The Boston Red Sox visit the Kansas City Royals this weekend with a major off-field distraction in designated hitter Rafael Devers.

Devers, who the Red Sox rewarded with a massive $10-year, 313.5 million deal, needs to do whatever it takes for Boston to be in the best possible position to win. By denying to play first base, and then coming out to the media and saying everything he said, he’s wrong, no question.

Speaking with reporters for the first time since Triston Casas was ruled out for the season after rupturing his left knee tendon and undergoing surgery, Devers said on Thursday that Red Sox management approached him about the idea of filling in as Boston’s first baseman.