Rafael Devers trade: Red Sox fans, Dodgers among losers, 3 winners

More than a month ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline, we have our first big move.

Big might be an understatement.

After months of frustration with slugger Rafael Devers, the Boston Red Sox traded the star to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for LHP Kyle Harrison, RHP Jordan Hicks, Single-A OF James Tibbs, and Rookie ball RHP Jose Bello.

This seismic trade has sent shockwaves throughout the league.

Let’s list some winners and losers.

At the outset, the Giants are winners in this trade.

Ahead of the 2025 MLB season, the Giants were considered longshots just to make the playoffs. ESPN ranked them 22nd overall in their preseason rankings, giving them a projected record of 80-82, a 24.6% shot at making the postseason, and just 0.6% odds at reaching the World Series.

But as we sit here on June 16, the Giants are ten games over .500 with a 41-31 record, and sit just two games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. If the playoffs were to begin today, the Giants would be in.

Now with the addition of Devers the Giants add a bat with 30-plus home run potential, and while there might be some concerns over how his lefty swing translates to Oracle Park, when you factor in Devers’ patience at the plate (he ranks second in the MLB in walks, 12th in OPS, and sixth in on-base percentage) he brings a lot to the heart of San Francisco’s lineup.

It has been a trying 12 hours for the Red Sox fan in your life.

If they seem a little scarred, can you blame them? Just a few years after seeing the organization trade away Mookie Betts, the Red Sox fan in your life has now seen Boston ship off Devers, the latest big-ticket bat in the middle of their lineup.

Is there some context to the move? Sure, if you believe the company line coming out of Jersey Street. Depending on who you talk to, Devers’ “attitude” was a considerable factor in the decision to move him to San Francisco, and the front office might believe this is a case of “addition by subtraction.”

But there are two sides to every story. From Devers’ perspective, he’s seen the organization trade away Betts as well, and just this offseason Boston pursued both Nolan Arenado and Alex Bregman, adding Bregman in the off-season led to a rocky start to the year from Devers’ point of view.

“Third base is my position,” Devers told reporters ahead of Spring Training. “It’s what I’ve played. I don’t know what their plans are. I know we had a conversation. I made it clear, kind of what my desires were and whatever happens from here, I don’t know.”

Devers began the year as Boston’s DH. But when first baseman Triston Casas was lost for the year at the start of May with a knee injury, the door seemed open to Devers returning to the field.

After days of speculation, however, Devers shut down that speculation.

“They had the conversation with me,” Devers said through translator Daveson Perez in early May. “I don’t think for me personally it’s the best decision after they asked me to play a different position and I only have two months of playing this position. To all of a sudden have me try to play another position … from my end, it doesn’t seem like a good decision.”

That led to a summit in Kansas City between Devers and not just the front office, but Red Sox owner John Henry.

“It was a chance for an honest, candid exchange,” Craig Breslow said of the conversation with Devers. “There was some misunderstanding on the communication or an opportunity to provide more clear communication. Hopefully that was a step in the right direction here today.”

Apparently, it was not enough.

Now Devers is in San Francisco, and Red Sox fans are left to wonder where the organization goes from here.

Here is where Boston might go next.

Before the Devers trade, the Red Sox were struggling to find opportunities for two of the best prospects in the league: Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony, who was just called up last week. In Boston’s stunning sweep of the New York Yankees this weekend — a sweep that pulled Boston to within 6.5 games of the Yankees in the AL East, and to within a half-game of a Wild Card Spot — Mayer and Anthony combined for just ten at-bats.

By removing Devers from the equation, Boston will get more opportunities for these two young stars.

This might also benefit Masataka Yoshida, whose right labral repair this offseason limited him to a DH role as he works back from the injury and gets his arm ready for outfield service.

If the Giants were a surprising threat to the Dodgers in the West before this deal, now it might be time to take them seriously.

Dropping Devers’ slash line of .272/.401/.504 into the middle of San Francisco’s lineup makes them much more dangerous offensively. And while the Giants probably need to add a front-line starter to improve their rotation ahead of the trading deadline, improving their lineup gives them a big boost.

Factor in San Francisco’s impressive bullpen, and suddenly the Giants look like true contenders after this deal.

Of course, the Dodgers are getting some help tonight as well, when Shohei Ohtani makes his first appearance on the bump after two surgeries to his throwing elbow limited him to a DH-only role this past season.

This will be Ohtani’s first pitching appearance for Los Angeles.

Well, would you just have a look at the schedule ...

Boston heads on the road this week for a West Coast swing that will see them take on the Mariners, the Angels and yes, the Giants. Boston arrives in San Francisco for a three-game set on Friday, running through the weekend.

Those might be three must-watch games.