Charlie Hoke

Red Sox starting pitchers Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suárez will start the 2026 season as the 1st and 2nd pitchers in the Boston rotation assuming both stay healthy. Crochet is coming off an incredible 1st season in a Red Sox uniform. He went 18-5 with 2.59 ERA and had 255 K’s in 2025 which led the league in strikeouts. For new addition in 2026 with Suárez he can be durable right behind Crochet in the rotation. Both pitchers are lefties and has the chance to be one of the best top two 1-2 combinations in the majors.
As for Crochet he will look to build off his 18 win campaign from 2025. Crochet has the chance to potentially win the American League Cy Young Award at season’s end if he performs at the level from last year. In terms of Suárez he can be the complementary pitcher that will give you innings and go far in games. His 12-8 record with the Philadelphia Phillies last season wasn’t bad to go a long with his 3.20 ERA in 157.1/3 innings.
Red Sox nation should have a lot to look forward to with this pitching staff especially these two players at the front end of it. This 2026 Red Sox team regarding the pitching staff has many options that will continue to compete in Spring Training. Opening Day is under two weeks away it’s going to be interesting how this rotation shapes up.

Who holds the single season record for RBIs for a shortstop? You may think it would be held by a Hall of Famer like Honus Wagner, Ernie Banks or Cal Ripken, or a recent retired star like Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada, or Derek Jeter, but no, the record is held by Red Sox Vern Stephens and was set in 1949.
That year, batting behind Ted Williams, Vern Stephens had 159 RBIs and it was the first of two consecutive years when Stephens tied for the league lead in RBIs. This RBI total was the highest in the major leagues for 50 years until Manny Ramirez surpassed it with 165 in 1999.
From 1948 to 1949, Vern Stephens had three of highest RBI single season MLB totals for a shortstop. Only one other shortstop, Alex Rodriguez, has 3 seasons in the top ten and Alex was aided by the 162-game schedule. 
Vern Stephens started his MLB career with the St Louis Browns, leading the league in RBIs in 1944 and the Browns to the pennant that year.  However, he would add more offensive and defensive accomplishments with the Red Sox.
Top Single Season RBI totals by Shortstops


A consistent offensive performer Vern played good defense as well, leading the league in assists 1947-1949, double plays in 1949 and fielding percentage in 1945. His advanced metrics also show that he was one of the top players at the time, with 6 seasons in the top 10 for both offensive and defensive WAR.
Traded to the Red Sox before the 1948 season, Vern played 5 years for the Red Sox where he was paired with Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr, but the Sox could not do better than 2nd place twice during his time falling short by a single game in 1948 and 1949.
Vern's production tailed off after he turned 30, finishing his career with stints with the St Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox. At 35 he was out of major league baseball and at the age of 48 he died of a heart attack.
Based on Similarity Scores | Baseball-Reference.com, Vern's top 5 comparable players include 3 Hall of Famers and one not yet eligible to be elected as of 2025.
Similar Batters to Vern Stephens 
Bobby Doerr (890.7) Hall of Fame Tony Lazzeri (888.2) Hall of Fame Bret Boone (887.5) Chase Utley (879.2) Not yet Eligible as of 2025 Joe Gordon (870.1) Hall of Fame  
Yrs WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+   Vern Stephens (1941-1955)                               15 Yrs 46.3 1720 6497 1001 1859 307 42 247 1174 25 22 692 685 .286 .355 .460 .815 119 .379 119   Bobby Doerr (1937-1951) (HOF)                               14 Yrs 51.3 1865 7093 1094 2042 381 89 223 1247 54 64 809 608 .288 .362 .461 .823 115 .377 116   Tony Lazzeri (1926-1939) (HOF)                               14 Yrs 47.6 1740 6297 986 1840 334 115 178 1194 148 82 869 864 .292 .380 .467 .846 121 .383 121   Brett Boone (1992-2005)                                 14 Yrs 22.8 1780 6683 927 1775 366 28 252 1021 94 53 552 1295 .266 .325 .442 .767 101 .342 101   Chase Utley (2013-2018) (Not yet eligible)                           16 Yrs 64.6 1937 6857 1103 1885 411 58 259 1025 154 22 724 1193 .275 .358 .465 .823 117 .368 120   Joe Gordon (1938-1950) (HOF)                               11 Yrs 55.6 1566 5707 914 1530 264 52 253 975 89 60 759 702 .268 .357 .466 .822 120 .372 118 Bill James, the famous baseball historian and analyst, had stated in his 1994 book, Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame?, that the Hall of Fame may have erred by inducting only one half of the Yankees double play combination when the voters only elected shortstop Phil Rizzuto, but not second baseman Joe Gordon, and similarly for the Red Sox, when only second baseman Bobby Doerr was elected, but not shortstop Vern Stephens.. Likewise with the 2017 election of Tiger's shortstop Alan Trammell to the Hall of Fame, his infield teammate second baseman Lou Whitaker has also been neglected.
Although on the one and only Pre-1943 Veterans Committee Baseball ballot in 2009, Stephens has not been considered since. On that same ballot in 2009, Joe Gordon was elected to the Hall of Fame to join his Yankee teammate Phil Rizzuto.
Is it now time to consider Vern Stephens again for election to the Hall of Fame?
 
