Alex Cora on Rafael Devers: ‘I would love to manage him for as long as I manage’
Devers homered twice in front of John Henry in the win over the Rays Saturday
It’s no secret that the Red Sox need to give All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers a contract extension. Devers and the Red Sox agreed to a $11.2 million deal to avoid arbitration last week. Despite agreeing to his 2022 deal, Devers has said the club has not approached him about an extension.
“We haven’t talked about that but obviously this is a great place to play baseball in,” Devers said through translator Bryan Almonte. “This is the Boston Red Sox. But I’m really not focused on that right now. Just focused on playing the season and see where it goes from there.”
On Saturday, Devers further made his case during the Red Sox win over the Rays at JetBlue Park. The All-Star third baseman crushed two home runs in front of team owner John Henry. This spring, he now has three home runs and four RBIs and a .417/.462/1.167 slash line across five games.
Manager Alex Cora has noted a difference in Devers this spring.
“The way he's going about his business is different; you can tell,” Cora said to MLB.com Ian M Browne. “He was good before, but now, the way he acts, he's the first one here in the weight room. Everything he's doing, from bunting against the machine just in case they shift, and telling guys to go with him.
“He's become a man, and it's fun to watch. He's only 25. That's a cool thing.”
Devers has produced ever since being called up back in 2017. The 25-year-old has a career batting average of .279, mashed 112 home runs, 367 RBIs with 598 hits in 548 major league games.
Last season Devers made the All-Star team and was a Silver Slugger and finished 11th in the AL MVP voting.
Cora wants to manage Devers for a very long time and fans want to see that happen. “I would love to manage him for as long as I manage,” Cora said. “I would love to have him. That’s above me. But we like the player. We know that. We’ll see where it takes us. The organization loves him.”
Devers bashing two homers in front of Henry on Saturday is coincidental. However, Henry and the front office led by Chaim Bloom need to address Devers sooner rather than later.
“John was here today, he hit two home runs,” Cora joked to reporters following the Rays game. “Smart individual.”
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