Tom Carron: Red Sox veteran helps Devers ease into leadership role

Third baseman Rafael Devers steps into the MassMutual Center Arena in Springfield, Massachusetts during the Red Sox Winter Weekend on Jan. 20. Huang “Leung” Nguyen/The Republican

Expect a new vibe in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse this season. For better or worse, Chaim Bloom hit the reset button on the room leader.

The change began with the loss of two-championship-winning shortstop Xander Bogaerts in Boston before leaving for San Diego in warmer weather and a bigger contract. The move surprised the Red Sox Nation.

Last week, Bloom’s decision to appoint Matt Barnes was less of a shock, but followed by a turnover of former champions.

Statistically, it is easy to understand the movement. Since appearing in her first All-Star game in July 2021, Burns has become a shadow of herself. He showed time for improvement, including performing well at the end of last season, but with the addition of closer Kenley Jansen and set-up man Chris Martin, it’s clear he won’t be part of the late-game relief mix. was. .

In many ways, the decision to move on from Barnes represents the end of an era for Boston. Incredibly, he has only three players left from his 2018 championship on this team. Chris Sale, Ryan Brazier and Rafael Devers are the only Red Sox players who know what it’s like to ride a duck boat.

Additionally, Barnes became the last player to play with David Ortiz. The legacy of the championship is firmly in the hands of Devers, who will become the face of the franchise after signing a megadeal extension. Ortiz passed the baton to Dustin Pedroia, Bogaerts and Devers.

The 10-year, $313.5 million contract awarded to Devers is the largest in franchise history. You don’t just get a deal like that to play baseball. You can lead the clubhouse.

With just three months to go until his 26th birthday, Devers doesn’t want to talk about leadership. “They want me to be the leader,” he said at the Red Sox Winter Weekend.

The Red Sox have assembled a support staff for the Devers. Justin Turner, who won Roberto his Clemente Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Community last season, was the leader of his team in the Dodgers’ Championship. Jansen was the closer for that team. Adam Duvall won the title in Atlanta. They join Quique He Hernández as Fenway’s leadership group.

None of these players are on long-term contracts, but they will help shape the character of this team in the short term. increase.

Devers seems happy to follow them.

“We have a lot of veteran players on our team,” he said. “We have to respect them, too.”

Alex Cora manages a new-looking group of veterans looking to follow in the footsteps of the 2013 Red Sox. That team was made up of veterans who had signed short-term contracts and shocked the baseball world with championships.

This team is unlikely to do so. The most important thing it can do is set the tone for the future and make the leaders of the Devers.

Cora told me last fall that Devers was “taking over leadership” of the team. The contract Broome gave Devers would accelerate that process. Surrounding him with experienced players will help evolve more quickly.

Tom Caron is the studio host for the Red Sox on NESN. His column will appear in his Herald of the Portland Press on Tuesday.

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