 

Missing out getting free agents Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber may be disappointing at first but a long-term saving grace for the Red Sox.
Pete Alonso opted out of a 2-year $54 million contract with the Mets to sign a 5-year $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles as he enters his age 31 year.
Entering free agency, Kyle Schwarber elected to stay with the Phillies on a 5-year $150 million contract entering his age 33 year.
From Baseball-Reference.com, the most similar player to Pete Alonso is Khris Davis.

Here are their stats through their age 30 seasons.
Khris Davis: Standard Batting (2013-2018)
                                  Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2013-2018 25-30 MIL,OAK 11.7 775 3058 2726 425 676 143 8 193 497 18 5 261 814 .248 .320 .519 .839 126 .362 128 1414 81 per Season 25-30 MIL,OAK 1.9 129 510 454 71 113 24 1 32 83 3 1 44 136 .248 .320 .519 .839 126 .362 128 236 14 per 162 gms 25-30 MIL,OAK 2.4 162 639 570 89 141 30 2 40 104 4 1 55 170 .248 .320 .519 .839 126 .362 128 296 17 Pete Alonso: Standard Batting (2019-2025)
                                  Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2019-2025 24-30 NYM 23.3 1008 4316 3763 580 951 183 8 264 712 18 4 419 984 .253 .341 .516 .857 135 .367 135 1942 108 per Season 24-30 NYM 3.3 144 617 538 83 136 26 1 38 102 3 1 60 141 .253 .341 .516 .857 135 .367 135 277 15 per 162 gms 24-30 NYM 3.7 162 694 605 93 153 29 1 42 114 3 1 67 158 .253 .341 .516 .857 135 .367 135 312 17 From Age 31 onwards, Khris Davis only lasted three more years and hit only 28 more home runs.
Khris Davis: Standard Batting (2019-2021)
                                  Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2019-2021 31-33 OAK,TEX -0.9 205 746 668 81 144 21 1 28 93 0 0 67 203 .216 .291 .376 .667 81 .293 82 251 18 per Season 31-33 OAK,TEX -0.3 68 249 223 27 48 7 0 9 31 0 0 22 68 .216 .291 .376 .667 81 .293 82 84 6 per 162 gms 31-33 OAK,TEX -0.7 162 590 528 64 114 17 1 22 74 0 0 53 160 .216 .291 .376 .667 81 .293 82 198 14 Another cautionary tale for the Orioles might be their own Chris Davis who played from 2008 to 2020 and hit 241 home runs through his age 30 season and only 54 afterwards.

How will Pete Alonso perform through his age 35 season?

