Santo Domingo. Rafael Devers' departure from the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants has sparked intense debate in the baseball world, after it came to light that the Boston team doubted his positive impact on the young talents who make up the future of the franchise.
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According to a report published by MassLive.com, the relationship between Devers and the organization began to deteriorate during spring training, when the star third baseman refused to change his position to the designated hitter role or cover first base after the injury of first baseman Triston Casas. This attitude was interpreted as a lack of commitment to the team's needs. The situation reached a critical point on May 9th, when the club owner, John Henry, along with president Sam Kennedy and baseball operations director Craig Breslow, personally traveled to Kansas City to meet with Devers. The Dominican player did not yield to the request to take on a more flexible role, thus marking the beginning of the end of his relationship with the team that saw him debut in the Major Leagues. With the arrival in the lineup of the promising Román Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, and Carlos Narváez, the Red Sox are betting on a new era built around these rookies. For the management, it was vital to ensure an environment that promoted responsibility, versatility, and teamwork. Craig Breslow was clear about it:With Devers' transfer, the path opens for Masataka Yoshida to take on a greater role as a designated hitter, while Anthony and Mayer could gain additional playing time, solidifying themselves as the new face of the Red Sox."Culture is magnified when there are young players coming to the Major Leagues. They need to adapt and know that doing whatever it takes to win is a priority. We are being very intentional with the message they receive."