The Boston Red Sox have stumbled out of the gate with a 1-4 record, placing them at the bottom of the AL East. A major factor in their slow start has been the struggles of their $313 million star, Rafael Devers, who has yet to record a hit in 19 at-bats while striking out 15 times. On MLB Now, Brian DeRosa and Brian Kenny discussed Devers’ early-season slump and its impact on the team.
Kenny expressed approval of how the Red Sox handled the Devers situation, stating that they prioritized the team’s best interests. However, he also pointed out that Boston may have overlooked the human element, suggesting that Devers appears mentally defeated. While some of his frustration stems from his poor start, the issue seems to go beyond just his performance at the plate. The discussion hinted that Devers might feel overshadowed by Alex Bregman, and the situation could have worsened when the Red Sox invested $120 million in another third baseman after already committing to Devers.
DeRosa then proposed an alternative approach, suggesting that Boston should have traded first baseman Triston Casas to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for pitching help. He argued that shifting Devers to first base could have been beneficial, allowing him to remain in the field while reducing some of his defensive struggles. Devers is confident in his defensive abilities but has had difficulty in execution, so a move to first might have helped maintain his morale while optimizing his role. Casas, coming off a solid 2023 season where he hit .241 with 13 home runs and 32 RBIs, could have drawn interest from multiple teams, potentially netting the Red Sox valuable pitching depth or a platoon option at DH. However, Casas has also had a slow start to 2024, with just one hit in 17 at-bats and seven strikeouts, making a potential trade more complicated now.
Despite the rough beginning, there’s no need for panic just five games into the season. Slumps happen, even to top players, and Devers is too talented not to bounce back. His struggles could partly be due to the drama surrounding him during the offseason, but once that fades, he should return to form. For now, the Red Sox are likely to stay patient, but if the team doesn’t start winning, moves could be considered before the trade deadline.
Boston has two more games in its series against the Baltimore Orioles before facing the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. This stretch could be an opportunity for the Red Sox to regain their footing and turn things around.