Kyle Schwarber entering his age 33 season has a career similar to Dave Kingman who was most known also for his home run power and low average. 
Dave Kingman: Standard Batting (1971-1981)
                                Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 1971-1981 22-32 CAL,CHC,NYM,NYY,SDP,SFG 16.1 1243 4666 4192 592 1011 166 23 292 779 71 42 388 1244 .241 .308 .501 .809 122 .367 121 2099 86 per Season 22-32 CAL,CHC,NYM,NYY,SDP,SFG 1.5 113 424 381 54 92 15 2 27 71 7 4 35 113 .241 .308 .501 .809 122 .367 121 191 8 per 162 gms 22-32 CAL,CHC,NYM,NYY,SDP,SFG 2.1 162 608 546 77 132 22 3 38 102 9 6 51 162 .241 .308 .501 .809 122 .367 121 274 11                                                   Kyle Schwarber: Standard Batting (2015-2025)
                                Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2015-2025 22-32 BOS,CHC,PHI,WSN 19.9 1291 5384 4544 800 1050 175 14 340 784 37 19 764 1527 .231 .346 .500 .846 127 .363 126 2273 53 per Season 22-32 BOS,CHC,PHI,WSN 1.8 117 490 413 73 96 16 1 31 71 3 2 70 139 .231 .346 .500 .846 127 .363 126 207 5 per 162 gms 22-32 BOS,CHC,PHI,WSN 2.5 162 676 570 100 132 22 2 43 98 5 2 96 192 .231 .346 .500 .846 127 .363 126 285 7 Dave Kingman played for 5 more years ending his career with 442 home runs.
Dave Kingman: Standard Batting (1982-1986)
                          Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 1982-1986 33-37 NYM,OAK 1.3 698 2763 2485 309 564 74 2 150 431 14 7 220 572 .227 .290 .439 .730 104 .330 102 1092 53 per Season 33-37 NYM,OAK 0.3 140 553 497 62 113 15 0 30 86 3 1 44 114 .227 .290 .439 .730 104 .330 102 218 11 per 162 gms 33-37 NYM,OAK 0.3 162 641 577 72 131 17 1 35 100 3 2 51 133 .227 .290 .439 .730 104 .330 102 253 12                                                                                                       The Phillies also have the precedence of signing another powerful slugger, Ryan Howard, to a 5-year extension for $125 million after his age 31 season. Here's his performance through his age 32 season with 300 home runs. After age 32, Howard only hit 82 home runs in the final three years of his contract.
Ryan Howard: Standard Batting (2004-2012)                                 Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2004-2012 24-32 PHI 18.3 1098 4701 4054 661 1100 200 17 300 920 12 4 565 1306 .271 .364 .551 .915 135 .388 133 2234 82 per Season 24-32 PHI 2 122 522 450 73 122 22 2 33 102 1 0 63 145 .271 .364 .551 .915 135 .388 133 248 9 per 162 gms 24-32 PHI 2.7 162 694 598 98 162 30 3 44 136 2 1 83 193 .271 .364 .551 .915 135 .388 133 330 12                                                  
With an average value of $30 to $31 million per year for a 1st baseman and designated hitter, the Orioles and Phillies are paying premium prices for two positions low on the defensive spectrum and where careers go to end. The home run hitting skills of Alonso and Schwarber are among the most perishable of skills with age.
Combined with their historically low batting averages and high strikeout rates, it is unclear that both will continue to produce at high levels for the rest of their contracts.
Long term contracts tend to become big liabilities in their later years as performance declines as it inevitably will with age.
Even thought these contracts appear to have secured Alonso and Schwarber for the Orioles and Phillies for the next five years, this may not prevent the players from being moved as circumstances change. Schwarber will vest in his 10 and 5 rights[1] after this season in 2026 and gain full veto rights over trades, and Pete Alonso has a limited no-trade clause which may limit the Orioles and Phillies ability to move these players elsewhere.
Losing out on these two players especially with their trade protections is probably a burden the Red Sox are glad to have avoided. What do you think?
[1] https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/10-and-5-rights

