Rafael Devers Met With Red Sox Owner Over Remarks About Possible Position Change

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry and manager Alex Cora met with Rafael Devers regarding his public disinterest in moving to first base, according to MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow described the meeting as an "honest exchange," per Cotillo.

"There were conversations. John, Sam and I flew out earlier today. It was actually John who spoke directly with Raffy," Breslow said, per Cotillo. "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's being great teammates for each other."

The report comes one day after Devers told reporters the Red Sox, who moved him from third base to designated hitter ahead of the season, recently brought up the possibility of switching him to first base to replace Triston Casas.

The club is seeking a long-term solution at first base after Casas underwent season-ending knee surgery last weekend.

"I know I'm a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can't expect me to play every single position out there," Devers said, per Brendan McGair of the Associated Press. "In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove. I wasn't going to play another position other than DH. Right now, I don't think it would be an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position."

Devers previously said in February that he wouldn't change to DH after the club signed Alex Bregman in free agency.

That had changed by March, when Devers told reporters he was "good to do whatever they want me to do" during spring training.

"I’ve already spoken with them about that and they know where I stand, but I’m just ready to play," Devers said in March.

Devers went on to spend the spring and the first quarter of the season at DH, where he has batted .255 with six home runs, 25 RBI and an AL-leading 29 walks, before Casas went down with an injury that again changed the outlook of the Red Sox infield.

Devers told reporters that it had been Breslow who brought up a potential secondary position change at that point.

“He played ball. I would like to think that he knows that changing positions isn’t easy,” Devers said about Breslow via interpreter Daveson Perez (h/t McGair).

Devers continued, per McGair: "Now, they should do their jobs essentially and hit the market and look for another player. I’m not sure why they want me to be an in-between. Next thing you know, someone in the outfield gets hurt and they want me to play in the outfield. I know the kind of player that I am and that’s where I stand.”

“They told me that I’m a little hard-headed, but they already asked me to change once. This time, I don’t think I can be as flexible. I don’t feel they stayed true to their word. They told me I was going to play this position, DH. Now they’re going back on that.”

The club has most recently deployed Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro at first base, although neither has extensive MLB experience at the position. Gonzalez got more reps immediately following Casas' injury but is currently day-to-day with a back injury after a Wednesday collision with Texas' Josh Smith.