Drama Surrounding Rafael Devers

MIAMI — Rafael Devers is at it again, creating some tension on the team.

This time, the Giants first baseman, who previously refused to play the position with the Red Sox, challenged what the manager deemed best for the squad.

Manager Tony Vitello attributed the situation to Devers’ competitive spirit.

“I have no issues with Raffi,” Vitello commented, noting she didn’t feel the need to discuss the incident because “we talk every day.”

“He likely wants to win more than anyone in this clubhouse. He wants to be in the game. We did discuss how he feels during this trip.” Clearly, part of that feeling is that he believes he’s fully fit for running.

However, even at his best speed, Devers wouldn’t have boosted the Giants’ chances of tying the game more than the quicker Jonah Cox. In the ninth inning of a 2-1 loss, Devers walked, giving the Marlins a solid win. It was well-known that the player with the slowest sprint speed (26.2 feet per second) was set to pinch-run to represent the tying run.

But Devers wasn’t on board with that.

As he led off, Devers waved his finger back and forth, trying to signal Cox off. When Cox emerged from the dugout, Devers attempted to gesture him away, but it didn’t work.

Ultimately, after some back-and-forth, it was Devers who left for the dugout, deftly avoiding a back pat from bench coach Jace Tingler, and made his way straight to the clubhouse. He declined an interview request through a team spokesperson.

“Once we announce a move, it’s done,” Vitello remarked. “We just want to win, and clearly we want Jonah to get on base. Their closer, Lake Bachar, is quick, but when it comes to doubles, we need the best opportunity to score.”

Third baseman Matt Chapman agreed with the decision.

“There’s a reason Tony made that choice,” Chapman said. “It’s just a momentary issue with Devers. Raffi is eager to play and win.”

The Giants have struggled this season, facing three consecutive losses due to Lee Jung-hoo’s flyout and Willie Adams’ double play.

This losing stretch follows a three-game winning streak, marking the fifth time this season without a four-game winning streak, leaving them 15 games below .500—their worst average to date.

“It’s frustrating,” Chapman said. “Just when you build momentum, it seems like you’re taking a few steps back.”

No matter what one thinks of Devers and his performance on his $313.5 million, 10-year extension, it’s clear he doesn’t like to take a day off or pull himself from games. He appeared in 163 games last season, a rare accomplishment facilitated by a midseason trade from the Red Sox.

Vitello compared Devers to the team’s ace, Logan Webb, in this regard.

“I prefer guys like Webby who want to be out there,” Vitello noted. “Not the other way around.”

Still, Devers does have a reputation for being high-maintenance, which partly contributed to his departure from Boston after signing a nine-year extension just a year prior to the trade to San Francisco.

In Boston, manager Alex Cora asked Devers to switch to first base following a season-ending injury to starter Triston Casas. Devers had been the team’s third baseman until they signed Alex Bregman that winter, at which point he transitioned to designated hitter.

The Red Sox never got their way back then. Now, Devers has refrained from making further comments, only expressing his displeasure over the reaction to the move.

“You know how competitive he is,” Vitello added. “He wanted to stay in the game.”