If your batting average declines each year for 6 years straight, can you stay in the big leagues?
Although there are many new and more advanced statistics, batting average is still a useful measure of a player's ability.
Is 6 consecutive years of declining batting average irreversible?
Red Sox Dave Stapleton, an infielder who played from 1980-1986, is the only MLB player who played at least seven years whose batting average declined each year throughout his career. [1]
From a high of .321 in his rookie debut in 1980, Dave's batting average declined every year to a nadir of .128 in 1986.
Dave Stapleton, Boston Red Sox (1980-1986) Batting
  Age Team Lg WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 1980 26 BOS AL 3 106 449 61 144 33 5 7 45 3 2 13 32 .321 .338 .463 .802 113 .357 108 1981 27 BOS AL 1.3 93 355 45 101 17 1 10 42 0 4 21 22 .285 .325 .423 .747 109 .346 111 1982 28 BOS AL 0.6 150 538 66 142 28 1 14 65 2 4 31 40 .264 .305 .398 .703 87 .315 81 1983 29 BOS AL -1.6 151 542 54 134 31 1 10 66 1 1 40 44 .247 .297 .363 .661 76 .299 67 1984 30 BOS AL -0.2 13 39 4 9 2 0 0 1 0 0 3 3 .231 .286 .282 .568 55 .253 33 1985 31 BOS AL -0.3 30 66 4 15 6 0 0 2 0 0 4 11 .227 .271 .318 .590 59 .279 56 1986 32 BOS AL -0.9 39 39 4 5 1 0 0 3 0 0 2 10 .128 .171 .154 .325 -10 .154 -32 7 Yrs 2.0 582 2028 238 550 118 8 41 224 6 11 114 162 .271 .310 .398 .707 90 .320 84 162 Game Avg 0.6 162 564 66 153 33 2 11 62 2 3 32 45 .271 .310 .398 .707 90 .320 84 Dave Stapleton, Boston Red Sox (1986 and Career Totals) 1B Fielding Stats 
        Pos G CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% lgFld% Rtot Rtot/yr RF/9 lgRF9 RF/G lgRFG 1986   BOS AL 1B 29 5 85 86 79 7 0 10 1.000 .991 -1 -13 9.11 9.42 2.97 9.33 1B (7 Yrs) 1B 318 270 2547 2815 2593 201 21 266 .993 .992 11 5 9.87 9.87 8.79 9.78
 
Dave Stapleton is most well-known for what he didn't do than for what he may have done.
In Game 6 of the 1986 World Series with the Red Sox leading by 2 in the bottom of the 10th inning, he was not inserted as a defensive substitution at 1st base, something that had been done throughout the regular season and the playoffs, coming in 25 times during the regular season and in all 7 winning playoff games (4 in the ALCS and 3 in the World Series) in 1986.
The losing play of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series [2] was on an error by the Red Sox 1st Baseman, which allowed the New York Mets to score the winning run and consequently forced a World Series Game 7, which the Red Sox also lost.
Had Dave Stapleton been playing in the field in that 10th inning, would that same result have occurred, and would the Red Sox have won the 1986 World Series subsequently?
Would a 1986 World Series win by the Red Sox helped him to continue his career? It's interesting to speculate on how one bouncing ball could have changed the course of history for a team and its players.
As it was, 1986 was Dave Stapleton's final season at the age of 32.
For him, 6 years of decline was not recoverable.
 
