It was an eventful offseason for the Boston Red Sox, filled with positive developments. However, there was a brief moment of panic at the start of Spring Training when Rafael Devers expressed his frustration about a potential position change.
The Dominican star made his stance clear—when asked if he would be open to becoming the team’s new designated hitter, he firmly said no. When questioned about moving to first base, his answer remained the same. The uncertainty arose after the front office signed Alex Bregman to a three-year, $140 million deal in free agency.
“He’s put winning and the team above all else», said president Sam Kennedy to Chris Cotillo and Sam Adam in the Fenway Rundown podcast. “It doesn’t mean he is gonna agree with every decision, doesn’t mean he is not one of the more competitive people on the planet. I think he’s the only player in uniform with a ring from 2018″.
Manager Alex Cora has likely put an end to the controversy. Alex Bregman will take over as the team’s third baseman, Rafael Devers will shift to designated hitter, and top prospect Kristian Campbell is set to start at second base.
«This guy wants to win championships and he’s a championship-caliber player», said Kennedy. «Most importantly, Raffy wants what we all want —and that’s to win baseball games».
Kennedy didn’t seem upset about Devers’ statement at the beginning of Spring Training. «We expect that he’ll continue to do that», he said. Ultimately, General Manager Craig Breslow, Cora, and Kennedy had a meeting with Devers to clarify everything.
READ MORE: Mookie Betts lost nearly 20 pounds, his status for Opening Day uncertain
MassLive.com reported a rumor that Rafael Devers considered requesting a trade from the Red Sox. While never confirmed, it appears the Dominican star and the team have resolved any issues.
