Rafael Devers makes 1B debut for Giants after declining to play position for Red Sox

Yahoo

23-07-2025

After declining to do so for the Boston Red Sox, Rafael Devers has put on his glove to play first base for the San Francisco Giants.
The Giants announced Tuesday that Devers would start at first base Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves. The game marks the first time in his career that Devers has played the position. And it's the first time this season that he's played in the field at any position after a contentious dispute with the Red Sox over where he would play.
A three-time All-Star slugger, Devers played eight-plus seasons with the Red Sox, primarily as their third baseman. His relationship with the Red Sox deteriorated this season over a conflict about where he would — or ultimately wouldn't — play in the field for Boston.
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Dispute over position landed Devers in SF
Boston signed two-time Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman in the offseason, a move that ultimately put the Red Sox in a precarious position. Bregman was the no-brainer choice to play third base for Boston instead of Devers, who is statistically one of the worst third basemen in baseball.
Devers was also the most veteran Red Sox presence in Boston's clubhouse and the only remaining player on the roster from Boston's 2018 World Series championship team. And he didn't want to give up his position.
Devers said in spring training that he was not open to moving to designated hitter to make way for Bregman on the field. But Bregman started the season at third base, and Devers moved to designated hitter, against his wishes.
Then the Red Sox lost first baseman Triston Casas to injury for the rest of the season. Devers told reporters that the Red Sox asked him to take over at first base, and he refused, with the following explanation:
'They came to me and talked to me about it,' Devers told reporters on May 8 of the request to play first. 'I know I'm a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can't expect me to play every single position out there.
"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 remained at designated hitter and played all 73 of his games for Boston this season at the position. The dispute ultimately compelled the Red Sox to trade Devers to the Giants in June.
Devers has since played designated hitter for the Giants. But San Francisco made the move on Monday to try him out in the field.
Wilmer Flores and Dominic Smith had previously split time at first base for the Giants this season. On Monday, Smith was not in the lineup, and Flores was batting sixth, taking Devers' usual place as San Francisco's designated hitter.