After Rafael Devers denied the Boston Red Sox's request to change his position for the second time this season, rumors took off like wildfire in multiple directions.
Some members of Red Sox Nation believe the team will seek to trade Devers after the weekend's drama, or he will request a trade at some point. Others believe Boston will trade for or sign a first baseman from outside the organization, and some even think Devers will eventually begin taking grounders to make the move to first base sometime later this year. The latter two options are preferable, but a trade of the face of Boston's franchise is still possible.
MLB insider Bob Nightengale wrote on May 11 that Devers could still request a trade from the Red Sox organization, which likely won't happen until the offseason. He noted that the slugger's resistance to the move to first base didn't make him look great, but that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow could've been more communicative about his plans for the team this year.
Red Sox insider Sean McAdam of MassLive predicts Devers will stick around in Boston (subscription required). He signed the largest contract in Red Sox history ahead of the 2023 season, and they would likely have to eat a massive sum of that money to get another team to accept a deal.
Conflicting opinions emerge about whether the Red Sox will trade Rafael Devers
Chris Rose thinks the Red Sox will trade Rafael Devers pic.twitter.com/xofWahI7uZ
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 9, 2025
McAdam is one of the many reporters who think Devers may don a first baseman's glove at some point this year. Alex Cora convinced him to move to designated hitter because it was best for the team, and a move to first base could be no different with a few weeks of preparation.
Not only could Devers change his mind about first base later and trading him would be quite expensive, but it doesn't serve the Red Sox to ship him elsewhere. Devers is the last remaining player from the 2018 World Series-winning team. Boston also knew he would eventually transition to a DH role, and it extended him with full awareness that he's a bat-first player — trading him for knowing his skillset is also not a good look.
Devers' play hasn't been impacted by off-field rumors and drama. He's batting .583 with a 1.560 OPS since Red Sox owner John Henry flew out to speak with him before the weekend's series in Kansas City. Despite the controversy, Devers has continued to do what Boston knows he does best, and if he continues to slug at a torrid pace, the Sox may have no choice but to admit he belongs as the DH.