KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) 鈥 Rafael Devers made his feelings known on Thursday. On Friday, it was Boston Red Sox owner John Henry’s turn to share his opinions with the disgruntled slugger.
A day after about his refusal to play first base, Henry, team president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers and manager Alex Cora.
Boston has an opening at first base after Triston Casas ruptured his left knee tendon and had season-ending surgery. Red Sox management approached Devers 鈥 who was moved from third base to designated hitter this spring 鈥 about filling in at first, and Devers declined.
After he homered and drove in two runs in over Texas, Devers said, 鈥淭hey came to me and talked to me about it. I know I鈥檓 a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can鈥檛 expect me to play every single position out there.
鈥淚n 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 declined to comment on the meeting with Henry after to the Royals.
The 28-year-old Devers is in the second year of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract. He was Boston’s regular third baseman before the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman, considered a defensive upgrade, in the offseason.
Devers was reluctant to give up third, but was told he didn’t have a choice.
鈥淛ohn spoke directly with Raffy,鈥 Breslow said before Friday’s game. 鈥(He) felt like it was important, based on the situation that unfolded yesterday. (That included) an honest conversation about what we value as an organization, and that means to be great teammates for each other.鈥
Breslow would not give details about the conversation, but said: 鈥淛ohn had a productive conversation, and that鈥檚 where we stand right now.鈥
Devers started at DH on Friday and went 1 for 5 with an RBI grounder in the 11th inning
鈥(Where he plays) is kind of secondary, I think, to the other conversations,鈥 said Breslow, who spent 12 years as a pitcher in the majors, including five with the Red Sox. 鈥淭hat decision was never going to be made on a couch in an office in Kansas City.鈥
Cora said it would be an ongoing discussion.
鈥淥bviously, having everybody here and in the same place, it means a lot, not only for us that are on the ground, but the players and to Raffy too,鈥 the manager said. 鈥淪o I thought it was good.鈥
When asked if Devers would start taking grounders at first, Cora responded tersely.
鈥淣o, that鈥檚 not the plan right now. The plan is to keep having conversations,鈥 he said.
The question now is whether those conversations will lead to a solution Devers can embrace.
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