Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox are in the throes of their second position change controversy of the year, and it has fans wondering where the two sides go from here.
The Red Sox asked Devers to take over as their first baseman days after Triston Casas' season-ending injury, and he did not take kindly to their request. Boston pushed Devers out of his usual position at third base this year after it signed Alex Bregman, and he reportedly felt so slighted he considered asking for a trade.
Some reporters are under the impression he may really ask this time. Héctor Gómez of Z101 Digital, a Dominican publication, Tweeted that he would not be surprised if Devers asks for a trade from the Red Sox organization.
Some Red Sox fans are nervous about Devers potentially leaving the organization, while others would cheer him out the door. Regardless, he probably isn't going anywhere.
Reporter suggests Rafael Devers will ask for a trade after Red Sox asked him to move to first base
Rafael Devers explains why he is not willing to play first base in Boston
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 8, 2025
via @SmittyOnMLB pic.twitter.com/n2COGyEfTh
Devers was initially miffed about being asked to move off third base, a position he was proud to play (regardless of the outcome) for the first eight years of his career. Boston had already signed Bregman when it approached him about the move, essentially backing him into a corner to move him to DH. The same pressure has not been applied to get him to move to first base — Alex Cora says the team intends to move to the next man up in the organization.
Devers just settled in as the Sox's DH and only recently hit his stride at the plate. He's slashing .321/.435/.607 with four homers, 11 walks and 13 RBI in his last 15 games, and likely doesn't want to risk another offensive dry spell when the team asks him to take up a position he's never played.
The 28-year-old also signed the most expensive contract in Red Sox history, and probably won't be easy to trade after the multiple disagreements he's had with management this year. Devers can hit with the best of them, but other teams may not be interested in a player who is not afraid to publicly disagree with management, no matter how bad it makes both sides look.
Devers eventually came around to DHing for the Red Sox when he realized it was best for the team. He seemed completely unwilling to move off third, just as he is to move to the opposite corner. He could warm up to playing first base to open a roster spot for Masataka Yoshida, who could spark the offense. Even if he doesn't, the Red Sox have enough internal options and more than sufficient money and top prospect talent to trade for an experienced first baseman.