Commitment looks different when the paycheck clears and the zip code changes. Rafael Devers, who wouldn’t budge an inch for the Red Sox, is suddenly all-in with the Giants—glove on, smile wide. It’s the kind of pivot that draws more than cheers; it draws fire. And now, with Boston thriving and San Francisco barely treading water, even ex-MLB executives are calling out the convenient timing of his transformation.
A few months ago, Rafael Devers’ name was everywhere. People were using his name in the trade market, in lists of people who are not going to be traded, and many more places. But once the whole 1st base episode happened, things between the Red Sox and Devers became weak, and the Giants did not waste any time in grabbing him. But now another ex-MLB executive is calling him out for the same reason.
In his recent video, David Samson talked about Rafael Devers and how his reputation is slowly burning. Samson said, “Devers had the opportunity to be the team guy, team first guy. The ultimate irony of the Red Sox continuing to be better… The results rule… I’d rather be a Red Sox… The last thing on Devers is this that when you’re trying to reclaim your reputation… You try to have your mistakes of the past not come with you into the present.”
Rafael Devers didn’t just burn bridges on his way out of Boston—he torched his reputation. Once unwilling to pick up a glove for the Red Sox, he refused to play third base when Bregman got hurt and turned down first base duties when Casas went down. His stubbornness painted him as a $300 million DH who didn’t want to sweat defense. Now suddenly, in San Francisco, Devers grabs a first baseman’s mitt like it’s a trophy.
Credit: D. Ross Cameron / Imagn Images
Inside the Boston Red Sox clubhouse, his exit barely echoed past the doorway. “People were like, ‘Oh, maybe they didn’t like Raffy,’” Jarren Duran said, rolling his eyes. “But what’s crying about it gonna do? It’s not going to bring him back.” The team moved on fast, turning doubt into fuel and bonding over the fact that nobody believed in them.
Duran wasn’t cold—he called Devers a smiling, laughing kid and said he “still loves him.” But it’s telling when your former teammates sound more motivated than mournful after you leave. While Devers now claims playing the field “keeps me active,” his timing feels a little too convenient. For a player who once refused to adapt, his sudden flexibility in San Francisco screams reputation rehab in bold letters.
But in baseball, as in life, actions speak louder than spin—and timing tells all. One month ago, Devers couldn’t be bothered to bend for Boston; now he’s stretching at first base with the San Francisco Giants. Reputation isn’t something you trade away and buy back with a glove. If this is Devers’ redemption arc, it’s off to a suspiciously scripted start. The only thing more flexible than his position right now might be his public relations playbook.
Rafael Devers reveals why he’ll play first for the Giants but not the Red Sox
Some players change teams; others change stories. Rafael Devers, once too valuable to pick up a glove for the Boston Red Sox, is now fielding grounders at first base like it’s second nature with the Giants. Call it evolution, call it PR spin—but don’t call it forgettable. As Boston surges without him and San Francisco sells the reboot, Devers’ sudden flexibility is raising more eyebrows than pop flies.
Rafael Devers didn’t just pack his bags—he left behind an unresolved standoff in Boston. When asked why he’d play first base in San Francisco but not for the Red Sox, Devers said, “If they would have asked me at the beginning of spring training, yes.” For him, it was about timing, respect, and feeling valued—things the Giants seem to offer in abundance. “I think that I do feel that I have earned some respect,” he added.
With the San Francisco Giants, it’s a fresh chapter filled with freedom, not just another defensive shuffle. Devers has already begun practicing at first, admitting, “That is not a position that you’re going to learn overnight.” Though he hasn’t officially debuted at first base, his attitude signals he’s close and committed. As he put it simply, “I’m very happy”—and in San Francisco, that happiness looks a lot like cooperation.
So what changed—Devers, or just the uniform on his back? In Boston, he stood his ground; in San Francisco, he’s learning to cover it. The irony isn’t lost on fans still unpacking his $313 million promise. But hey, nothing softens a stance like a fresh start and a warmer front office. If this is growth, it’s wearing orange and black—and fielding grounders with a grin.
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