John Henry's visit to Kansas City to chat with Rafael Devers took the Boston Red Sox community by quite a surprise.
Henry, the principal owner of the Red Sox, hasn't been keen to jump into the spotlight in recent years. He's not a popular man in Boston after the Sox's recent postseason drought — they've missed the playoffs in five of the last six seasons — and an explosive Financial Times interview with answers that didn't sit well with fans. But Henry wasted no time running to Craig Breslow's rescue after Devers' adamant refusal to play first base in Triston Casas' absence.
There is blame to go around for the way Devers' position changes have gone this year. Breslow should've been more communicative with the face of the franchise he manages, and Devers could've been kinder about the way he shared his perspective. Regardless of the circumstances, Henry was pushed back into the spotlight and forced to show that he cares, something Red Sox fans have wondered for quite some time.
In the years since Boston's 2018 World Series win, Henry has tended to avoid media attention — the further down the American League East standings the Red Sox fell, the more reclusive the Fenway Sports Group owner became. Through wasted offseasons and losing records, Henry backed out of the public eye, dashing his already small number of public appearances down to nothing. He even refused to speak to reporters after he visited Kauffman Stadium to meet with Devers.
John Henry's surprise conversation with Rafael Devers shows recently-unprecedented level of care for the Red Sox
Red Sox principal owner John Henry took the unusual step of flying to meet with Rafael Devers a day after Boston's franchise player said he was upset the team asked him to move to first.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 10, 2025
"We think we had a productive conversation." pic.twitter.com/bR4ZCyrDhS
Something changed between last season and this one, though. The Red Sox traded four top prospects for ace Garrett Crochet, signed Alex Bregman after a months-long pursuit and Henry flew to an away series to squash controversy with his longest-tenured player. The spike in his investment in the Red Sox hasn't gone unnoticed.
The nature of Devers' chat with Henry and manager Alex Cora still hasn't been revealed. Devers is a $300-plus million star, and it's likely he got a talking to for the tone of his comments against the chief baseball officer. The front office mishandled his initial position change this offseason, but that should not deter him from making changes for the good of his team. Cora said conversations about another potential position change for Devers continue, but Henry's presence at the discussion continues to be the main story.
Boston's offseason moves were a solid indicator, but Henry's chat with his DH is the greatest example of care for the Red Sox the owner has shown in years. Devers is the last remaining player from the Sox's 2018 team, and it doesn't serve anyone to have him upset. Whether Henry talked with Devers to smooth things over or tell him he needs to do what's best for the team, his presence speaks louder. Even in an ugly situation, seeing more of Henry only stands to benefit the Red Sox.