The Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a stunning blockbuster move on Sunday, and it would appear the decision was not strictly a baseball one.
The Red Sox are sending Devers to the Giants in exchange for starting pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison and prospects James Tibbs and Jose Bello. Robert Murray of FanSided was the first to report the news.
According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox did not feel that Devers had lived up to the responsibilities that came along with the 10-year, $315.5M extension the team signed him to in 2023.
Devers got off to a slow start this season after he became a full-time designated hitter. He has since turned things around at the plate and entered Sunday batting .272 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI. Though he remains one of the best hitters in baseball, Devers clearly wore out his welcome in Boston.
The Red Sox moved Devers to DH after they signed third baseman Alex Bregman, who won a Gold Glove Award last season. Devers was openly unhappy to lose his spot in the field and even hinted that he might request a trade.
That tension eventually seemed to subside, but more issues arose after Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury in early May. The injury led to speculation that Devers could be asked to play first base. The Red Sox apparently approached Devers about that, which led to him sounding off on the team’s front office.
The relationship between Devers and Boston’s front office was clearly never right from the moment the 28-year-old was asked to move to DH. The same may be true of Devers’ relationship with Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
The Red Sox swept the New York Yankees over the weekend and have won seven of their last eight games to get back above .500, but they will now proceed without their best power hitter. Perhaps they will look to make more major moves ahead of the trade deadline next month.
