Giants' Rafael Devers Will Make 1B Debut vs. Braves After Red Sox Trade

Rafael Devers is starting at first base for the San Francisco Giants in Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Braves.

Devers' unwillingness to play first base was among the reasons his relationship with the Boston Red Sox broke down, which resulted in his midseason trade to San Francisco.

Boston had hoped the three-time All-Star would be receptive to the idea after Triston Casas was lost for the year because of a patellar injury. Instead, Devers bristled, having already moved off third base to designated hitter to accommodate offseason signing Alex Bregman.

Not even a meeting that involved Red Sox owner John Henry could smooth things over.

Ahead of a reunion with his old team in June, Devers said he felt disrespected through the saga.

"I put up some good numbers in Boston, and I feel like I earned some respect," he told reporters through his interpreter. "If they would have asked me at the beginning of spring training, yes, I would have played [first]."

Once Devers started taking practice reps at first for the Giants, he'd debut there eventually.

Even before this season, a lot of people will have argued a shift to first was inevitable for the slugger. He hasn't been a consistently good defender at third base, and he'll likely get worse as he ages. First base and DH make the most logical spots for him long term.

It probably won't be long before Devers is installed as San Francisco's everyday option at first.