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The fact that the former Red Sox star will be starting at first base against Boston this weekend felt true after Rafael Devers’ remarks during his Giants introductory press conference earlier this week.
In San Francisco on Tuesday, Devers told reporters, “I’m here to play wherever they want me to play.”
The former slugger for Boston will be the Giants’ designated hitter for the three-game series between the two clubs in the Bay Area on Friday and Sunday, which is fortunate for Boston (at least defensively).
Bob Melvin, the manager of San Francisco, explained this to Markus and Murph of KNBR on Friday.
Yes, Melvin stated, that would not take place this weekend. We still haven’t arrived. Compared to having him at first base during the Red Sox series, it will take a little longer.
On Sunday, Devers was dealt to the Giants in a shocking trade. After switching from third base to Alex Bregman, he had played in all 73 of the Red Sox’s games this season as their designated hitter.
Devers played DH in a similar manner in three games against San Francisco this week, extending his run of perfection.
We’ll be working on it here for a few days before we feel comfortable throwing Raffy out there, Melvin said. “Undoubtedly, Raffy will be in there and agree to play first base.”
Melvin described his team’s future strategy for Devers at the press conference on Tuesday.
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Melvin stated, “I’ll play wherever you want me to play, I’ll hit wherever you want me to hit,” during our brief conversation with him today. That was the beginning of it. Before we throw him over there, we’re going to work him in and make sure he’s comfortable by giving him some ground balls.
Right now, that’s really how we see it: a little bit of first and a little bit of DH.
A clear reminder of how badly things ended in Boston is Devers’ eagerness to start at first base for his new team.
After Triston Casas had a season-ending knee injury in early May, the star slugger publicly declined to play first base for the Red Sox. According to Devers, Craig Breslow, the chief baseball officer, asked him to switch.
After a game on May 8, Devers stated, “I know I’m a ballplayer, but they can’t expect me to play every single position out there.” They essentially told me to put away my glove throughout spring training. I had no intention of playing a position other than DH. I don’t believe that asking me to play a different position at this time would be a wise move on their part.
Devers was willing to play first base for the Red Sox, but he wanted the team to commit to keeping him there going forward rather than switching him back and forth, according to Boston Globes Peter Abraham on BlueSky on Tuesday.
In keeping with Abraham’s account, ESPN’s Jeff Passan shared a remark from one of Devers’s confidants on Boston’s handling of the matter.
The individual close to Devers informed Passan that sometimes it’s not the message. That’s the way the message is conveyed.
Devers has, however, stated that he wants to put the Red Sox incident behind him since joining the Giants.
The athlete repeatedly stated that he didn’t want to answer any more questions regarding the subject during his pregame media availability on Friday, according to Tim Healey of the Boston Globes.
According to Cotillo, Devers also stated that he is the happy he has been in a long time.
On Friday, Devers will bat third and play DH for San Francisco, with Wilmer Flores covering first base. At 10:15 p.m. Eastern Time, the first pitch will be played.
Boston.com sports producer Kaley Brown covers the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Patriots, and Boston Red Sox.
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