How Red Sox President Viewed Rafael Devers Preseason Saga
Sam Kennedy knows Rafael Devers and Red Sox decision-makers aren’t going to see eye-to-eye on every single decision.
However, the club’s president and CEO also knows the three-time All-Star has the same No. 1 goal as everyone else in the organization.
Devers wasn’t terribly active in spring training due to recovery from sore shoulders, but that didn’t stop him from making headlines in Fort Myers, Fla. The star slugger drew a ton of attention when he bluntly expressed a desire to stay at third base after Boston added Alex Bregman, the reigning American League Gold Glove winner at the hot corner.
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However, Devers eventually softened his stance and he’s in line to be the Red Sox’s designated hitter in Thursday’s Opening Day tilt in Texas. Ahead of that season-opening showdown, Kennedy offered his thoughts on the Devers situation.
“He’s put winning and the team above all else,” Kenndy told “Fenway Rundown” hosts Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo, as transcribed by MassLive. “It doesn’t mean he is gonna agree with every decision, doesn’t mean he is not one of the more competitive people on the planet. And as I said down in Florida, I think he’s the only player in uniform with a ring from 2018. This guy wants to win championships and he’s a championship-caliber player.”
Despite all of the noise Devers’ candid comments created, there’s no doubt the 28-year-old is focused on winning. Devers recently made it abundantly clear to Red Sox fans that they can expect a better season both from him and the team as a whole in 2025.
Coaches and players in any sport will tell you they never experience exclusively smooth sailing over the course of an entire season. But when the ultimate goal is the same across the board — as is the case with Devers and the Red Sox — it’s much easier to overcome obstacles.