Everything Red Sox’ Willson Contreras, Marcelo Mayer said about perceived ‘war of words’ Monday

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DETROIT — As Red Sox players changed into their uniforms in the visitors clubhouse at Comerica Park on Monday afternoon, TVs on the wall showed an MLB Network segment in which analysts discussed a supposed feud between first baseman Willson Contreras and second baseman Marcelo Mayer because of their postgame comments Sunday. The headline of a New York Post aggregation article stated that Red Sox players were “turning against each other in (an) ugly clubhouse war of words.”

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The reality, according to Contreras and Mayer, was much different. An irritated Contreras told reporters he didn’t think his postgame comments had been portrayed fairly. Speaking through interpreter Carlos Villoria Benítez, the veteran wanted to clear the air.

“I think it’s unfair that it was tried to put me against my team when the thing I said wasn’t even close to what I meant or tried to put me against my team,” Contreras said, adding: “Obviously, it’s hard to see. I feel like every time I say something or do something, they try to do the opposite. They try to put me against teammates or everybody else. That’s what I feel like.”

After a 3-1 loss to Houston in which the Red Sox went 0-for-11 and left 13 men on base, Contreras told reporters that the youth of Boston’s roster was likely a factor in the club’s early-season struggles. Across the clubhouse, Mayer — unaware of what Contreras had said — answered a question about Boston’s young core with: “To me, that’s just kind of an excuse: blame the young guys.”

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An assumption was made, at least in some circles, that the players were at odds. On Monday, Mayer called it “one of those classic, blown-out-of-proportion Twitter things.”

“I think things got taken out of context,” Mayer said. “I didn’t mean to take a shot at anybody, obviously, especially not to Willson. Willson and I have a great relationship. He’s an amazing teammate, a great person and a true veteran of this game. We really respect him in the clubhouse and he helps us a lot. He helps the team, he helps the young guys. None of that was directed at Willson.

“Obviously, sometimes you say things in the moment that don’t come off as how you meant to say it. I know that Willson said things that I’m sure got (skewed) the wrong way by some people, as did I. But this team, we’re all super close and we all love each other, so I don’t think people need to worry as far as the vibes in the clubhouse.”

Mayer clarified his message thusly: “We know we have a young team. That’s no excuse. We still believe we need to perform at a high level and we think we can win with this team. That was pretty much my message.”

Contreras did, too: “When you’re young, it’s easy to fall into the trap of the numbers. I’m here to help the guys. When we lose, we all lose as a team. That’s what I said... What I said about my teammates is that they have a good (work) ethic, that they ask a lot of questions and that they’re very prepared very good. That didn’t come out anywhere else.”

Contreras was also asked to provide a clearer picture on another topic from Sunday afternoon. In Boston, he said that after the firing of Alex Cora last weekend, “the guys got loose a little more because I feel like the tension was gone.” In Detroit, he made it clear he had no ill will toward Cora, who was dismissed last weekend along with a handful of his coaches.

“I think Alex did a great job here,” Contreras said. “Everything he did here was amazing. What I said that I see was that guys — from what I can see — feel more relaxed. That’s what I can feel. That was it.

“I do think that for us, Alex did a great job with us. He was communicating with everything. I think it was up to us to ask more questions. I think that’s pretty much it.”

Contreras and Mayer laughed and joked before the opener of a three-game series between the Red Sox and Tigers. The subject even caused interim manager Chad Tracy, on the WEEI pregame show, to joke that the team had hosted a “cage match” between its two right-side infielders Monday.

“We get along great,” Contreras said. “He knows I’m trying to help the team win. I try to help him win because I’ve been there.

“One of the things is: Instead of trying to see if I’m a bad teammate, try to talk to all of my teammates and see how good of a teammate or bad teammate I am. That’s the best way to do it.”

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