Rafael Devers’s disastrous tenure with Giants hits new low with pinch-hit drama
Two things can be true when it comes to the Red Sox and their decision to trade Rafael Devers to the Giants last June.
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Yes, the Red Sox didn’t get solid value as part of its return from San Francisco — due in large part to Craig Breslow flipping younger players like Kyle Harrison (2.50 ERA in Milwaukee) or James Tibbs III (20 home runs, 62 RBI with Triple-A Tulsa) and not maximizing those assets.
But even with Devers’s profile as an elite masher at the plate, moving on from the 29-year-old first baseman/DH — especially when it comes to getting his entire $200-plus million off their books — stands as a wise move by Boston.
That sentiment was validated once again on Sunday as Devers — who was shipped out of Boston last summer amid ongoing controversy and some dissatisfaction with the Red Sox over his spot on the club’s infield — showed up his manager, Tony Vitello, with the Giants.
In a moment that has now gone viral, Devers did little to hide his displeasure with his current team amid a late-game substitution on Sunday against the Marlins.
With San Francisco trailing, 2-1, in the top of the ninth in Miami, Devers opened the inning with a lead-off walk. With the game-tying run on base, Vitello made the call to replace Devers with Jonah Cox as a pinch runner — only for Devers to outright wave off Cox and refuse to leave the game.
Devers eventually made his way off first and walked toward the dugout, avoiding his teammates and coaches — including maneuvering out of the way after bench coach Jayce Tingler tried to pat him on the back.
Devers did not speak to the media after the game, while Vitello said that he didn’t think he needed to address the situation with his first baseman — despite the ugly optics of seemingly showing up his manager.
“We talk every day. I’m good,” Vitello said postgame. “I would rather have guys like [Logan Webb], where you have to rip them off the field as opposed to vice versa.”
Given Devers’s outspoken comments about the Red Sox’ decision to move him off third base last season following Alex Bregman’s arrival, his refusal to then move over to first base after Triston Casas’s season-ending injury, and this latest incident in San Francisco, his stock across baseball has taken a hit in the past year.
“Inexcusable. You cannot do what he did yesterday. It was basically insubordination,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal said on Monday. “Devers did not comment after the game, another bad look for him, and here are the Giants.
“They’re going nowhere, 15 games under .500, only a game and a half ahead of the Rockies for the worst team in the National League. Good luck figuring out how to fix that particular mess.”
To make matters worse, Devers isn’t at least countering his attitude with production at the plate.
Devers — who is signed through the 2033 season and will command at least $28 million per year over that stretch — is slashing just .238/.302/.433 with 11 homers and 36 RBIs this season in his first full year with San Francisco.
Shortly after the Devers drama played out on Sunday, former Red Sox manager Alex Cora appeared to land a dig at his former player on social media.
MLB.com writer Ian Browne added some additional context on Sunday, noting that Cora had several run-ins with Devers during their time together in Boston.
“What a fitting way to celebrate his trade from last Father’s Day,” Browne said of Devers. “I heard he got equally pissed at Cora one time for getting pinch run for but that one was kept behind the scenes.”
As much as the Red Sox have bungled several roster moves over the last few years, cutting ties with Devers and removing that contract does at least some to be a prudent move ahead of a steep decline — especially when also factoring in Devers’ sour behavior.
With MLB’s trade deadline now set for Aug. 3, the Giants — now 31-46 on the season — are reportedly trying to deal away Devers.
The Red Sox managed to get a team to bite in the Giants, but that task won’t be as easy moving forward for San Francisco.
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