In the aftermath of the Mookie Betts trade, the Boston Red Sox faced a credibility crisis. Fans were livid. Ownership scrambled to patch the wound left by letting a generational star walk out the door in his prime. When Rafael Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million extension in early 2023, it felt like redemption or at least a distraction.
Boston wouldn’t lose another homegrown slugger. They planted their flag and declared Devers the face of the franchise.
But here’s the thing about course correction: When you oversteer, you crash. A year later, Devers’ contract has aged faster than anyone expected. His bat still flashes brilliance, but his defense remains a liability, and worse, now he’s publicly resistant to moving to first base. Suddenly, the deal looks less like a win and more like an anchor.
The Red Sox didn’t just sign a cornerstone; they may have cemented a roster problem.
“There is not a team in baseball, not one that would take Devers’ contract,” former MLB GM David Samson said bluntly. “When you mark that deal to market, it’s not even close. And now he’s doubling down publicly, refusing to help the team? That’s a disgrace. If the Red Sox don’t hold him accountable, they’ve lost the clubhouse.” Harsh words, but Samson’s not wrong—especially in a sport where leadership and chemistry matter just as much as slugging percentage.
This isn’t just about performance; it’s about perception. When the highest-paid player on your roster shrugs off positional flexibility, it ripples through the dugout. You can bet there are grinders in that clubhouse—guys earning league minimum—watching Devers collect superstar money while publicly refusing to take one for the team. That creates resentment, which, in turn, kills culture.
The Red Sox now face a painful reality. They can’t trade him, no one will take on the years, the dollars, or the no-trade clause. They can’t bench him without creating a media circus. And releasing him? That’s a $313 million admission of failure.
Boston let Mookie Betts go and overpaid Rafael Devers to make up for it. The irony? They lost their identity both times.
Red Sox leadership in question: What Devers actually said that sparked concerns in the dugout
During an interview in Boston’s dugout, Rafael Devers sparked some surprise with his remarks on his field position preferences by expressing his lack of enthusiasm towards the team’s suggestion for him to potentially take up base duties.
“I know I’m a ballplayer,” Devers said, “but at the same time, they can’t expect me to play every single position out there.” He mentioned the Red Sox told him to “put away my glove” and focus solely on being a designated hitter. So, when the team later asked him to shift positions again, it felt like a betrayal. “I don’t think they stay true to their word,” he added, fueling concerns that the front office was not keeping its promises.
But Devers didn’t stop there. In a bold public statement, he also took a jab at the team’s leadership, specifically Craig Breslow. “I’m not sure what he thinks of me,” Devers remarked, hinting at an underlying tension between himself and the chief baseball officer. “He played the game, he should know how hard it is to switch positions like that. They told me I wouldn’t play the field again, and now they’re changing the plan. I think they should do their jobs and go find another player.”
The remarks go beyond frustration; they bring up concerns regarding Devers’ place in the team and his readiness to adjust for the betterment of the team as a whole. There is a risk that if these sentiments reverberate through the locker room, it might sow discord between the Red Sox’s leadership and their star player, who commands a high paycheck.
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