The Boston Red Sox managed to claw their way back to a winning record on Thursday, but the celebration was short-lived due to a different kind of setback.
Following the victory over the Texas Rangers, Rafael Devers broke his silence on the possibility of switching to first base—firmly rejecting the idea and criticizing the front office’s request.
“I know I’m a ballplayer, but they can’t expect me to play every position,” Devers said, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive. “At this point, I just don’t think it’s a reasonable request.”
Devers’ firm position complicates things for the Red Sox, as they continue their search for stability at first base and try to manage growing tensions between their star slugger and team leadership. Tim Boyle of FanSided floated a possible solution: a trade with the New York Mets.
Boyle noted the Mets’ considerable first base depth, headlined by Pete Alonso, with veterans Joey Meneses and Jon Singleton also available on minor league deals.
“If Devers is going to dig in his heels, the Red Sox have to explore all possibilities,” Boyle wrote. “This is the same team that gave Dominic Smith plenty of opportunities despite his struggles. They shouldn’t hesitate to do the same with Meneses or Singleton, assuming Mets exec David Stearns is open to it.”
Of course, it’s unclear whether Meneses or Singleton would be a clear upgrade over Boston’s current first base duo of Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez. Meneses hit just .231/.291/.302 in 281 at-bats for the Nationals last year, while Singleton managed a .234/.321/.386 slash line in 355 at-bats for the Astros.
Still, bringing in outside help might be a way for Boston’s front office to show good faith toward Devers and start healing the growing divide.
“There’s still a lot of baseball left in May,” Boyle concluded. “If the Red Sox are serious, a minor deal with the Mets—maybe for a low-level prospect or some cash—might be the best outcome.”
One thing is clear: resolving the Devers situation will require a decisive and thoughtful response.