, I feel he should do what his basses want.

Keep "loving it, loving it, loving it" all you want, but this is not good for the team and all Sox fans, but one: you.

Red isn’t a Sox fan, he’s a provocateur.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

38 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Who will be the teammates to verbally defend or critique Devers?   That could make it more interesting

This could make chicken & beer gate look like child's play.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

54 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Who will be the teammates to verbally defend or critique Devers?  

The cracks are starting to show.............

https://nypost.com/2025/05/09/sports/red-sox-teammates-reactions-revealed-as-rafael-devers-wages-war-against-front-office/

[win red sox]

2 minutes ago, iortiz said:

No one will take a 300 M diva who can’t field and is not elite with his bat. 

He was 4th last year in Fwar for 3b. He's on track for his best season at the plate.  I think you might be underestimating him slightly.

Let's take a look at some of his Statcast metrics:

xwOBA  .405. 94th percentile

Average exit velocity 95.2. 99th percentile

Barrel %  19.8 97th percentile

Hard Hit %  60.4 99th percentile

Chase Rate 22.2 83rd percentile

BB% 16.4 94 percentile

 

He's on track for an elite season.  There would be no issue finding a trade partner, the problem is that your team would be significantly weaker.

 

[vegasbob]

9 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

The cracks are starting to show.............

https://nypost.com/2025/05/09/sports/red-sox-teammates-reactions-revealed-as-rafael-devers-wages-war-against-front-office/

Appreciate the articles you post that I might not otherwise see.

This one is stirring the pot somewhat, but with no chicken in yet.  Looking for  the player with the cojones to say, either way, what he is thinking.  We know some  ex-players like Merloni think, but they are also 'company men"  getting a paycheck.

Cora remains very protective of his guys, probably the right course , and did not want to expose Raffy as uncooperative .   Thanks, Raffy, for stabbing your compadre in the back by going public. 

I hope he hits a ton, maybe 1.500 OPS, the rest of the year to make himself valuable to some team

[TedYazPapiMookie]

Bloom was on his way out and he didn't care if he lied to Devers since he was trying to save his job but instead created an albatross contract.  Devers should NEVER have played 3B once he proved his horrendous play in the minors wasn't going to improve.  This is a team that dismissed their greatest player Mookie to keep the player who was declared their future at 14.  Nothing that was done after 2019 made sense from a baseball ownership perspective if the organization wanted to win.  The wealthy ownership chose to not pay Mookie for 12 years at a price $9Million higher than his 2020 salary so they could overpay a DH who was nowhere near as good of a hitter as Mookie PLUS he couldn't play defense and could not run the bases as well.   Devers should have just taken the money, recognized how incredibly lucky he was and how patient the front office had been. He also needed to recognize that he was a pretender as a fielder and someday it would end despite ANY promises made by Bloom who was on his way out.  Now, maybe Devers realizes how incredibly bad he was at 3B after watching Bregman and doesn't want to embarrass himself any further.  That would be the most mature thinking he's ever done.

Go get a 1B using the outfield depth or trade Mayer since he carries significant risk to injury.  His value should be high enough to get a real long-term solution at 1B especially with throw ins like Yoshida and Abreu who have no place in Boston's future other than being back-ups.