Rafael Devers was acquired by the San Francisco Giants in a stunning trade on Sunday, and his tune when it comes to being a team player has completely changed.
Devers got upset with the Boston Red Sox after they replaced him at third base, told him to serve as their designated hitter, and later asked him to play the field. Devers didn’t like the way the team handled him and the situation, and that caused a problem that ultimately led to his trade to the Giants.
During his introductory press conference with the Giants on Tuesday, Devers said that he would play anywhere his new team asked him to play. That includes first base, which is the position he didn’t want to play for Boston.
What’s interesting is that Devers told reporters on Friday that the possibility of him moving back to third base has not come up with the Giants. That’s because the team has 5-time Gold Glove winner Matt Chapman signed to play there.
Rafael Devers said the Giants haven’t talked to him at all about third base, pointed out a really good one (Matt Chapman) is coming back soon and that’s his position. He’s working at 1B every day but isn’t ready to start there this weekend against Boston.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) June 20, 2025
Chapman has been on the injured list since June 9th and is expected to be out for another few weeks due to a hand injury. It doesn’t make much sense for the Giants to move Devers back to third when they have Chapman, which is why Devers is practicing to play first.
Devers, 28, has begun his Giants career batting .273, which is about in line with what he did to start the season for the Red Sox. He batted .272 with a .905 OPS in 73 games with Boston this season prior to his trade.
