The Rafael Devers situation is sparking opinions from all sides.
The Boston Red Sox’s former third baseman and now designated hitter has caused some tension by refusing to step in at first base after Triston Casas’ season-ending knee injury.
Playing first base is no simple task, especially for someone who has always been positioned on the left side of the infield. However, Devers’ refusal to make the switch isn’t what fans or the front office expected from their highest-paid player.
Here’s what Boston icon David Ortiz had to say about the situation:
Perhaps Devers’ massive contract, which will pay him nearly $30 million per year for the next nine years, has given him a different perspective on baseball. Why run circles for the organization when your future is already secured?
Fans will scoff at this notion, but some players simply do not care about winning as much as others. This is not to say that Devers is an inherently selfish person, maybe just one who feels like putting his foot down at another request.
On the defensive side, Alex Bregman is undoubtedly a better option than Devers at third base. With Casas and Romy González both sidelined, Nick Sogard is stepping in at first. Meanwhile, Devers is excelling as a DH, but there’s the looming question of what happens when Masataka Yoshida returns to full health.
Boston also has their eyes on promoting the remaining prospects from their “Big Three,” outfielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Marcelo Mayer. If Yoshida can’t take on outfield duties, where exactly does he fit into the lineup?
Leave a Reply