Rafael Devers is prepared to do something with the San Francisco Giants that he refused to do for the Boston Red Sox, and there is a chance he could do it for the first time against his former team.
Devers was traded to the Giants on Sunday in a stunning blockbuster deal. He made his debut with San Francisco in Tuesday night’s game against the Cleveland Indians and was the designated hitter. Devers was the DH in all 72 of his games with the Red Sox prior to the trade, but the Giants are planning to have the slugger play the field as well.
Devers said on Tuesday that he is willing to play wherever the Giants want him to. While his primary position is third base, he has already begun taking reps at first in San Francisco.
Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey says the plan is for Devers to play first base eventually. In a Wednesday appearance on WEEI’s “Jones and Keefe” show, Giants play-by-play announcer Dave Flemming said Devers could make his first ever start at first base when San Francisco hosts the Red Sox this weekend.
“He’s agreed to take ground balls and work pregame on first base defense, so the next few days are gonna be dedicated to that,” Flemming said. “I don’t think it’s an impossibility that this weekend when the Sox are in town, I don’t think it’s impossible that you would see Devers play first base in at least one of those games. I think that’s possible.”
"I don't think it's impossible that you see Devers play first base in at least one of those games [this weekend]."
— Jones & Keefe (@JonesandKeefe) June 18, 2025
Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming outlined San Francisco's plans for Rafael Devers, which could include his debut at first base this weekend — against the Red Sox🤣 pic.twitter.com/Y0s7JpFqMM
That would be a huge slap in the face to the Red Sox, and Devers would probably enjoy that aspect of it.
Devers refused to play first base in Boston
Devers was openly unhappy with the Red Sox after they moved him to DH prior to the season. The move was a no-brainer after Boston signed Alex Bregman, who won a Gold Glove Award as a third baseman last season. Still, Devers was so angry with the decision that he did not rule out requesting a trade.
Then in May, Boston first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury. There was speculation that Devers might be asked to play first base, and the Red Sox did approach him about it. Not only did he refuse, but Devers publicly blasted the team’s front office and accused them of lying.
It has become quite obvious that Devers did not want to play first in Boston as a matter of principle. His relationship with the team was strained beyond repair, and it seems like he took a stand against playing first in order to force a trade.
The Red Sox signed Devers to a 10-year, $313.5 million extension in 2023. Many would argue that Devers is so highly paid that he should have forgiven the team and agreed to play first even if he felt the communication was poor. He is now on the fast track to accepting the new assignment in San Francisco, instead.
