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Red Sox Legend David Ortiz Calls Out Rafael Devers' Behavior After Surprise Trade
The Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a shocking move on Sunday night. The trade ends a long saga between Devers and the front office in Boston.
When the Red Sox originally signed Alex Bregman, Devers pushed back, noting that he would keep playing third base. Eventually, he was made the everyday designated hitter. However, things took another turn when Devers was asked by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to play first base in the wake of Triston Casas' season-ending knee injury.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 10: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox pumps up the crowd in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the American League Divison Series at...
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 10: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox pumps up the crowd in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the American League Divison Series at Fenway Park on October 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts."They told me that they didn't want to allow me to play any other position," Devers said in a rant to the media. "And now I think they should do their job essentially and hit the market and look for another player (to play first base). I'm not sure why they want me to be in between, the way they have me now."
"Here in the clubhouse, thankfully, the relationship that I have with my teammates is great," Devers continued. "I don't understand some of the decisions that the GM makes. Next thing you know someone in the outfield gets hurt and they want me to play in the outfield. I think I know the kind of player I am. And yeah, that's just where I stand."
His public comments against Breslow were likely the tipping point in the relationship. While the organization is not completely free of fault, Red Sox legend David Ortiz called out Devers.
"I played for the Red Sox a long time," Ortiz said Monday, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. "You think everything with me and the Red Sox was roses and flowers? I went through some tough times also. But I was mature enough to understand and keep things internal. Even in the best families, between the best brothers, (expletive) happens. You need to have the maturity to resolve the problems and move on."
Devers' refusal to play first base when the team desperately needed someone to step up is likely not what the Red Sox wanted out of their $300 million superstar. Devers is a three-time All-Star and helped bring a championship to Boston, but was unwilling to make changes to help the team. Ortiz noted that Devers is not the first player to make this mistake.
"I think it would be easier, if they pay you that kind of money, to go, '(Expletive) it, let's do it.' But players' egos play a big role sometimes. I've seen it with so many players. Sammy Sosa. (Alex Rodriguez), my friend. Manny Ramirez, you name it. And guess what? At the end of the day ... you know you did wrong. Once you mature, you understand."
Now Devers will try to make an impact for the Giants, who are just two games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League West lead. However, there will always be questions about where he may have ranked in Red Sox history had he finished out his 10-year contract.
"That's a message for all young players who think they turn out to be bigger than the game," Ortiz told The Athletic. "I'm not saying that Devers was like that. He's humble. He's a good kid. But sometimes when you're young and immature, you (don't realize that).
"I'm not saying the Red Sox did everything right. But you have to give the club the benefit of the doubt. They're not trying to make the organization look bad. They're trying to make good moves that sometimes they don't have the opportunity to explain."
Perhaps Devers' relationship with the team was too far gone to repair. Maybe the move was so the Red Sox could get out of an expensive contract. Could this all have been avoided if the Red Sox had been clear with Devers of their intention to sign Bregman? Regardless of the answer, Devers will now have to focus on helping the Giants make the postseason.
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