After substantial drama surrounding Rafael Devers moving from third base to designated hitter this offseason, the Boston Red Sox superstar is once again being asked to change positions, this time to first base.
After the season-ending injury to Triston Casas, the Sox don't have a great option to replace him. However, if Devers were to take over at first, it would allow Masataka Yoshida to reenter the lineup as the DH.
Nonetheless, Devers has expressed an unwillingness to move to first base. He was similarly upset when asked to move from third base to make room for Bregman, but the Red Sox eventually won that battle. Now, he's being asked to move for a second time in the span of just a few months.
MLB Network recently discussed this dilemma and Devers' stubbornness on this issue. Ron Darling noted how even star players like Devers are often asked to make changes to their routine in order to make the team better. For instance, Aaron Judge moved to center field last year to make room for Juan Soto in right field. Judge is the best player in baseball right now, but that didn't stop the Yankees from asking him to make an adjustment that would improve the team. That being said, Darling did understand where Devers was coming from.
MLB Network blames Red Sox front office for mishandling Rafael Devers situation
Meanwhile, Joel Sherman shifted more of the blame to the Red Sox front office. He noted that the Red Sox were clearly in the market for a third baseman this offseason and should have been more transparent with Devers about his positional future. If they had an honest conversation at the beginning of the offseason, Sherman claims, perhaps Devers would not have been so caught off guard by being asked to switch positions.
But that still doesn't explain why Devers is so hesitant now. Casas's injury was unexpected and the Red Sox could not have prepared Devers for it. Perhaps he's upset by being asked to move again, but at the very least, this presents him with an opportunity to get back on the field. If he valued that at all, he would jump at the chance.
Either way, Devers is the face of this franchise, and while that does come with a lot of special treatment, he's also rightly expected to do what's best for the future of the team. If that means playing first base, so be it.