Rafael Devers Traded
- Zak Drapeau
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Rafael Devers now plays for the San Francisco Giants. After 8 seasons with the Red Sox including a 2018 World Series and over 200 Home Runs and 696 RBIs, Devers was traded late Sunday night after helping his team sweep the Yankees.
Devers would homer in Sunday's game 3 versus the empire and celebrate with the team jubilantly before being pulled off the team plane just 2 hours later before a scheduled West Coast road trip.
The road trip will include a 3 game series against Devers' new club from 6/20-6/22.
The talk out of the Red Sox organization is that they were not happy with Devers' "not living up to responsibilities of a $300 Million contract player." This referring to Devers' refusal to play the field after injuries this season.
Widespread outrage had emerged in the New England area, comparing this trade to the Mookie Betts-deal in 2020... and we all know how that worked out for the Red Sox as we still haven't recovered.
So why make the deal? What did the Red Sox get in return and was it worth it? Here's everything you need to know about the Rafael Devers-Trade:
Are Red Sox Out of Line?
The Red Sox signed Alex Bregman this offseason; a former Gold Glove Third Baseman. Shortly before Spring Training, the Red Sox and Alex Cora would make the decision to DH the long-standing 3B Rafael Devers, who had made it clear he is the team's corner infielder and didn't want to DH.
About 40 games into the season with the new positions set in stone, Red Sox 1B Tristan Casas would unfortunately hurt his leg badly running out a ground ball at first. After this development, the Sox would then ask DH Rafael Devers to play First Base and Devers would refuse.
Another 20 games later and the same man who replaced him Alex Bregman would fall to the IL as well and the Red Sox would ask him to go back to his defensive position but Devers would again decline.
To repeat an earlier statement, the Red Sox wanted to move on from Rafael Devers because they felt he wasn't meeting the responsibilities of a $300 Million contract. It's not a far assumption to infer that the Red Sox got pissed when Devers wouldn't go back to the field after injuries.
Is it fair? Well in Devers' defense he stated multiple times before the season that he didn't want to DH. Devers has been THE MAN in Boston for several years now and I'm sure he believed that if he said "I want to play Third", he should be able to. After Cora didn't meet his wishes, Devers took a long time to adjust to his new role and he would come full circle and become a devastating DH. Then as soon as he gets hot, the team wants him to go back to the field... I'm not saying either side is right but I DO see both sides' point.
Devers' is Elite as Designated Hitter
Immediately after the decision was made to take Devers out of the field, he would have his worst hitting start to a season, going 0-21 with 15 Ks. After turning his season around since the beginning of April, Devers has been one of the best hitters in the AL and is currently 2nd in BBs, 3rd in RBIs, 7th in OBP and 20th in ABs.
The last stat is one of the most telling. Rafi was off to his most consistent season of his career and has not missed a game yet. With such a focus on his hitting, Devers was also out to his best season for RBIs, Walks and Runs and was slashing .272/.401/.504
Devers was on pace for 104 runs, 164 hits, 33 home runs, 129 RBIs and 124 Walks. Devers is also 1st in DH All-Star votes and led American League DHs in almost every category.
The Red Sox questionable call to move Devers out of the field and solely focus on hitting was the right decision and made an already-great hitter even better. So was it right to ask him to go back to the field even if he's making $30 Million + a year?
Return For Rafi
The complete Trade Return for the Red Sox Superstar is LHP Kyle Harrison, RHP Jordan Hicks, RHP prospect Jose Bello and OF prospect James Tibbs. Here is a quick summary on each player:
Kyle Harrison (23) has 4.56 ERA in 8 games. Called-Up from Triple-A on May 5th and one of Giants' Top Prospects last year.
LHP Starter
94-96 MPH 4-seam Fastball
82-85 MPH sliding Curveball
#24 Prospect of 2024
Jordan Hicks (28) has 6.47 ERA in 13 games. Last 3 games: 3 IP in relief and 1 earned run.
RHP Starter
95-98 MPH Sinker
81-83 MPH Sweeper
134 ERA+ in 2023 as Reliever
James Tibbs (22) .246/.379/.478, 12 HRs 32 RBIs, 42 BBs and 45 Ks in A+ ball.
OF/1B Prospect
6' Height - 201 lbs.
2027 ETA
Jose Bello (20) has 2.00 ERA in 8 games. 18 IP in relief in rookie-level minors affiliate.
RHP Reliever
92-94 MPH 4-seam and 2-seam Fastball.
mid-80 MPH Slider is his Best Pitch
ETA - 2028
The Red Sox clearly coveted pitching in return for their best hitter and Kyle Harrison has real potential to be a good starting lefty in the league despite the Red Sox opting to send him down to Triple-A right away. Prospects Bello and Tibbs also have decent-to-good potential but in no way does this return equal the talent of Devers.
Looking to the Future
This trade was a pure salary dump for the Red Sox who have moved on from Devers' $31.35 Million/year deal. The deal brings the Red Sox down to $180.3 Million of guaranteed money this season.
This move will make the team's lineup more clear in the future. Questions around Roman Anthony's debut amongst injuries were about the team possibly sending him back down to Worcester when players like Abreu, Bregman and Yoshida return. Now, Anthony will likely play DH against RHPs and the team has options against LHPs.
The Red Sox have a lot of future potential with their crop of rookies that has made headlines this season along with an influx of young pitchers like Crochet and Brayan Bello. This team is built for success over the next 3 years and this move makes it even more evident the Red Sox are planning for the future. At 37-36 this season that may be the right call but trading away your best player will always be questionable.
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-Z.D.