When the Boston Red Sox signed closer Kenley Jansen last offseason and reached a long-term extension with Rafael Devers, the two players had the expectation that the Red Sox were looking to compete immediately in a stacked AL East.
But a last-place finish in 2023 and a quiet offseason in 2024 signaled that the Red Sox are shifting into a rebuilding mode. Needless to say, both Jansen and Devers aren’t thrilled with what they’ve seen from John Henry, Craig Breslow and the rest of the front office.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday with an interpreter, Devers expressed his frustration with the front office. He wondered why the team isn’t doing more to address their needs.
What is going on with the Red Sox front office, man? I just don’t get it.
Appreciate the honestly from Devers in this situation. Literally everyone is frustrated.
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) February 20, 2024
Devers said:
“Everybody knows what we need. And they know what we need. It’s just some things that I can’t say. … Everybody in the organization that knows the game knows what we need.”
Jansen also had similar remarks on a podcast, saying that he almost felt deceived by the team’s vision when he joined Boston from the Braves. Via SI.com:
“I definitely feel frustrated,” Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen said on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast. “I came here for two years where Year 1 we were going to compete but by Year 2 they were really going to go for it… They have a different vision now. I get it. It’s part of the business but at the same time I have one more year left here and I’m going to give the fans the best that I have.”
That frustration is certainly echoed by Red Sox fans, and they were happy to see two clubhouse leaders call out the front office.
This was how Twitter reacted
Rafael Devers has never exactly been a flamethrower when it comes to public comments.
Coming from him, this would be the equivalent of a nuclear strike. https://t.co/cVhkIFTo75
— Bill Koch (@BillKoch25) February 20, 2024
It’s a good thing when the face of your franchise has publicly begged you multiple times to just sign a pitcher, but you continually ignore him, right? https://t.co/A9Sjl3WURr
— Kaley Brown (@kaley8711) February 20, 2024
If you’re a true Sox fan, you won’t attend 1 game this year at Fenway. Embarrassing what ownership did to our team https://t.co/Md3L6iXFyi
— Amos (@FamousAmos264) February 20, 2024
Shame that he can't say what we already have said. I appreciate he's a company guy. I don't appreciate what his company says to its' customers and fans. Neither should you. #RedSox https://t.co/Orp3G32iTd
— John Rooke 🎙️📻 (@JRbroadcaster) February 20, 2024
Pedroia: Sign more players.
Jansen: Why aren’t we going for it?
Devers: Everybody knows what we need.
Red Sox: Get your Sox Pax with 4 bleacher tickets and 2 free hot dogs today!
— Steve Perrault (@Steve_Perrault) February 20, 2024
Rafael Devers deserves to speak his mind at this stage in his Red Sox tenure, and I’m glad he is. Period. https://t.co/3Z7bEDi6HJ
— Ryan E. Martin (@remartin_34) February 20, 2024
Look what they have done to our happy son……..
I want to see a Devers homer during the 1 game this year John Henry attends and he flips off the owners suite during his jog around the bases https://t.co/xrvSCWRRmB
— Danny Beardsley (@DBeard40) February 20, 2024
This franchise just keeps looking worse and worse everyday it’s incredible https://t.co/lzXTkmGZVK
— Jack (@jackiee_lyons) February 20, 2024
Good for Raffy to not shy away from acknowledging the same frustrations the fans see. Everyone wants action except ownership. https://t.co/kTKWn1GHU2
— Justin (@JustinMLB) February 20, 2024
