Red Sox’s John Henry Flies to Kansas City for Crucial Meeting with Rafael Devers
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 yet again. The Red Sox’s decision to have Devers move from designated hitter to first base, following Triston Casas‘ season-ending knee injury, has sparked a significant controversy.
Accompanying Henry on this critical mission were Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and president Sam Kennedy. Their goal was to address the growing tension after Devers openly criticized the organization’s decision-making, particularly Breslow’s role in it. Devers, who inked a 10-year, $313.5 million contract with Boston in January 2023, expressed his frustration, stating, “I don’t understand some of the decisions that the GM makes.”
During spring training, Devers had already voiced his reluctance to move from third base, a position he had held for his first eight major league seasons. The signing of reigning American League Gold Glove winner Alex Bregman necessitated this initial switch. Eventually, Devers agreed to become Boston’s designated hitter, a role he has embraced for the team’s 40 games this season.
The Meeting in Kansas City
Before Friday’s game, Devers met with Henry and manager Alex Cora. Breslow described the meeting 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 utility players Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro to fill the gap at first base, amid a 20-19 start to the season.
Cora emphasized the importance of adaptability, 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.”
Devers’ Perspective
Breslow had initially proposed the idea of moving to first base to 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, 6 home runs, 25 RBIs, and an AL-leading 29 walks. However, Devers was not receptive to the idea, stating, “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 pointedness of Devers’ comments prompted Henry to take action, flying halfway across the country to address issues that have been simmering since spring training. The signing of Bregman, who has been the Red Sox’s standout player, accelerated the move of Devers off third base. Evaluators had long anticipated this shift, even with Devers’ improvements at the position. First base was seen as his most likely destination, but Casas’ presence pushed Devers to DH, a move he initially resisted before eventually agreeing.
Looking Ahead
Devers’ disappointment during the spring, sources say, stemmed from feeling blindsided by the lack of communication regarding the initial position switch. Breslow acknowledged the need for better communication, stating, “It’s my job to always put the priorities of the organization first, but I should also be evaluating every interaction I have with players, and I’ll continue to do that.”
- Whether Devers eventually accepts moving to first base remains a “secondary” issue, according to Breslow.
- This move could potentially free up a lineup spot for Roman Anthony, the top prospect in baseball, or incumbent DH Masataka Yoshida after he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.
Breslow emphasized, “That decision was never going to be made on a couch in an office in Kansas City, 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.”
Cora added, “The plan is to keep having conversations.”
Originally Written by: Jeff Passan
