Will the Rafael Devers drama push him out of Boston?
The Red Sox and the star infielder have been at odds all season thanks to a pair of requests for Devers to switch positions.
That has led to speculation that the two could could ultimately split with Devers only in the third season of a 10-year, $315 million contract.
Enter, the Phillies.
Philadelphia has been mentioned by a number of outlets as a possible trade destination for Devers due to the struggles of Alec Bohm at third base and team president Dave Dombrowski’s connection to the frustrated slugger.
Dombrowski was in the Red Sox’s front office when Devers and the Red Sox won the World Series in 2018.
Bohm is hitting .248 with one home run and 12 RBIs this season and has been the subject of trade rumors dating back to last season.
Devers, 28, was moved to designated hitter during spring training against his wishes after the team signed Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal.
After an 0-for-19 start to the season at the plate, Devers found his groove and was having a solid season in his new role.
Then, Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury when he ruptured his patellar tendon on May 2, prompting the Red Sox to ask Devers to move to first base.
“I know I’m a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can’t expect me to play every single position out there,” Devers told reporters through a translator.
“In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove, that I wasn’t going to play any other position but DH. So right now, I just feel like it’s not an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position.”
Devers also took direct aim at Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, saying he doesn’t “understand some of the decisions” that have been made by him.
That prompted Red Sox owner John Henry to fly to Kansas City — where the Red Sox were taking on the Royals — for a meeting.
“He expressed his feelings. John did the same thing,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of the meeting. “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.”
Nick Sogard and Abraham Toro played first base for the Red Sox against the Royals, with Boston taking two out of three.
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