KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The more time Pablo Sandoval misses the less likely he is going to be this team’s answer at third base in 2017. But if you’re thinking Rafael Devers and whether he can be the choice to start his major league career soon, the answer seems to be a resounding no.

First on Sandoval, and we’ve written this negative narrative time and time again. While we would never say a player isn’t sick or hurt, Sandoval might have just fought like cats and dogs to stay off the 10-day disabled list. Because even if his “ear infection’’ has cleared up before he’s eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list, when he does return Sandoval will be even further out rhythm.

Let’s face it, Sandoval had shown no signs of setting the world on fire. There was no reason to hold a spot open for him, as the Red Sox are now for Dustin Pedroia as he recovers from a rib injury. Anyway, the roster demands won’t allow it. You can’t play with a short bench when you only have four players on it.

“We need to give this a few days to clear up,’’ Farrell said of Sandoval. “There was an elevated fever last night as the game wore on. He’s not going to be available for today. The move we made was to put him on the disabled list.’’

The Red Sox recalled Deven Marrero and Sam Travis. Farrell has at least a comfort zone with Marrero’s defense. He was in the lineup at third base Tuesday against the Royals. If Marrero could only hit consistently there would be no need to even discuss Devers at this point.

But there’s nobody else.

It’s going to be Marrero and Josh Rutledge at third, unless the Red Sox pick up some veteran has-been such as Jhonny Peralta. But Dave Dombrowski’s philosophy on player acquisition is if the player is not an upgrade over what you have, he won’t do it.

That’s the reason the Red Sox were never players for Trevor Plouffe and don’t appear to be interested in Peralta, even though he was once Dombrowski’s shortstop in Detroit.

“This is not an ideal situation,’’ Farrell said of Sandoval. “We all recognize that. We support Pablo in his return and you can probably make the argument we brought him back out of necessity when [Pedroia] went down in Chicago, where he wasn’t playing the number of consecutive games he needs to. For a guy who has been a longtime everyday player, we recognize it’s a tough situation. At the same time you try to make the most of your roster and you try to take advantage of what you have currently to win today, and that’s the approach we’ve taken. We have confidence that he can impact the baseball from the left side of the plate and we have to continue to work defensively to allow that range to be a little bit more improved.’’

Has Sandoval’s range diminished since the Red Sox signed him to a five-year, $95 million deal in November 2014?

“If it has, it isn’t wholesale,’’ Farrell said. “You strain a ligament in a knee, you wear a brace, it’s going to have some impact, and I think that’s at play a little bit as well.

The Red Sox were toying with the idea of Steve Selsky taking more reps at third base, but he rolled his ankle recently and will be out a while. Farrell said the organization has not yet discussed Rusney Castillo playing some third base. Castillo, a former infielder in Cuba, has been Pawtucket’s best player but his contract would work against the luxury tax if he were to be active on the 25-man roster.

Xander Bogaerts going back to third?

“We tried that one other time,’’ Farrell said. “We’ve got one of the better shortstops in the game, so in lieu of someone else at shortstop? No.’’ Farrell emphasized how much they need Brock Holt to return, and the possibility is growing that he will be sent on a rehab assignment soon.

The Red Sox’ development staff is stressing to Dombrowski and Farrell that Devers hit every level. Sure, he’s hitting .302 with 14 homers and 44 RBIs with a .932 OPS in 232 at-bats at Double A Portland, but it’s not certain how much the development staff wants to see before promoting him to Triple A.

What is keeping the 20-year-old third baseman from making the jump is defense. He’s made nine errors.

“The reports have been fairly consistent,’’ Farrell said. “He’s swinging the bat well, but this is a guy that we are reluctant to move too fast. We’d much rather prefer that he progresses and stays on the course he has rather than force something and jump too far ahead of ourselves.

“He’s a great looking prospect but there are two sides of the game. I don’t know that we can assume that just because you plug them in that they’re going be average or better. That’s a huge assumption going from Portland to Kansas City.’’

The Red Sox had a bad experience when they rushed Yoan Moncada to the majors in 2016, then watched as he struck out 12 times in 20 plate appearances.

Bogaerts is one young player who hit every level.

“I liked to do it step by step,’’ said Bogaerts. “If you ask me, it was the best choice, because I liked to do it stage by stage, know you could do it there and then move up.’’

Farrell said it’s been his experience “that a player is going to tell you what he’s ready for. While he’s doing well, the next step would be Pawtucket before it’s Boston.’’

It appears a move to Pawtucket is right around the corner for Devers, but need or no need, his arrival in Boston might not come until September when the rosters expand.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.