Red Sox News & Links: And now John Henry enters the Rafael Devers fray

Does anyone else think it’s possible that John Henry just really had a hankerin’ for some Kansas City burnt ends? I mean, look at this thing!

Red Sox News & Links: And now John Henry enters the Rafael Devers fray

Lunch at Arthur Bryant’s, an afternoon at the Negro Leagues Museum, and an evening stroll around the Plaza — that’s a pretty good day in the City of Fountains if you ask me.

But in this case it looks like the well-known charms of Kanasas City had to wait while the Red Sox owner attended to some business. Henry sat down with Rafael Devers and Alex Cora for a private chat in the manager’s office in Kaufman Stadium before the game yesterday, after Henry, Craig Breslow, and Sam Kennedy all flew out to address the spiraling Rafael Devers situation.

Was anything resolved? We don’t know for sure, but it doesn’t really seem like it.

Breslow, who was not a part of the meeting — which is, uhh, maybe something he should worry about? — says that Henry had “an honest conversation about what we value as an organization, what we believe is important to the Boston Red Sox, that being great teammates for each other.” While Cora — who seems to wield more power inside the organization than ever right now — acknowledged that they are “talking about a possible change of position.”

Devers did not address the media and was once again in the lineup as the team’s DH. Here’s how the beats covered things:

Red Sox owner John Henry has ‘productive’ meeting with Rafael Devers to discuss DH’s refusal to play first base – Peter Abraham, Boston Globe

With Rafael Devers fuming, John Henry, Red Sox brass fly to KC for ‘honest, candid exchange’ – Chris Cotillo, MassLive

Red Sox owner John Henry meets with Rafael Devers in Kansas City – Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic

Top Red Sox bosses flew to Kansas City to meet with Rafael Devers – Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald

Red Sox front-office members meet with Devers following 1B comments – Jackson Stone, MLB.com


Meanwhile, Devers’ teammates are trying “not to breath life into it.” Trevor Story is taking a measured response to the mess. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

Though apparently one unnamed player told Devers to “just stop talking,” during his now-infamous Thursday media scrum. (Kayley Brown, Boston.com)

The rest of us are still trying to figure out how things got so bad. The main culprit at this point seems to be a terrible lack of communication. (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

But whatever the cause, it’s clear that blueprint of the 2025 season now needs to be re-written. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)

And, oh yeah, there’s actual baseball stuff to discuss! Like the fact that Hunter Dobbins is making a case to retain a spot in the Sox rotation. (Tim Crowley, NESN)

And, unfortunately, the Sox have some new injuries. Romy Gonzalez and Rob Refsnyder are both dealing with back issues that could land them on the IL. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

Related Posts

Update: Austin Riley has solidified his role as the “Soul of the Braves” with an $18 million investment in veteran and youth initiatives. Expanding baseball and softball facilities across the South, Riley isn’t just shaping the present — he’s building the future. This bold move shows that his impact goes far beyond anchoring third base (J)

As of Wednesday morning, January 7, 2026, the Atlanta Braves have confirmed a groundbreaking move that solidifies Austin Riley as the ultimate “Braves for Life” cornerstone. In a rare and…

WARNING: A former Braves prospect once surrounded by massive expectations has faded from view. His story is uncomfortable but instructive. It shows why hype alone rarely guarantees success (J)

Jordan Schafer: The Forgotten Braves Prospect Who Became a Cautionary Tale Over the years, the Atlanta Braves have welcomed a number of highly touted prospects to the…

🔥 BREAKING: Former NY Mets GM just sparked a rumor that sounds straight out of Wonderland, the claim could upend the team’s strategy and future plans, and insiders say this bizarre twist might force a complete reassessment of roster moves..ll 👇👇👇

Former New York Mets general manager Jim Duquette recently added fuel to the offseason rumor mill, following up on a statement about which teams are aggressively pursuing…

CAN’t WAIT: The Twins have several young prospects who could define the franchise’s direction in 2026. Some are nearing the majors, others are facing pivotal development years. Together, five key storylines may shape what Minnesota becomes next (J)

The Next Wave Is Near: Five Prospect Decisions That Will Define the Twins in 2026 The Minnesota Twins enter 2026 walking a familiar tightrope between patience and…

🔥 BREAKING: Mets have Framber Valdez on their radar, but a trade remains the top priority, the front office is weighing all options to strengthen the roster, and any decisive move could immediately impact their championship trajectory..ll 👇👇👇

The New York Mets have not had a headline-grabbing offseason so far, but reports indicate the team is actively exploring ways to strengthen their rotation for the…

🔥 BREAKING: Mets receive a compelling message from Mike Trout, the superstar’s statement could instantly influence team strategy and roster decisions, and this revelation may reshape the franchise’s approach to building a championship contender..ll 👇👇👇

The New York Mets appear to be taking a cautious approach in the 2026 offseason, showing reluctance to overspend in free agency and remaining quiet in trade…