In his 6th down year
In 2025, another player has seen his batting average decline year after year for 6 years.
Tim Anderson, a former AL batting champion, silver slugger, and 2-time All-star has seen his batting average drop 6 straight years since winning the 2019 AL batting crown. It was not an errant ball, but perhaps an errant brawl that has symbolized Tim Anderson's decline. when he exchanged punches with Jose Ramirez after a dispute on the basepaths on August 5, 2023.
In his age 32 season, Tim Anderson was just released by the Los Angeles Angels on May 31, 2025.
Is this the end of the line for Tim Anderson?
Tim Anderson Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels (2016-2025) Batting
  Age Team Lg WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 2016 23 CHW AL 2.3 99 410 57 116 22 6 9 30 10 2 13 117 .283 .306 .432 .738 100 .326 101 2017 24 CHW AL -0.3 146 587 72 151 26 4 17 56 15 1 13 162 .257 .276 .402 .679 81 .305 82 2018 25 CHW AL 3.9 153 567 77 136 28 3 20 64 26 8 30 149 .240 .281 .406 .687 87 .308 88 2019 26 CHW AL 4.2 123 498 81 167 32 0 18 56 17 5 15 109 .335 .357 .508 .865 128 .369 128 2020 27 CHW AL 2.5 49 208 45 67 11 1 10 21 5 2 10 50 .322 .357 .529 .886 140 .382 140 2021 28 CHW AL 4.5 123 527 94 163 29 2 17 61 18 7 22 119 .309 .338 .469 .806 118 .357 123 2022 29 CHW AL 1.3 79 332 50 100 13 0 6 25 13 0 14 55 .301 .339 .395 .734 109 .332 105 2023 30 CHW AL -1.8 123 493 52 121 18 2 1 25 13 2 26 122 .245 .286 .296 .582 62 .263 56 2024 31 MIA NL -1.5 65 234 16 50 3 0 0 9 4 4 7 68 .214 .237 .226 .463 29 .204 15 2025 32 LAA AL 0 31 83 8 17 3 0 0 3 1 1 3 29 .205 .258 .241 .499 40 .224 31 10 Yrs 15 991 3939 552 1088 185 18 98 350 122 32 153 980 .276 .307 .407 .714 94 .316 93 162 Game Avg 2.5 162 644 90 178 30 3 16 57 20 5 25 160 .276 .307 .407 .714 94 .316 93 Tim Anderson Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels (2024-2025 and Career Totals) Fielding
Season Age Team Lg Pos G CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% lgFld% Rtot Rtot/yr Rdrs Rdrs/yr RF/9 lgRF9 RF/G lgRFG 2024 31 MIA NL SS 63 59 537 245 66 170 9 34 .963 .972 -1 -2 0 0 3.95 3.82 3.75 3.77 2025 32 LAA AL 2B 16 12 125 65 23 40 2 14 .969 .982 -1 -10 1 10 4.54 4.03 3.94 3.97 2025 32 LAA AL SS 15 8 101 50 20 28 2 9 .960 .976 1 9 1 12 4.28 3.73 3.2 3.67 10 Yrs   981 913 8443 3822 1294 2384 144 517 .962 .973 -51 -7 -25 -4 3.92 3.9 3.75 3.84 SS (10 Yrs) SS 963 899 8300 3751 1268 2342 141 503 .962 .973 -50 -7 -26 -4 3.91 3.89 3.75 3.84 2B (2 Yrs) 2B 18 14 143 71 26 42 3 14 .958 .982 -1 -11 1 8 4.28 4.03 3.78 3.97 With above league average range factor per 9 innings (RF/9) and averaging 0.4 dWAR over the past two years.  Tim Anderson can still be a defensive asset for a team.
As an example, struggling Tigers' shortstop Javier Báez in the midst of 4 declining seasons of batting average, among other performance drops, had the opportunity to get a new lease on his career by moving to centerfield to start the season. While also playing 2nd base, shortstop, and 3rd base, Javier upped his batting performance and was selected to the AL all-star team as a starter as an outfielder.
Tim Anderson also had some reps in the outfield during Spring training but never started there in the regular season. With his previously shown talent, will Tim Anderson get a chance to reverse this six-year decline?


