When Triston Casas went down with a rib injury in late April, few could have predicted the ripple effect it would cause inside the Red Sox clubhouse. On the surface, it was a routine setback for a promising young slugger. But in the Red Sox, even a standard injury can open the door to deeper issues. Now, as Rafael Devers finds himself at the center of a growing storm, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this isn’t just about one man’s absence from the lineup. This is about leadership, chemistry, and the unspoken tensions that threaten to pull a team apart.
At the heart of it all is Devers, a cornerstone of the franchise now finding himself under increasing scrutiny. Entering the season, Devers had already raised eyebrows by resisting a shift from third base to designated hitter. Courtesy of Alex Bregman. Now, with first base suddenly vacant, the club floated the idea of Devers stepping in. His response? A swift and unwavering no, delivered through an interpreter. But did Devers really say the same thing that the interpreter translated?
The Red Sox insider channel, Boston Strong, doesn’t think so. They shared a video where Devers reportedly did not say as directly as a NO in Spanish.
“In this video, Rafael Devers says that if he has to play 1B, they can’t expect him to do it right away because he’s not like other players that adapt quickly,” Boston Strong quoted.
I really don’t understand how an organization like the Boston Red Sox have the WORST translators. In this video Rafael Devers literally says that if he has to play 1B, they can’t expect him to do it right away because he’s not like other players that adapt quickly. pic.twitter.com/9Yze8fQ386
— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) May 8, 2025
The clip sparked overreactions and shaky translations on Twitter, but the full exchange makes one thing clear: Devers is annoyed. Not because he’s being asked to adapt, but because he already did, stuck with it for two months, and now the team wants to shuffle things again. Yes, there are chances that interpretations get a little different between languages, but Devers’ annoyance is beyond any doubt.
So, what’s unfolding isn’t merely a lineup shuffle. It’s a subtle but significant challenge to the culture the Red Sox are trying to build. And with tensions simmering and the season still in its early phase, the question looms: how long before this becomes a full-blown fracture? Time is ticking for the Red Sox to make things fall into place.
Trading seems the best bet for the Red Sox
Now with Devers drawing a line in the sand and no clear in-house replacement for Triston Casas, the Red Sox find themselves at a crossroads. Devers has made it clear he won’t budge, and management has little incentive to escalate the tension with a player they’ve long marketed as a franchise cornerstone.
So, that leaves the Red Sox with one viable path. The trade market!
Could we consider the Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker? His defensive ability is of Gold Glove caliber. Moreover, projected 30-HR power and probable free agent after the season might offer a good choice for the Red Sox. However, the trade might only work if the Diamondbacks slide out of contention. The list of potential targets isn’t long, but it is manageable if the team acts swiftly. And given how quickly internal options have unraveled, they may not have a choice.
The Red Sox may have turned to a more low-key solution, Romy Gonzalez. He is a versatile utility man with limited big-league experience and is now set to take over at first base. Well, .308 BA might not be huge, but a potent short-term solution for the team.
For the Red Sox, it’s a gamble that internal harmony and a bit of defensive flexibility can hold the line until their starting first baseman returns. But if the offense stalls or the defense falters, expect the pressure to mount quickly. What do you think the team is going in which direction?
The post Fact Check: Did Rafael Devers Really Say No to Red Sox’s 1B Request? Here’s What $313.5 Star Actually Said appeared first on EssentiallySports.
