The Boston Red Sox haven’t even suited up for a Spring Training game yet, but drama is already unfolding down in Fort Myers, Florida. On the same day that team president Sam Kennedy took a dig at Alex Bregman when discussing his decision to sign with the Chicago Cubs in free agency, chairman Tom Werner has now taken a shot at Rafael Devers.
Midway through the 2025 campaign, the Red Sox shocked the collective baseball world when they traded Devers to the San Francisco Giants. Tension had been brewing between Devers and the club, and it’s clear the team still doesn’t think too highly of him, as Werner attacked the All-Star third baseman when looking back on the team’s decision to trade him.
Tom Werner Calls Out Rafael Devers
“I don’t like to speak ill of any player. I’d like to say that he’s a wonderful person… But, of course, when we had an injury at first base [to Triston Casas] his unwillingness to play that position was
Devers was a homegrown star for Boston, as he broke into the majors in 2017 before helping the team win the World Series in 2018. As fellow stars like Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts gradually left town, Devers stuck around, and he eventually signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension that presumably was going to make him the face of the Red Sox for years to come.
In 2025, though, Devers’ relationship with the team soured. He was not happy to see the team sign Bregman, as both guys played third base. Devers eventually accepted a move to designated hitter, but when starting first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury in May, he refused to fill in for him in the field. Just a couple of weeks later, he was traded to the Giants in what was essentially a massive salary dump.
The concerns about Devers’ contract were somewhat valid, but the front office didn’t exactly put the savings from shedding that deal to good use this offseason. Still, the team doesn’t want to hear any complaints about this trade, as Werner criticized Devers for his refusal to play in the field after Casas went down with an injury when discussing this deal.
“I don’t like to speak ill of any player. I’d like to say that he’s a wonderful person,” Werner said of Devers, per Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. “But, of course, when we had an injury at first base [to Triston Casas] his unwillingness to play that position was extremely discouraging. It was a discouraging episode. Just pick up a glove.”
Red Sox Continue to Find New Ways to Infuriate Fans
GettyRed Sox chairman Tom Werner bashed Rafael Devers when looking back on his trade that landed him with the Giants
Boston’s management has received its fair share of criticism from fans in recent years, and when you see comments like this from Werner, it’s not too hard to see where that frustration is coming from. In theory, the Devers trade would have made sense if the team was committing to Bregman as its third baseman moving forward. Instead, they let him walk in free agency, which essentially negates the team’s motive for moving Devers.
Without Devers or Bregman, the Sox are lacking star power currently. Guys like Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Payton Tolle appear to be budding stars, but counting on them too much early on could cause problems for the Red Sox. Don’t tell that to Werner and company, though, because it appears as if they believe they simply can do no wrong.
Red Sox Exec Tom Werner Doesn’t Hold Back on Rafael Devers Ahead of 2026 Season