"I Don’t Understand Some Of The Decisions That The GM Makes" - Rafael Devers Was Asked By Red Sox GM Craig Breslow To Play First Base And Told Him To Get Lost
Let's do a quick check in on the Red Sox as the baseball season moves through the month of May. While they stand currently at 20-19 and just two games back of the Yankees for first place in the AL East (it's way too fucking early to care about standings) the Sox should be a little worried when you consider they've faced the easiest schedule in all of Major League Baseball. Alex Bregman has been a star. Kristian Campbell is a budding star whose contract extension looks like more of a bargain by the day. Crochet has mostly been everything you want from a newfound ace, but the rest of the pitching has been rather mediocre. Overall they're a fine team, with the potential to be dangerous while yielding no results to show much danger. I think most Red Sox fans would tell you they've been disappointed with the start, but fortunately for them the AL sucks and they're very much still a player here.
Over the weekend the team was dealt a blow with first baseman Triston Casas rupturing his patellar tendon. With no other legitimate first baseman existing in the organization, the injury threw a big wrench into their roster construction. I wrote about the whole thing here, but if you don't care to click I brought up the idea of Raffy Devers moving over to first. Big of me to suggest an actual solution, a guy who wakes up everyday hoping this team evaporates from the Earth, but I can be impartial sometimes. While not ideal, it seemed like it was worth a shot given the pieces they have left to complete the puzzle. Cora at the time shot down the idea and said Devers was the team's DH. A few days later that tune has certainly changed throughout the organization. Devers spoke to the media today after the team's win over the Rangers, saying GM Craig Breslow came to him and asked if he'd give first base a shot. Devers comically told him to get lost.
The Red Sox and Devers went through this song and dance during spring training after the Alex Bregman signing. He wasn't exactly jumping for joy when they brought up the whole full-time DH plan. Eventually he caved because the team didn't give him much choice.
Now a few months later with the Casas injury they've come back to him asking once again if he can switch positions for the betterment of the team. The quotes from the reaction almost seem fake, like a parody account spit them out for some engagement to dupe the public.
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I don't know about you guys, but I get the vibe that Devers absolutely hates GM Craig Breslow. Let's look at another quote for good measure.
Yeah I'd go as far to say Devers has a dart board at home with Breslow's face on it. He here's the word Craig in everyday life and clenches his fist in rage. I mean there's being honest and then there's what Devers just did. This dude is so angry with the front office he had to let everyone in the world know so there's no confusion.
On one side of the equation you have the Red Sox decision makers in Breslow/Cora who are desperately searching for answers at first base without Casas. The easiest attempt at a solution here is to move Devers to first and see if it can work. That opens up the DH slot which could then either unlock the imprisoned Yoshida or free up an outfield spot for Roman Anthony to get called up. If you don't go that direction and refuse to add to the roster externally, you're looking at Romy Gonzalez, who is also not a first baseman by trade. In theory asking your $313M franchise player to be a team guy shouldn't be like pulling teeth.
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On the other side you have Raffy who already accommodated their demands in spring training by ditching his glove and learning how to become a permanent DH. Despite going hitless in his first five games he's made the gradual adjustment and has his numbers creeping towards what they normally look like. Now he's being asked to learn a completely new position again. Sure it's a bad look to not be a team guy, but at the same time doesn't he deserve some respect? Here's another fun quote.
It's easy to get frustrated with Devers for not being a team guy here. Sure it's a bitch to switch positions again, but don't you want your team to get better? Do you not realize that a sudden, catastrophic injury just happened that no one could have predicted? They're not just asking you to move for fun, they need it out of desperation. Aaron Judge moved to CF with a smile on his face so that Juan Soto could be comfortable in RF. Jazz Chisholm learned 3rd base after being traded because Gleyber wouldn't budge off of 2nd. Bryce Harper did it. Mookie Betts did it, Red Sox fans know that guy. Devers apparently has no interest in being the "I'll do whatever I can for this team" kinda guy. That's just a fact.
Breslow also hasn't handled any of this well. Devers was told when he signed the extension he wouldn't have to move off of 3rd. That was with Bloom and not Breslow, but it's tough to see that promise be thrown away. Now for the 2nd time this season he's being asked to switch positions. He was also kept in the dark about the Bregman stuff in the offseason. Probably not the best course of action with your franchise player. Also how do you not have anyone else in the organization that is an everyday first baseman. No one??? Was there no contingency plan to have Devers take some grounders and throw at first during spring in the event this situation would come up?
I see both sides. The best course of action would be to probably trade Devers to the Yankees in exchange for someone like Dylan Jasso. That relationship with the front office is ruined so there's no choice now but to move on and part ways. The Yankees will happily be pals and accommodate. I'm loving all of this.
P.S. It just keeps getting better