It might go down as the Trade Heard ‘Round the Baseball World. On June 15, the Boston Red Sox shocked fans and league insiders alike by dealing Rafael Devers — their highest-paid player, longest-tenured veteran, and top homegrown talent — to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for a package of young pitchers and prospects.
The move left many baffled, especially given Devers’ strong performance at the time, with a .905 OPS and 15 home runs. But according to Red Sox president of baseball operations Craig Breslow, the decision wasn’t based on stats — it was about clubhouse dynamics.
After the Red Sox signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, \$120 million deal, Devers refused to relinquish his spot at third base, despite Bregman’s superior defense. He eventually backed down and moved to designated hitter, but the tension had already taken a toll.
Difficult Devers Rebuffed Red Sox Owner
After Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas went down with a season-ending knee injury on May 2, Rafael Devers wouldn’t even entertain the idea of trying first base, refusing to take grounders at the position.
Even when typically reserved team owner John Henry made a rare in-person visit to Kansas City on May 9 to speak directly with Devers and urge him to consider the switch, Devers declined, reportedly saying, “It’s not my fault that players get hurt.”
Upon being traded to San Francisco, Devers told the media he felt “happy” for the first time in a long while.
Yet, less than a month later, concerns are already surfacing about his behavior and mindset with the Giants. Despite publicly stating he was open to playing first base in San Francisco, Devers reportedly skipped three straight training sessions with Giants great Will Clark — a five-time All-Star and widely respected defensive first baseman — who had offered to help him adjust to the position. This has reignited rumors that Devers, still early in a 10-year, $313.5 million contract, could be on the move once again.
Potential Bizarre Twist in Devers Trade Saga
In a surprising development, MLB insider Jon Heyman mentioned that a potential landing spot for Rafael Devers could be none other than the Boston Red Sox’s longtime rival — the New York Yankees.
Heyman acknowledged that the odds of such a deal are “an extreme long shot,” especially since the Yankees are reportedly seeking help at third base ahead of the trade deadline. Still, Inna Zeyger of Pinstripes Nation believes the idea isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
“Stranger things have happened,” Zeyger wrote. “Nobody expected Boston to trade away their franchise cornerstone, and even fewer predicted the Giants — with their bloated payroll and overcrowded roster — would be the ones to land him.”
Zeyger also pointed out that third base remains a question mark for New York. Oswald Peraza is no longer in the picture, and while DJ LeMahieu is back from injury, his age and inconsistency remain concerns. With the deadline fast approaching, the Yankees are exploring all options — from short-term stopgaps to long-term answers.
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