The drama around Rafael Devers and the idea of him playing first base keeps growing. With a division lead in their grasp, the Red Sox still haven’t figured it out, and it’s turning into a bigger mess than it needs to be.
Instead of settling it early, the team has let things drag on. What started as a minor issue is now a full-blown distraction. According to an MLB insider, there may even be tension between Devers and general manager Craig Breslow over how this is being handled.
Rafael Devers’ Potential Position Change Feels Personal, Proclaims MLB Insider
The Red Sox still haven’t found a long-term answer at first base for the rest of the 2025 season. The situation got more complicated when questions of fairness came up about how the team handles position changes.
In this post on X, MLB insider Mike Rodriguez suggested that Breslow may have a personal issue with Devers:
Red Sox GM Craig Breslow must have a personal issue with Devers. He was asked if Roman Anthony could start playing first base in the minors, and he said Anthony has never played that position and wants to keep him where he feels comfortable.
But Devers hasn’t played that…— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) May 9, 2025
It might be a stretch to say a GM has it out for the team’s top-paid player. Still, no one outside the front office knows what’s going on. Breslow didn’t sign Devers; former chief Chaim Bloom gave him the 10-year, $315.5 million extension in January 2023. Breslow joined the team later that year.
Rodriguez also mentioned top prospect Roman Anthony as a possible first-base fit. Breslow reportedly shut that idea down, saying Anthony hasn’t played the position and should stay where he’s comfortable. That’s very different from how the team has handled Devers.
But maybe there’s another side to it. Anthony is only 20, and outfielders with his upside are rare. If he stays healthy, he could lock down a corner outfield spot for the next decade.
On the other hand, Devers is eight years older and hasn’t been great in the field. He’s led the American League in errors seven times and owns a .944 fielding percentage, well below the league average of .961. There’s a clear case that this isn’t favoritism. Anthony’s defensive future is still unknown. Devers’ defensive record is already on film.
One thing that gets overlooked in all this? The status of outfielder Masataka Yoshida. He’s swinging the bat well, but still feels pain when he throws. Breslow won’t risk pushing Yoshida into the field just because Devers doesn’t want to play first base. If the
What Does Devers Have to Say?
Devers spoke to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic about the move, which he seems less than pleased with:
“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 through team translator Daveson Perez after a 5-0 win over the Rangers. “In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove, that I wasn’t going to play any other position but DH, so right now, I just feel like it’s not an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position.”
From a distance, this sounds like a player initially unhappy about leaving the field and even more disappointed about returning to a new position. Either way, the Red Sox must find a workable plan for all involved or watch their season implode.