"I can play anywhere."
Rafael Devers, who has become the new teammate of Lee Jung-hoo in Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants, said emphatically that he will accept any position. It makes one wonder if he is the same player who previously refused to change positions.
San Francisco held a press conference for Devers, who joined the team via trade, before the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on the 18th (Korean time).
San Francisco carried out a trade with the Boston Red Sox on the 16th, sending four players in exchange for Devers. San Francisco brought in the power hitter to play third base while sending pitchers Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, Jose Bello, and outfielder James Tipping III to Boston.
This season, Devers has been performing remarkably in 73 games, with a batting average of .272 (74 hits in 272 at-bats), 15 home runs, 58 RBIs, and an OPS of .905. A native of the Dominican Republic, he made his debut in Boston in 2017 and has a career batting average of .279 in 1,053 games, tallying 1,136 hits, 215 home runs, and 696 RBIs, along with an OPS of .859. He has been named an All-Star three times and has two Silver Slugger awards.
However, Boston's acquisition of Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman before this season started creating tension between Devers and the team. Boston decided to replace Devers, whose defense was becoming questionable, with Bregman for the third base position, opting to assign Devers to the designated hitter role.
Devers was unhappy. After signing a 10-year, $313.5 million contract (431 billion won) with Boston in 2023, he had received assurances he would maintain the third base position. However, Haim Bloom, who was instrumental in negotiating the contract, was fired after the 2023 season ended, leaving Devers' guarantee for third base as a scrap of paper.
Despite his grievances with the team, Devers accepted the designated hitter role as the season began. However, early in May, when starting first baseman Tristan Casas was sidelined with a knee injury, the team suggested moving Devers to first base, prompting further displeasure from him. Team owner John Henry even met with Devers, but the situation did not change. Consequently, the uncomfortable coexistence between Devers and Boston persisted, leading to a "cheap" trade. San Francisco, whose regular third baseman Matt Chapman was placed on the injured list with a right wrist sprain, faced serious gaps in their lineup. With their record sitting at 41 wins and 31 losses, making them second in the National League West and within postseason reach, filling the lineup's gap became urgent.
Given Devers' strong attachment to the third base position during his time with Boston, the positional organization issue could become a future headache for San Francisco. However, at his press conference, Devers declared, "I can play anywhere."
Devers first expressed gratitude to the Boston organization, which signed him at 16 and helped him grow as a major leaguer, saying, "I’m really happy to be with the Giants now, and I’m proud to represent Latin America. I’m also happy to get the chance to meet Barry Bonds." He further addressed the position issue, stating that Manager Bob Melvin had clarified it. Melvin said, "Devers told me he is ready to play anywhere I want and will follow the lineup as I prefer," and explained, "Today he will be batting third as the designated hitter, and we are planning to gradually incorporate him into the first base position, ensuring he feels comfortable. Right now, we are considering a dual role of first base and designated hitter for him."
Regarding the controversy surrounding his rejection of a position change in Boston, Devers responded, "What happened in Boston is in the past. Now it’s about moving forward and competing as a player for the San Francisco Giants," while avoiding a direct answer. He expressed appreciation for Boston fans, saying, "I want to say just ‘thank you’ to them for always cheering for me and supporting me."
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