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

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..

I don’t agree with Brock’s assessment that Devers couldn’t play 1b, but I do see why Devers is upset. He’s basically being told “you suck at 3b.” But it’s time for some reality. He does. He’s in MLB solely because he can hit at an elite level. If he hit like Romy Gonzalez - who is probably one of the best 500 hitters currently walking the face of the Earth - Devers isnt even a major leaguer…

But what was promised? Third base for 10 years? Five years? No temporary moves (which this would clearly be since Casas is hurt, not dead)? Third base even if he bulks up to 400lbs and makes 200 errors? What was promised?

And what was that exactly? For how long? Under all circumstances, not even temporary moves? Enlighten us… You’ve already thrown out the hypothetical scenario where Devers doesn’t sign without the promise. So why not put it in the contract? After all, a contract is just a promise in writing. And you’ve told us

Gotta love the “they can’t expect me to play every position” hyperbole. I don’t think that’s the case here. While I sort of understand it, Devers needs to grasp eventually that as much as a lifetime of practice helped hit hitting, the fielding never caught up. No one wants him to play “every position”; they want to limit him to the least challenging ones defensively. And a move to 1b isnt even permanent. It’s not like Casas died…

What was he lied to about? No one knows what he was promised…

I gave him the benefit of the doubt. But I heard him whine (through his translator) yesterday….

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..

The only position hes been good at is DH. His defense devalues their investment. Well, that and his attitude…

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.”

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

Slaten has been shaky. But it’s very possible he simply isn’t as good as last year. Whitlock is the subject of overreacting, simply because he had consecutive bad outings. If the Sox just use Guerrero and Fitts (upon his return) and keep Whitlock, Weissert and Bernardino in their roles, the bullpen could improve. ..

I’d prefer they lowered prices. Do we think owners aren’t pocketing money?

Refsnyder at full time DH? No Campbell?

Reportedly Yoshida isn’t ready to field, specifically throw. But he’s ok to hit…

Doubtful. All deals get bad eventually. At some point, the Dodgers will be paying Mookie $30mill to be an average to below player. Devers’ deal will eventually do the same, but he’s already been more valuable on it than Panda was in 5 years. And he’s still only 25…

Stop touching his thighs!!! Don’t b you know how tight they are?

Benching Rafaela in favor of Anthony is a solution that’s been there all along, but it does nothing for 1b. Cora does seem dedicated to Rafaela in CF. At least for now…

And as dumb as I think the Sox are for not deploying this extremely obvious solution, it is possible Devers is trying on the oversized fingerless mitt and taking grounders at first daily, hoping to learn to scoop while he stretches, and Abraham Toro is counting the days until Yoshida is activated…

1. That works both ways. Especially if our top prospects start off like Jackson Holliday and/or Roman Anthony’s former high school teammate Coby Mayo. 2. Yoshida, if actually healthy, probably has more upside than you realize. He was the best hitter on the Sox vs RHP last year and was doing quite well before being derailed by his shoulder injury. 3. Yoshida is already here. Anthony or Mayer would require DFAing someone, which, regardless of how expendable they appear today, might still be important as more injuries kick in…

It doesn’t appear as though the Sox plan to use Casas’ injury as a reason to call up a rookie and overhaul the infield. And they probably shouldn’t. Campbell’s to 1b, Story to 2b looks nice on paper, until the oft-injured Story goes down again and another overhaul is necessary. Devers to 1b, Yoshida to DH is much simpler. And doesn’t rely on (non-40 Man) rookies to save the offense. Especially since those rookies will be needed later as other injuries set in…

I’ve seen the Story recommendation multiple times, and other than creating an opening for Mayer, there’s no real reason to consider it. Consider a few random thoughts. Not counting DH, first base is widely regarded as the easiest position to field. It’s the only position where the overwhelming bulk of your chances are balls thrown to you (i.e the thrower is intending you catch it) as opposed to hit to you (the hitter does not). There is a reason so many first basemen started out in other positions before settling there - they were hitters, not fielders. Story is the opposite. He is a talented defender, but a streaky hitter prone to prolonged slump in which he struggles to make contact. He also possesses none of the physical traits (height, left-handedness) that make the position easier. If it wasn’t for Mayer, no one would suggest this. Campbell is at least taller. And moving from 2b to 1b does create the middle infield opening for Mayer. I could understand if the Sox didn’t want to bounce Campbell’s position around his rookie year, but Cora appears dedicated to doing so. To me, Devers makes the most sense. Granted, he’s never played 1b, but no one made an issue of that while we were starting Romy Gonzalez there. And Abraham Toro isn’t exactly loaded with 1b experience either. Devers could be worked in to the position and create an opening for the easiest position to fill. Especially since the guy that could fill it might be better utilized at DH than in the OF, where he has shown to be ineffective, and his recent shoulder surgery probably didn’t fix any of his issues. But it’s kind of amazing how we had a surplus of 1b/DH players, and then after only one injury later, we have a shortage…

That wasn’t you with the glasses in the second row? Right behind an obvious George Carlin, as he fails to hide his identity with sunglasses…

Dave Stapleton wasn’t real…