Rafael Devers opens Red Sox camp with harsh message for front office: ‘Everybody knows what we need’
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Rafael Devers is not happy with the Red Sox’s offseason.
The star third baseman expressed to reporters in Fort Myers on Tuesday that the team hasn’t filled a glaring void on the roster.
“Everybody knows what we need. You know what we need. They know what we need,” Devers said through an interpreter at the team’s spring training complex.
“There is some things I can’t say out loud, but everybody in this organization knows what we need.”
Devers, entering the first season of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed last year, added he expressed that sentiment to team brass.
The need that Devers, 27, alluded to is pitching, and the Red Sox’s only significant addition to their rotation was Lucas Giolito, whom they signed to a two-year, $38 million contract.
After an impressive three-year run with the White Sox from 2019-21, during which Giolito had a 3.47 ERA and 526 strikeouts in 427 ⅔ innings, the right-hander had a 4.90 ERA in 2022 and a 4.88 ERA last season, when the White Sox traded him to the Angels.
The 29-year-old had a 6.89 ERA over six starts with the Angels before the Guardians claimed him off waivers, and he posted a 7.04 ERA over six starts with Cleveland.
The rest of the Red Sox’s rotation options feature an uninspiring group including Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck.
They traded former ace Chris Sale to the Braves in December for 23-year-old infielder Vaughn Grissom.
Boston, which fired chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and replaced him with Craig Breslow in October, did just add All-Star reliever Liam Hendriks, but he’s not expected to be ready to pitch until later in the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen, entering the second year of a two-year, $32 million contract, also doesn’t seem pleased with the state of the team, which is widely projected to finish last in the highly competitive AL East.
“I definitely feel frustrated,” Jansen said Sunday on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast. “I came here for two years where Year 1 we were going to compete but by Year 2 they were really going to go after it. I get it, there have been a lot of changes in this organization. They have a different vision now. I get it. It’s part of business. But at the same time, I have one more year left here and I’m going to give the fans the best that I have.
“I always will be dedicated to my craft and what I’m doing. I want to be great. I want to put up a show. So I’m going to give my best all the time when I step on that mound. But it’s definitely frustrating watching how things go, but it’s not in our control. What is in our control is to go out here and be the best leader I can be. Be the best voice I can be in the clubhouse. Help the young guys. Help myself. And learn how to win ballgames.”
The Red Sox traded for Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill in December after trading Alex Verdugo to the Yankees.
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