Rafael Devers skipped first base workouts with Giants legend originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

David Ortiz apparently isn’t the only MLB legend to get snubbed by Rafael Devers.

San Francisco Giants great Will Clark tried to help Devers get acclimated to first base, but the former Boston Red Sox slugger skipped workouts with Clark on three consecutive days. Red Sox radio voice Will Flemming told the story during Monday’s WEEI Afternoons radio show, recalling Boston’s series in San Francisco following last month’s blockbuster trade.

“He’s going to hit home runs, of course he is,” Flemming said of Devers. “They don’t yet know what is going to happen with the player. I was there the second day, Will Clark was there to work on ground balls with him at first base, and Raffy didn’t show up. So, that’s the person these guys have been dealing with for a long time.”

Flemming’s story was confirmed by Clark himself. The six-time All-Star spoke on the No Filter Network about Devers no-showing workouts at first base.

“Friday, Saturday, Sunday, he did not come out early, at all. Period, not all. In fact, he didn’t even hit on the field,” Clark said. “Everybody’s like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Will. I’m so sorry.’”

Clark didn’t take Devers’ absence personally. In fact, he didn’t blame Devers for not wanting to take reps at first base with the Boston media in town to monitor his every move.

“I know what the (expletive) happened,” Clark said. “I said, he didn’t want to go out and be at first base and be 20 feet in front of their freaking dugout with what went on in Boston, and now he’s working with me at first base. He didn’t want to have to go through all that (expletive) through the press in the media. So, I completely understand.”

The Red Sox’ relationship with Devers worsened after chief baseball officer Craig Breslow asked him to replace the injured Triston Casas at first base — a position he has never played in his nine-year career — after already moving him from third base to designated hitter. However, Devers immediately changed his tune upon his arrival in the Bay and stated his willingness to play anywhere on the field.

Devers has since taken some practice reps at first base with the Giants, but he has yet to play the field in a game with his new club. Clark vows to make sure Devers is ready to play first base if and when San Francisco asks him to play the position.

“But Rafael Devers, the next time I’m in San Francisco, your ass will be on the field at first base, just letting you know that,” Clark said. “Even if I gotta go grab you by the (expletive) back of the neck and drag your ass out there, you will be at first base.”

After a rocky start to his Giants tenure, Devers has started to heat back up in July. He’s slashing .320/.419/.440 with three doubles, four RBI, seven strikeouts and four walks through seven games this month. He’ll take a seven-game hit streak into Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

As for Devers’ former team, the Red Sox will look to earn their fifth straight win when they host the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

The Yankees are making a change on the infield for the series-opening game Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners: Jazz Chisholm Jr. is moving to second base and Oswald Peraza is coming in at third, manager Aaron Boone said on the Talkin' Yanks podcast.

DJ LeMahieu, who had been at second base for all 45 games he played this year since his season debut in mid-May, will start as the odd man out, but will be in consideration for starts at third.

Boone said that he believes Chisholm will stay at second as the Yankees "continue to work through" the infield defense.

"Again, depending on all the moving parts and things that could possibly happen, but I think right now, I wanna move him back over there," the manager said of Chisholm.

The change in infield alignment comes after weeks of questions about the Yanks' defense as it became clear that Chisholm's struggles at the hot corner were going to continue (including a pair of throwing errors during the weekend's Subway Series), and some recent shoulder soreness was not going to help matters.

Chisholm, named an All-Star reserve, began the year at second base after he spent the majority of his time at third base for the first time in his career after arriving in a trade-deadline deal from Miami last season. In 251 innings at second this year, he had 3 outs above average, 3 defensive runs saved, and a +2 fielding run value. LeMahieu posted a minus-1 OAA, two DRS, and a zero FRV through 324 innings at second.

At third base, Chisholm had a minus-3 OAA, minus-3 DRS, and a minus-2 FRV over 238 innings. Peraza, who has also been fine at second this year, has 2 OAA, 4 DRS, and 1 FRV in 228.2 innings.

Speaking to The Athletic last Tuesday in Toronto, Chisholm said that he had "only worked at second base" during offseason drills and that the Yankees explicitly told him he would be their second baseman.

“Everybody knows I’m a second baseman,” Chisholm said. “Of course, I want to play second base, but whatever it takes to help the team win. If that’s what the team chooses, that’s what I gotta do. I don’t write the lineups. You feel me?

“I’m playing every day, so it’s hard to be upset. Yes, I know I’m a second baseman. Yes, I know I’m better at second base, but at the end of the day, I still have to play third. I just have to deal with it."

Boone said last week that the team would consider making a change, while supporting LeMahieu and Chisholm as "really talented defenders wherever they line up."

Chisholm began the year at second base, but when he returned from a stint on the IL, he said he was asked to move back to third base to accommodate LeMahieu.

"[Boone] told me he wanted me at third base. He really wanted me at third base. I'm a team guy. I'm here to win a ring. I'm not here to fight over positions," Chisholm said in late May. "We've got some of the best players in the world on our team… I'm just here to help us win."

Luis Gil to begin rehab Sunday

Last year's AL Rookie of the Year will begin his rehab assignment on Sunday and will be built up as a starter, Boone said on Tuesday. The right-hander has been out with a lat injury since late March.

Gil pitched to a 3.50 ERA and 1.193 WHIP in 151.2 innings over 29 starts last season. He had 171 strikeouts to 77 walks. He struggled during the postseason, allowing six runs on eight hits (two home runs) in eight innings over two starts with four strikeouts and five walks.

The Mets are adding an intriguing arm to their bullpen ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Orioles in Baltimore, promoting flamethrowing right-hander Alex Carrillo, per multiple reports.

Carrillo, whose fastball regularly reaches 100 mph, had a 3.24 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 40 strikeouts in 19 appearances spanning 25.0 innings for Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse this season.

After being promoted to Triple-A, he fired 5.2 perfect innings while striking out 10.

Carrillo, 28, will be making his major league debut.

Before signing with the Mets last November, Carrillo spent the past four seasons pitching in Independent Ball. He also pitched in the Venezuelan Winter League during the 2024-25 campaign.

It is not yet clear which pitcher Carrillo will be replacing on the active roster, but Chris Devenski, Rico Garcia, Justin Hagenman, and Brandon Waddell would appear to be the most vulnerable.

The Mets will also have to clear a 40-man roster spot for Carrillo, which could theoretically be done by transferring Dedniel Núñez to the 60-day IL.

Yankees prospect Cam Schlittler will make his big league debut on Wednesday against the Mariners, reports SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino.

Schlitter will take the rotation spot vacated by Clarke Schmidt, who will likely need season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Schlitter, 24, was having a strong season split between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

In 15 games (14 stats) over 76.2 innings, the right-hander posted a 2.82 ERA and 1.21 WHIP while striking out 99 batters -- a rate of 11.6 per nine.

Since being selected by New York in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Schlittler has put up a 3.33 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 11.2 strikeouts per nine in three minor league seasons.

Schlittler will join a rotation that includes Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Will Warren, and Marcus Stroman.

In addition to Schmidt, the team is without Gerrit Cole for the year due to Tommy John surgery.

Luis Gil has been out all season due to a lat injury, but is expected to return during the second half of the season.

Regardless, with the trade deadline roughly three weeks away, the Yanks will almost certainly be prioritizing starting pitching help.