Rosenthal: Red Sox trading Rafael Devers isn’t a ‘far-fetched’ scenario
"For a hitter of his quality, the contract soon might look like something of a bargain."
Rafael Devers’ hasn’t let the discourse surrounding his strife with Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow and the team’s vacancy at first base distract him at the plate.
The 28-year-old DH played a sizable role in helping Boston take two out of three games against the Kansas City Royals — batting .583 with a 1.560 OPS, seven hits, six RBI, two walks, a double, and a home run.
For his efforts, Devers was named the American League Player of the Week on Monday after leading the AL with a .476 average, .577 OBP and 1.387 OPS. He drove in eight total runs over the last week while slugging two home runs.
“He’s very comfortable,” Cora said of Devers, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, following Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Royals. “Keeps growing and learning about (being the DH). Strength and conditioning, the trainers and the hitting group, they’ve done an amazing job supporting him.
“If you look at the numbers right now, he’s probably the best DH in the American League right now.”
Devers’ standing as one of the league’s best designated hitters is hard to challenge, especially over the last month-plus of the regular season.
But after Devers’ candid comments last week about refusing to make the switch from DH to first base — as well as some pointed words directed toward Breslow — could there be some burned bridges between Boston and its disgruntled star slugger?
MLB insider and The Athletic staff writer Ken Rosenthal noted on Monday in a piece examining the drama between Devers and the Red Sox that a possible conclusion involves the team dealing the star player.
“The idea of a trade at some point isn’t all that far-fetched, even with Devers owed more than $250 million, including a portion deferred,” Rosenthal wrote. “For a hitter of his quality, the contract soon might look like something of a bargain, at least compared to Juan Soto’s $765 million and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500 million.
“Even if [Alex] Bregman exercises his opt-out and departs as a free agent, the Sox can play top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer at third, leaving Devers without a position and possibly without a team. His contract does not include a no-trade clause, only a $2 million assignment bonus if the Sox send him to another club.”
While Devers continues to deliver at the plate, it remains to be seen when the next shoe will drop during this ongoing stand-off between Devers and the Red Sox.
Just a day after Devers’ comments to the media on Thursday, the former third baseman had a sit-down meeting with Breslow, Red Sox manager Alex Cora, and team owner John Henry in Kansas City.
“There were conversations,” Breslow said Friday following the meeting, per Cotillo. “John, Sam [Kennedy] and I flew out earlier today. It was actually John who spoke directly with Raffy.
“We felt like it was important based on the situation that unfolded yesterday to come out here and have an honest conversation about what we value as an organization and what we believe is important to the Boston Red Sox. That being great teammates for each other.”
It’s unclear if that meeting cleared the air between Devers and management — or added some clarity over whether or not Devers will eventually make the switch to first base following Triston Casas’ season-ending injury.
“Devers, adamantly and sometimes quite colorfully, showed no interest in weighing on the Henry meeting over the weekend … “It’s clear, through his in-passing comments Sunday, that he’s not pleased about the discourse around his name these days,” Cotillo wrote on Sunday night. “There’s a chance he’ll talk about it in Detroit.”
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