Red Sox Owner John Henry Flies to Kansas City to Address Rafael Devers’ Position Concerns

Red Sox Owner John Henry Flies to Kansas City to Address Rafael Devers’ Position Concerns

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a move that underscores the gravity of the situation, Boston Red Sox owner John Henry made an unexpected trip to Kansas City to meet with star player Rafael Devers. This meeting comes on the heels of Devers’ public dissatisfaction with the team’s request for him to switch positions for the second time in just two months.

Accompanied by Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and president Sam Kennedy, Henry’s visit was a direct response to Devers’ refusal to move from designated hitter to first base. This request followed a season-ending knee injury to Triston Casas, leaving the team in a bind.

Devers, who inked a 10-year, $313.5 million deal with Boston in January 2023, did not mince words when he spoke to reporters on Thursday. He expressed his frustration with Breslow, stating, “I don’t understand some of the decisions that the GM makes.” This sentiment was not new, as Devers had previously resisted moving off third base during spring training after the team signed reigning American League Gold Glove winner Alex Bregman. Eventually, Devers agreed to become Boston’s DH, a role he has filled in all 40 games this season.

Before Friday’s game, Devers sat down with Henry and manager Alex Cora for what Breslow described as “an honest conversation about what we value as an organization and what we believe is important to the Boston Red Sox.” The team has been relying on Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro to fill the gap at first base, as they navigate a 20-19 start to the season.

Cora commented on the meeting, saying, “He expressed his feelings. John did the same thing. I think the most important thing here is we’re trying to accomplish something big here. And obviously there’s changes on the roster, situations that happened, and you have to adjust.”

Breslow had initially broached the idea of moving to first base with the 28-year-old Devers, a three-time All-Star. Despite a slow start, Devers entered Friday’s game against the Kansas City Royals with a .255/.379/.455 batting line, six home runs, 25 RBIs, and an AL-leading 29 walks.

Devers was not pleased with the suggestion, stating on Thursday, “They told me that I was going to be playing this position, DH, and now they’re going back on that. So I just don’t think they stayed true to their word.”

The intensity of Devers’ remarks prompted Henry to make the cross-country trip, aiming to resolve issues that have been simmering since spring training. The acquisition of Bregman, who has been the Red Sox’s standout player, hastened Devers’ move from third base, a shift that many evaluators had long anticipated despite his defensive improvements. First base seemed the most likely destination, but Casas’ presence pushed Devers to DH, a move he initially resisted before eventually accepting.

Sources indicate that Devers’ frustration during the spring stemmed from feeling blindsided by the lack of communication regarding the initial position change.

• “It’s my job to always put the priorities of the organization first,” Breslow said, “but I should also be evaluating every interaction I have with players, and I’ll continue to do that.”
• Whether Devers eventually agrees to move to first base, which could open up a lineup spot for Roman Anthony, the top prospect in baseball, or incumbent DH Masataka Yoshida after his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, is a “secondary” issue at the moment, Breslow said.
• “That decision was never going to be made on a couch in an office in Kansas City,” he said, “and that conversation is ongoing. The most important thing here is we believe that we’ve got a really good team that’s capable of winning a bunch of games and playing meaningful games down the stretch. That’s what we need to remain focused on.”
• Added Cora: “The plan is to keep having conversations.”