Rafael Devers calls out Red Sox for lackluster offseason: ‘They know what we need’
Red Sox All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers spoke with the media on Tuesday afternoon and voiced his frustration with the ownership group and front office for not adequately improving the roster this winter.
Devers spoke to the media for the first time since arriving to spring training and the new face of the franchise pleaded with the organization to do more in order to contend in 2024.
“They need to make an adjustment to help us players be in a better position to win,” Devers said (through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez). “Everybody in this organization wants to win. We, as players, want to win. I think they need to make adjustments to help us win.
“I’m not saying the team is not OK right now but they need to be conscious of what the weaknesses are and what we need right now.”
Devers essentially implied that the team needs to beef up their rotation, which is an area of weakness and one that Craig Breslow said he would improve. This winter Breslow only added two starting pitcher types to major league contracts, Lucas Giolito and Cooper Criswell. Top starters Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell remain unsigned.
The Red Sox have been linked to Montgomery this offseason and has been viewed as a perfect fit. Boston has not shown the willingness to spend on either big ticket free agent.
“Everybody knows what we need. You know what we need. They know what we need,” Devers said. “There’s some things I can’t say out loud. Everybody that knows the organization and knows the game knows what we need.”
From “full throttle” to full disappointment, fans have been angry and now current and former players are voicing their displeasure with the organization.
The Red Sox have only added Giolito, Criswell, Vaughn Grissom, Tyler O’Neill and Liam Hendriks. There have been numerous subtractions and the club is projected to spend $20 million less than where they were last season.
After finishing in last place three out of the last four seasons, Devers spoke up, like a leader should and professionally pleaded with ownership to do more.
“In my point of view, they’re thinking more in the future,” Devers said. “Last year, when we had an opportunity to do something and to be in the race, nothing happened. I thought back then, of course, they were thinking in the future. When those opportunities come along, we need to be more aggressive and try to embrace those opportunities.
“When you go home early knowing you had a chance to be in the race or at least competing to make a playoff run and they don’t give you the push or the help that the team needed at the time, of course (it stings).”
Devers told reporters he spoke with Breslow and voiced his feelings about the roster and the team’s vision.
I’ve talked to them. They know...,” Devers said. “(They say) they’re going to keep trying to improve the team and trying to improve our weaknesses.”
After signing a franchise record 10-year, $313.5 million extension last winter, Devers is becoming outspoken. It’s natural for any player in their prime to be concerned whether the organization they committed to for the longterm is willing to compete.
“I care deeply about this organization. I love this organization so much and I want us to win,” he said. “I want us to win right now. I want us to win in the future and that’s something that’s on my mind... but I can’t control what they do. I control what I can do on the field, which I think is pretty good.
“I’m here for the long haul and I’m here to win. We’ll see what happens.”
There’s still options on the free agent market to help improve the club’s pitching. Breslow will either need to get the approval from ownership to spend more or he will need to be even more creative and move players and attempt to improve the roster by subtracting contracts.
The Boston Red Sox have changed their philosophy, they’ve lost their way and fans are pissed, the players are angry and everyone is slowly losing interest.
