Devers ready to 'help the team win' -- even at DH
Ian Browne
@IanMBrowneFORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox star slugger Rafael Devers has re-positioned his stance on the possibility of moving to designated hitter to make way for free-agent acquisition Alex Bregman to play third base.
Devers indicated he had a conversation two to three weeks ago with chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora about the situation.
“We spoke already, and I'm good to do whatever they want me to do,” Devers said on Thursday. “I'm here to help. I’ve already spoken with them about that and they know where I stand, but I’m just ready to play.”
The comments were in stark contrast to what Devers said in his first press conference of Spring Training on Feb. 17, the day of the first full-squad workout
“Third base is my position,” Devers said that day. “It’s what I’ve played. I don’t know what their plans are. I know we had a conversation. I made it clear, kind of what my desires were and whatever happens from here, I don’t know.”
How will Devers feel if Cora has him in the DH slot for Opening Day on March 27 in Texas?
“Good,” said Devers. “At the end of the day, it’s not my decision. I don't call the shots around here. So I feel good. I’ll go out there and do what I need to do.”
Has the team informed Devers yet if he will be moved to DH?
“I spoke with them,” said Devers. “I’m not going to share what we talked about here, just because it would make me come off … those are private conversations. I told them everything from my point of view, how I see things, and they know that.”
Adding another subplot to what has already been a big storyline for the Red Sox is that Devers hasn’t played in a Grapefruit League game yet. His debut has been pushed back multiple times after he told Cora he needed more time to get his mechanics and timing right at the plate.
The latest plan is for Devers to start Saturday’s home game against the Braves at DH.
“Yeah, that's the plan,” said Devers. “We'll see how I feel tomorrow. But yeah, that's the plan.”
In recent days, Devers has gotten some invaluable work facing Red Sox starters Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler in sim games, the latter of whom he belted a towering homer to center against on Thursday.
Devers spent most of the winter strengthening his shoulders, which bothered him last year and limited his production down the stretch.
He was asked why he didn’t want to play in games earlier in camp.
“Yeah, it's just my decision,” Devers said. “My shoulders are fine. They're good. It was just my decision to want to take a little bit more time to get right. I hadn't picked up a bat from the end of last season to when I got here in January, so I just felt like I needed that little bit of extra time."
Devers took exception to the perception he isn’t at 100 percent health.
“Yeah, I really don't know why there's been such a big deal made about my shoulders. Since the first day here at camp, I've been saying that my shoulders are good, and they're good right now,” said Devers. “So I don't know why it's been put out there, the rumors of my shoulders being bad, but they’re good right now.”
He left no doubt about his availability for the start of the season.
“Definitely I feel very happy, very fortunate to be in another Opening Day lineup and, yeah, I expect to be there,” Devers said.
Meanwhile, Bregman has been used exclusively at third base in Spring Training, which seems a clear sign he won’t be moving to second base, as was mentioned as a possibility at times. How does Devers feel about that?
“I just want to help the team win,” Devers said. “At the end of the day, whatever position I’m playing, I always take these things as a competition and as a way to get better. That’s how I see it, I’m ready to help the team win."
Devers was hurt by some of the criticism he endured from his candid opening-of-camp address.
“For me, it’s been kind of sad that I’ve been put out there as someone bad for the organization or not about this organization,” Devers said. “But I’ve matured a lot during this and I’m ready to move forward.”
And what can fans expect from him this season?
“They can expect a better year than last year from me,” Devers said. “They can expect a lot from this team overall. I think the fans can expect us to compete for a World Series this year.”