The latest attempt came on Monday on WEEI-FM, Boston’s notable sports talk radio station. Red Sox broadcaster Will Flemming, the brother of Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming, stopped by the “WEEI Afternoons” show and was asked if the players in the Red Sox clubhouse had moved on from Devers being their teammate.
Fleming answered affirmatively and praised Craig Breslow, the much-maligned Red Sox chief baseball officer, for being willing to make the “full-on, balls on the table” deal. The radio voice of the Red Sox also took a verbal jab at the new Giants star, sharing a moment from the Giants-Red Sox series right after the trade that he said showed Devers’ lack of commitment.
“They don’t yet know what is gonna happen with the player,” Flemming said. “I was there the second day Will Clark was there to work on ground balls with him at first base and Rafi didn’t show up. So that’s the person that these guys [in Boston] have been dealing with for a long time.”
Quick recap: Devers refused to play first base for the Red Sox when he was asked to do so in May. That came after Boston reportedly told Devers that he was their third baseman in the offseason, and the team then signed a new third baseman and told Devers they were moving him to designated hitter. Devers said the message was “put away my glove” and focus exclusively on hitting.
It’s a stark contrast from Devers’ remarks upon arriving in San Francisco: “I’m here to help the team with whatever they need and whatever they want,” he said in Spanish through Giants interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I’m just another member of the team, and I’m going to be willing to give my 100 percent wherever they put me. I don’t have any ‘buts.’ I don’t really have a say. They’re my bosses, so I’m going to play wherever they put me.”
That quote clearly seemed to irk folks in Boston. So obviously, if Devers was already skipping first base workouts with the Giants, that would be like catnip for Red Sox fans (and former legends) wanting to prove that Devers needed to go, even though he’s considered one of the best hitters in the sport.
There’s just one problem. Clark already discussed this incident on his “Deuces Wild” podcast with Eric Byrnes last week. The Giants legend confirmed that he didn’t work out with Devers despite being asked to help by two ex-teammates, manager Bob Melvin and third base coach Matt Williams. But Clark seemingly already knew why Devers didn’t show.
“He did not come out early at all. Period. Not at all. Matter of fact, he didn’t even hit on the field,” Clark said. “And everybody’s like, ‘Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Will, I’m so sorry.’ I’m like, ‘Hey, don’t worry about it.’ I said, ‘I know what the f—k happened.’ I said, ‘He didn’t want to go out and be at first base and be 20 feet in front of their freaking dugout with, you know, what went on in Boston, and now he’s working with me at first base.’”
“He didn’t want to have to go through all that bulls—t through the press and the media,” Clark added. “And so anyway, … I completely understand.”
The weekend the Red Sox were in town, Melvin said Devers was dealing with a groin injury that was slowing down the planned work at first base. It isn’t stopping the work entirely, either: Getty photographers snapped Devers taking grounders at first base on June 20. (Clark may have been busy with an Autism Acceptance Night event during that time.)
Clark said on the podcast that they weren’t going to “go through anything physical” but rather work on the basic fundamentals of the position and talk through playing first base. In his old-school way, Clark made it clear he’s planning on making Devers come talk to him about the position in the future.
“Rafael Devers, next time I’m in San Francisco, your ass will be on the field at first base,” Clark said. “Just letting you know that. … Hey look, even if I’ve got to go grab you by the f—king back of the neck and drag your ass out there, you will be at first base.”
Perhaps if Devers is a no-show at that time, there will be an actual controversy. Until then, folks from New England will have to be satisfied with only minor grievances.
