Red Sox in Crisis: Devers Rejects Position Switch, Faces Owner in Showdown

The Boston Red Sox are in a pickle, and it’s not just their batting average. Rafael Devers, their $313.5 million cornerstone, is at the heart of a positional tug-of-war that’s got the front office jetting to Kansas City for crisis talks.

Devers, a four-time All-Star and lifelong third baseman, was blindsided when the Sox signed Alex Bregman, a defensive wizard at the same position, right before the season. The plan? Slide Devers to second base or designated hitter (DH). But with rookie Kristian Campbell locking down second and Bregman owning third, Devers has been relegated to DH duties. Now, with first baseman Triston Casas sidelined by a knee injury, the team floated the idea of Devers playing first. His response? A hard pass.

“They told me to put away my glove,” Devers said, recalling spring training instructions to focus on DH. “Now they want me to play another position? It’s not appropriate.” His frustration spilled over, even questioning whether GM Craig Breslow has a personal issue with him. Ouch.

The drama’s gone high-level. Owner John Henry, GM Breslow, and president Sam Kennedy hopped a plane to meet Devers, while manager Alex Cora held private talks. Word is, Devers’ resistance isn’t sitting well in the clubhouse. His .253 batting average—his lowest in years—plus leading the AL in strikeouts and walks, isn’t helping his case.

This isn’t just about positions; it’s about loyalty, communication, and a team trying to balance star power with strategy. Can the Sox smooth things over, or is this saga just warming up?