Giants' Posey Says Rafael Devers Can Play 1B, 3B After Refusing Move for Red Sox

Rafael Devers was not pleased with the Boston Red Sox when they asked him to move to designated hitter after acquiring third baseman Alex Bregman in the offseason, and he flat-out refused to play at first base for the team.

But San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations, Buster Posey, indicated on Monday that Devers could play in a number of roles for the team after Sunday's stunning trade.

"There's the possibility to play third some with [Matt] Chapman out, to get some in at first, and DH..." Posey told reporters. "By all accounts... he's a winner. He wants to do what he can to help the team. Obviously there was some back and forth with him and the Red Sox and I don't have all the details of where things went sideways, but he's excited to be in San Francisco and help our team win."

Posey's comments are certainly interesting given the context of Devers' very public assertion that he would not play first base for the Red Sox.

"They've told me I'm a little hard-headed and they already asked me to change once," he told reporters at the time, saying he wouldn't make the move to first. "This time, I don't think I can be as flexible. ... I don't feel that they were true to their word. They told me that I was going to play this position—DH—and now they're going back on that. I just don't think they [are] staying true with their word."

Perhaps Devers will be more open to positional flexibility in a new home, however.

The Giants certainly made a splash in acquiring him, sending the Red Sox starting pitcher Kyle Harrison, right-hander Jordan Hicks and prospects James Tibbs III and Jose Bello.

The Giants can perhaps risk a bit of friction given their woeful offense this season. While the pitching staff has helped lead the team to a 31-41 record, the offense ranks 24th in baseball in batting average (.232), 14th in runs (309), 19th in homers (70) and 23rd in OPS (.688).

Devers should help. The 28-year-old slugger is hitting .272 with 15 homers, 58 RBI, 47 runs and a .905 OPS. He'll offer the Giants a solid option in the middle of the lineup.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, are making a habit of parting ways with their biggest offensive stars.

Mookie Betts was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 and the team lowballed Xander Bogaerts in Dec. 2022 before he departed in free agency for the San Diego Padres. Those two, alongside Devers, made up the exciting young core of the 2018 World Series-winning team.

And now all three are gone.