Truce or the calm before the storm? When it comes to Rafael Devers’ position with the Boston Red Sox, it hasn’t been that clear as of lately. Quite literally! Now, multiple issues are glaring the team right in the eye that all started with his snub. Here are some-

• The origin of trust issues: Over the winters, when the rumors started swirling about bringing in Alex Bregman to Boston, team manager Alex Cora ensured the third baseman that they were just that. But then it became a reality, and Devers was in for an anticipated surprise.
• The first final verdict: Since February, when Cora first informed Raffy about his potential move to the DH position to make space on the third for Bregman, the 28-year-old gave everyone a stone-faced “No.” He made it clear that, “Third base is my position. It’s what I’ve played. I don’t know what their plans are.” 
• The move: With Devers seemingly not in a sacrificial mood to give up his position, many sources reported through mid-March about rumors swirling of him asking for a trade. 
• The actual final verdict: Three days ago, on the WEEI Afternoons radio, Cora announced, “Devers) was very vocal about how he felt, and we made a decision. Alex is going to play third, and Raffy is going to DH.”
• The unwarranted peace and the unwanted record: Now, Devers has accepted that “I’m the DH.” But 2025 has not been an ally so far. In fact, Rafael even broke a record, one that no team or player wants on their list– Devers is now the only MLB player with at least 10 K’s through the first three games of a season. 

And with all these facts piling up, him making a brutally honest admission, and his shoulder troubles, we have the latest updates for him. Welcome to the latest episode of How Not to Handle a Superstar.

Yesterday, the official X account of MLBScoops tweeted, “Red Sox could listen to offers for Rafael Devers after slow start and not clicking with new management. “Change of scenery” could work for both sides, albeit things are still early. Something to watch.”

Remember before this what Devers said in an interview? “Spring workouts were too long.” With the friction that was there before, it looks more likely that this news might be more real than many imagined. And actually, it just might benefit both the parties. If the 3x All Star was to leave, he can find a new destination where he will be required at his preferred third base position with new opportunities to unlock. At the same time, Boston will get a chance to evaporate the off-field drama and improve on-field results.

Devers just wants to play baseball; he’s not interested in getting caught up in any unnecessary drama. He may feel like third base is where he belongs, but he insists he’s not “frustrated about anything with anybody.” He can see why Cora decided to bring Alex Bregman into the mix for which the latter was quite frank.

Even back in February, he told Ian Browne from MLB.com, “Like I said a few days ago, decisions are going to be made here about roster construction and what we’re going to do in the future, and we’ve got to make the best decision possible out there. He’s got a lot of pride, we know that. He feels like he’s the third baseman and he’s going to work out as a third baseman, and we’re going to make decisions accordingly. I think it’s not about Bregman or Devers or Cora. It’s about the Red Sox. Whatever decision we’d make is for the benefit of the team.”

Top Comment by Virgil Slick

Get him out of here,would not be surprised if he’s striking out on purpose because they pulled him off third...more

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But, if there’s one thing the Red Sox love more than making bold moves, it’s making a mess of them. Devers’ “Too long” spring might just turn into an even longer summer of speculation. If Boston is truly considering shipping off their franchise slugger, they better have a plan—because right now, it just looks like déjà vu with extra chaos.

Rafael Devers strikes out seven times in first two games as Red Sox’s DH

Devers’ start as the Red Sox’s designated hitter hasn’t exactly been a dream come true. Surprising? Not too much as it’s a role he didn’t ask for. But is he sacrificing his rapport to get the position he wants? After two games, he’s sitting at 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts—six of them swinging. Ouch!

While some folks might think the switch from playing third base to just hitting is throwing him off, manager Cora kept it simple when he talked to Browne from MLB.com: “Not catching up with the fastball. It’s very simple. [He’s getting] 3-2 counts. The at-bats are OK, but not being able to cash in.” 

Devers isn’t arguing with Cora. He’s been dealing with shoulder injuries that slowed him down during spring training, pushing back his Grapefruit League debut until March 15 and limiting him to just 15 plate appearances before the season kicked off. So yeah, that lack of game time could definitely be a factor, even though Devers insists he’s been working on his swing behind the scenes.

But let’s be real: Devers didn’t want to give up his spot at third base. However, there’s his record of minus-6 OAA last season, ranking a 36th tie among 43 third basemen that qualified. Also, he has mostly been a sub-par defensive third baseman. In fact, since 2020, his minus-34 OAA is the worst among the qualified third baseman. Yet, he wanted to stick with the position.

However, with the 2024 American League’s Gold Glove awardee, Bregman, joining the team and a focus on improving defense, Devers wasn’t given much choice in this decision. But Devers isn’t someone to give up so easily. He is determined to make this work, and for that, he’s planning to reach out to Red Sox legends like David Ortiz and JD Martinez for advice, if that’s what it takes to excel.

But of course, in Boston, no decision is ever just a decision—it’s a breeding ground for speculation. Devers may be saying all the right things now, but will he still feel the same in July? Or will the Red Sox do what they do best—turn a minor lineup change into a full-blown trade saga?