BOSTON (AP) 鈥 Rafael Devers is the Boston Red Sox’s designated hitter.
And he’s not interested in another position switch.
Speaking with reporters for the first time since Triston Casas was ruled out for the season after rupturing his left knee tendon and undergoing surgery, Devers said on Thursday that Red Sox management approached him about the idea of filling in as Boston鈥檚 first baseman.
The three-time All-Star doesn鈥檛 see it in his best interest to make another position switch after being asked to move from third base to DH during spring training after the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman to play third.
鈥淭hey came to me and talked to me about it,鈥 Devers said after homering and driving in two in Boston鈥檚 5-0 win over Texas.
鈥淚 know I鈥檓 a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can鈥檛 expect me to play every single position out there. In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove. I wasn鈥檛 going to play another position other than DH. Right now, I don鈥檛 think it would be an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position.鈥
Devers said he spoke with Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow about the prospect of playing first in Casas鈥 absence.
For now, Boston is filling the first base spot with a platoon featuring Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro.
鈥淗e (Breslow) played ball. I would like to think that he knows that changing positions isn鈥檛 easy,鈥 Devers said through Red Sox interpreter Daveson Perez.
鈥淭hey put me in this situation. They told me they didn鈥檛 want me to play any other positions.”
Devers offered a suggestion to Breslow, who pitched 12 major league seasons and was a key member of Boston鈥檚 bullpen when the team won the World Series in 2013. Breslow is in his second season leading the Red Sox baseball operations department.
鈥淣ow, they should do their jobs essentially and hit the market and look for another player. I鈥檓 not sure why they want me to be an in-between,鈥 Devers said. 鈥淣ext thing you know, someone in the outfield gets hurt and they want me to play in the outfield. I know the kind of player that I am and that鈥檚 where I stand.鈥
Asked about changing his mind in the event the Red Sox receive little production from the current group of first basemen, Devers reiterated that he鈥檚 a full-time DH.
He also stated that he was upset that Boston would consider him taking over a position where he鈥檚 logged zero innings as a big leaguer.
鈥淭hey told me that I鈥檓 a little hard-headed, but they already asked me to change (positions) once. This time, I don鈥檛 think I can be as flexible,鈥 Devers said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 feel they stayed true to their word. They told me I was going to play this position, DH. Now they鈥檙e going back on that.鈥
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