Why not go by the results and the fact that the team gave up on Toro?
Okay, Toro peaked at about the 30 game mark, which was when we traded Devers, but for someone who calls every prospect a "suspect," you sure seem to have thought Toro was someone we didn't need to replace. All based on what Cora said- I guy you respect more than anyone in MLB! (LOL)
Devers > Toro. There is no debate on that.
As for DH, yes Masa was on some sort of Twilight Zone AAA rehab assignment and wasn't called up until almost a month after the Devers trade, we still had Romy, Refsnyder and others that could have DH'd
It was clear Cora did not want to even politely ask Devers to play 1B, and let's assume you are right, Cora did not think he was a better option at 1B, and it wasn't a fear of a Devers pout or tantrum, we do know Brez wanted Devers at 1B.
So, "Going by what Brez actually said..." should mean something, too, right?