Rafael Devers might be a superstar with a bat, but apparently, conditioning isn’t part of his game plan. The Boston Red Sox slugger is catching heat—not for crushing homers, but for showing up looking more suited for anything other than the big leagues. Critics aren’t just questioning his fitness; they’re calling out his commitment to the team. And to make matters worse, Devers isn’t exactly silencing the doubters with his attitude. Is he really just out of shape, or is there something deeper brewing in Beantown?

The Rafael Devers situation is getting difficult for Alex Cora to handle. Appearing out of shape for spring training might be one thing but not wanting to be a team player is a low blow to the team.

After the signing of Alex Bregman, there were many questions regarding the position of Devers o,n the field. Many said that he would play first base while others pointed out that he might play as a DH. But the truth, well, is not helping anyone.

During their recent podcast on the Play Tessie channel, Pat went in on Rafael Devers for his comments and offseason appearance, “I need to see him looking better in camp. I’m sorry, I hate to sound like that crazy caller calling, he’s fat he’s out of shape. It’s hard not to notice and no, we’re not talking about Pablo Sandoval being 5 foot 10, 265 pounds, whatever he was. It’s not to that extent I’ll give him that, but it’s still an issue it’s noticeable.”  

During the same press meet, when a reporter asked how much he weighed, the answer was 240 pounds. Remember Big Papi, who people felt was hefty? He weighed less than that and was 3 inches taller.

Let’s just say the Red Sox fanbase is not taking it politely. If Devers wants to keep third base, he will have to start looking more like an elite infielder. Talent can only take you so far—at some point, dedication and discipline have to take the field too.

Rafael Devers won’t budge—but how long before the Red Sox make him?

Rafael Devers has drawn his line in the dirt—third base is his, and he’s not moving. But with Alex Bregman now in the mix, the Red Sox might have other plans, whether Devers likes it or not. Stubbornness is one thing, but when it starts to clash with the team’s best interests, patience runs thin. So the real question isn’t whether Devers wants to switch positions—it’s how long Boston will let him call the shots.

Devers said at the press meet, “Third base is my position. It’s what I’ve played. I don’t know what their plans are. We had a conversation. I made it clear what my desires were.” This comment by Devers rubbed the people in a bad way. And they have not stopped ranting about this.

Pat had much to say about this, “People have varying degrees of how bad they think the defense is. I think we can all agree that it’s at least below average. I think it’s pretty bad. Gordo, I know you don’t think it’s as bad as I think it is. And I think more people who are around the game agree with you on that. Statistically, he’s towards the bottom, bottom of the barrel. So whatever school of thought you subscribe to, it’s not a good defense.”

One of the main stats that has surprised me is Devers’ defense. Compared to Alex Bregman, Devers looks like a rookie. With both of them having played the same innings, the fielding percentage of Alex Bregman (.977) is higher than Devers’ (.946). And the defensive runs saved are abysmal. The number of defensive runs saved by Devers is a -9 to Bregman’s +5.

If this doesn’t show that Alex Bregman is better, let me give you one more. Rafael Devers committed 17 errors in 2024 compared to Alex Bregman’s 8. If Devers wants to keep his spot at third base, he’ll need to show more than just bat power—he’ll have to prove he can handle the defensive side too. The Boston Red Sox might let him hold onto his position for now, but how long will they overlook his defensive struggles?