Sources:
[1] "Dave Stapleton". Sons of Sam Horn. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
[2] 1986 World Series - Wikipedia

When asked to move positions, why is there is a natural reluctance? From a team perspective, it seems like an ego issue, but it may be more complex than that. During Spring Training of 2025, Rafael Devers was moved to Designated Hitter to allow newly signed free agent Gold Glove 3rd baseman Alex Bregman to play the Hot Corner.
At the age of 28 and having played regularly at no other position than 3rd base, Rafael Devers balked at becoming a full-time designated hitter. He viewed this as criticism of his defensive ability and initially refused the move to a hitting only role. 
Some designated hitters claim to lose focus by not playing out in the field and perhaps Devers experienced some of the same initially, but he regained his offensive form with his potent bat and had a solid batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage of .272/.401/.504 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs through 72 games with the Red Sox.
In his own words
However, after Red Sox starting 1st baseman, Tristan Casas, went down with a season ending injury in early May, when asked about moving to 1st base, Rafael said,
"I know I'm a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can't expect me to play every single position out there. In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove. I wasn't going to play another position other than DH. Right now, I don't think it would be an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position."
He further clarified,
"Now, they should do their jobs essentially and hit the market and look for another player. I'm not sure why they want me to be an in-between," Devers said. "Next thing you know, someone in the outfield gets hurt and they want me to play in the outfield. I know the kind of player that I am, and that's where I stand." [1]
Devers wants to be respected as a player and not treated as an injury-fill-in whenever the Sox had someone get hurt. Injuries are a fact of any professional sport, and having experienced injuries while playing 3rd base, Devers is possibly worried about getting injured playing an unfamiliar position and not being as capable initially. 
Protecting himself on Social Media
To a degree, Devers wants to protect his reputation and in this age of social media and ubiquitous recording of every action, Devers is perhaps worried about showing up on a highlight or low light clip showing a bad performance. 
With regards to the mental load on him, Rafael may know himself best and doesn't want to take on learning a new position, while at the same time remaining a topflight hitter.
He also wanted the Red Sox to seek a permanent solution versus the uncertainty of moving him around the diamond and field as circumstances demand. 
Ultimately it is a team that needs to be managed and built into a cohesive whole to win consistently. Rafael Devers in his comments felt that management was treating him like he could be plugged in anywhere without regards to his capabilities or injury risk.
Perhaps the issue could have been defused with a longer-term view from both Rafael and the Red Sox management. Players eventually move along the defensive spectrum right to left as they age and lose athleticism in the field.
Moving down the Defensive Spectrum
The Defensive spectrum idea was introduced by baseball analyst, Bill James in the early 1980s and indicates that defensive skill is more of a premium as you move left to right, and most players move right to left as they age.
Designated hitter – First baseman – Left fielder – Right fielder – Third baseman – Center fielder – Second baseman – Shortstop – Catcher [2]
For Devers, he was moved immediately from 3rd base to Designated hitter and not offered the chance to try any positions in between during Spring Training.
Depth is important for any team and so as the Red Sox planned their depth chart for the season, there should have been anticipation on what to do in the case of injuries and give players reps and opportunities in the Spring to get ready for their roles or potential roles.
No Flexibility
By locking Devers into a DH role, the Red Sox, were essentially hard coding him into that role with no flexibility until something happened.
With the number of moving parts involved in any baseball team from injuries (Alex Bregman went on the IL on May 24), recovery from surgeries (Masataka Yoshida's shoulder is not 100%, thus precluding him from playing in the field and forcing him to DH), slumps, and streaks, a team has to have flexibility to adjust to circumstances.
Contract status also plays a role as teams can't not play the star with the large contract. Devers was always going to be playing; the question was where.
If the Sox had set him more at ease and perhaps told him that he was so valuable and capable that he would always be in the lineup, rather than saying we're moving you to DH because your bat is so much more valuable than any contribution in the field, perhaps he would still be a Red Sox.
What do you think?
 
