Why is Red Sox’ Rafael Devers taking grounders before games? Alex Cora gives definitive answer

BOSTON — For weeks, the Red Sox have remained somewhat cagey when it comes to the question of Rafael Devers’ positional future. On Saturday, though, manager Alex Cora offered the most definitive answer yet.

Devers, who was asked to move to first base in the wake of Triston Casas’ knee injury in early May but was not a consideration to return to third base when Alex Bregman went down weeks later, has remained as Boston’s designated hitter and has not worked out at either corner infield spot. Still, for weeks, the Red Sox left the possibility open that Devers could move back to the field, repeating the refrain that “conversations were ongoing.”

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Before Saturday’s game, asked if those conversations continued, Cora acknowledged the writing that has been on the wall for weeks.

“We talk, but he’s my DH,“ Cora said. ”Let’s leave it at that.”

Asked if he expected Devers to only be the DH for the rest of the season, Cora said: “Yes.”

It’s unclear exactly what has transpired since the highly publicized May 9 meeting in Kansas City between Devers, Cora and principal owner John Henry, who flew halfway across the country to sit down with Devers one day after he went public with his refusal to move to first base. Devers, who contended that the Red Sox operated in bad faith by asking him to give up his glove to move to DH in spring training, then learn a new position in the middle of a season months later, has declined to comment on the meeting (or the results of it) numerous times over the last month.

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There is no evidence, though, to suggest anything changed when Henry and Devers sat down. And Devers, a lock to make his fourth All-Star Game in the past five seasons, has continued to mash as a DH, hitting .275 with 14 homers, 18 doubles, 57 RBIs and a .907 OPS.

Devers has reintroduced one wrinkle into his pregame routine recently, which led the questions about his defensive future being asked Saturday. In the last couple weeks, he has consistently joined teammates for infield drills before batting practice and has been spotted taking grounders and turning double plays at shortstop along with Trevor Story and David Hamilton.

That doesn’t mean Devers is a candidate to play there, of course, but is a sign he has largely recovered from the reported groin strain that had been bothering him.

“Part of his conditioning program, just moving around,” said Cora. “He didn’t do it there for a while. There were a few things going on. Now that he’s feeling good, just go out there and take grounders.

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“The fact he’s throwing, that’s important, too. Obviously, if something happens, we’ve got to get this (making a throwing motion) going. I’m happy he’s out there moving and feeling good. He’s feeling good.”

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