Giants Manager Comments On Ex-Red Sox Superstar Rafael Devers' Latest Controversy

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The San Francisco Giants traded for Rafael Devers last season, and on Sunday, he was visibly frustrated with a manager's decision late in the game.

First-year MLB manager Tony Vitello manages the Giants. He spent seven seasons as the head coach at the University of Tennessee, and decided to pinch run for Devers after a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth inning, trailing by one run. Devers was seen waving the runner off and refusing to leave the field.

He eventually walked to the dugout, but his frustration was clear. Vitello spoke on Devers' frustration and the decision after the game.

"He was signaling over to us that he's good to run," Vitello said after the game, per MLB.com's Perla Paredes. "We DH them the first game after the day off, just because [of] base running. A little bit of soreness in his leg, but he's good to go. And so part of that, and then part of it too, competitively, is he wants to stay in the game."

Vitello also explained how he could not give Devers his wish after the move was already made.

"Once we announced the move, the move is made," Vitello said. "So, just going with what our best effort is to win the game. Obviously, you'd like to get Jonah to go get it back, you know, he's relatively quick to the plate, but on a double, going with our best chance to be able to score."

Vitello went on to clarify that he felt that Devers had the speed to score on a double, but in that situation, the team would want Jonah Cox to swipe second base and put the tying run in scoring position with no outs. Regardless, Vitello noted that he has no problem with Devers wanting to stay in the game, comparing it to Logan Webb wanting to stay in games. He does not think the situation requires a specific conversation with Devers.

“I’d rather have guys like Webb that you have to rip them off the field, as opposed to vice versa,” Vitello said.

Red Sox fans may remember when Devers originally refused to move off third base when the team signed Alex Bregman. His latest act is another sign of concern some had about him as a teammate. His time with Boston did not end well, at least not in his relationship with the front office, and now things may be starting to spiral in San Francisco as the team struggles to win.

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