 

 
Sources
[1] https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45059014/rafael-devers-tells-red-sox-move-first-base (Originally published May 8, 2025, retrieved July 9, 2025)
[2] Defensive spectrum - Wikipedia

When asked to move positions, why is there is a natural reluctance? From a team perspective, it seems like an ego issue, but it may be more complex than that. During Spring Training of 2025, Rafael Devers was moved to Designated Hitter to allow newly signed free agent Gold Glove 3rd baseman Alex Bregman to play the Hot Corner.
At the age of 28 and having played regularly at no other position than 3rd base, Rafael Devers balked at becoming a full-time designated hitter. He viewed this as criticism of his defensive ability and initially refused the move to a hitting only role. 
Some designated hitters claim to lose focus by not playing out in the field and perhaps Devers experienced some of the same initially, but he regained his offensive form with his potent bat and had a solid batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage of .272/.401/.504 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs through 72 games with the Red Sox.
In his own words
However, after Red Sox starting 1st baseman, Tristan Casas, went down with a season ending injury in early May, when asked about moving to 1st base, Rafael said,
"I know I'm a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can't expect me to play every single position out there. In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove. I wasn't going to play another position other than DH. Right now, I don't think it would be an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position."
He further clarified,
"Now, they should do their jobs essentially and hit the market and look for another player. I'm not sure why they want me to be an in-between," Devers said. "Next thing you know, someone in the outfield gets hurt and they want me to play in the outfield. I know the kind of player that I am, and that's where I stand." [1]
Devers wants to be respected as a player and not treated as an injury-fill-in whenever the Sox had someone get hurt. Injuries are a fact of any professional sport, and having experienced injuries while playing 3rd base, Devers is possibly worried about getting injured playing an unfamiliar position and not being as capable initially. 
Protecting himself on Social Media
To a degree, Devers wants to protect his reputation and in this age of social media and ubiquitous recording of every action, Devers is perhaps worried about showing up on a highlight or low light clip showing a bad performance. 
With regards to the mental load on him, Rafael may know himself best and doesn't want to take on learning a new position, while at the same time remaining a topflight hitter.
He also wanted the Red Sox to seek a permanent solution versus the uncertainty of moving him around the diamond and field as circumstances demand. 
Ultimately it is a team that needs to be managed and built into a cohesive whole to win consistently. Rafael Devers in his comments felt that management was treating him like he could be plugged in anywhere without regards to his capabilities or injury risk.
Perhaps the issue could have been defused with a longer-term view from both Rafael and the Red Sox management. Players eventually move along the defensive spectrum right to left as they age and lose athleticism in the field.
Moving down the Defensive Spectrum
The Defensive spectrum idea was introduced by baseball analyst, Bill James in the early 1980s and indicates that defensive skill is more of a premium as you move left to right, and most players move right to left as they age.
Designated hitter – First baseman – Left fielder – Right fielder – Third baseman – Center fielder – Second baseman – Shortstop – Catcher [2]
For Devers, he was moved immediately from 3rd base to Designated hitter and not offered the chance to try any positions in between during Spring Training.
Depth is important for any team and so as the Red Sox planned their depth chart for the season, there should have been anticipation on what to do in the case of injuries and give players reps and opportunities in the Spring to get ready for their roles or potential roles.
No Flexibility
By locking Devers into a DH role, the Red Sox, were essentially hard coding him into that role with no flexibility until something happened.
With the number of moving parts involved in any baseball team from injuries (Alex Bregman went on the IL on May 24), recovery from surgeries (Masataka Yoshida's shoulder is not 100%, thus precluding him from playing in the field and forcing him to DH), slumps, and streaks, a team has to have flexibility to adjust to circumstances.
Contract status also plays a role as teams can't not play the star with the large contract. Devers was always going to be playing; the question was where.
If the Sox had set him more at ease and perhaps told him that he was so valuable and capable that he would always be in the lineup, rather than saying we're moving you to DH because your bat is so much more valuable than any contribution in the field, perhaps he would still be a Red Sox.
What do you think?
 
 

 
Sources
[1] https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45059014/rafael-devers-tells-red-sox-move-first-base (Originally published May 8, 2025, retrieved July 9, 2025)
[2] Defensive spectrum - Wikipedia