The Boston Red Sox have traded All-Star slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a significant move that could impact playoff races on both coasts. On Sunday, the Giants acquired the 28-year-old designated hitter in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs III, and minor league pitcher Jose Bello.
This transaction comes as San Francisco trails the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers by two games after a narrow 5-4 loss on Sunday night. Harrison learned of the trade just before his warm-up for a scheduled start, while reliever Sean Hjelle was informed he would take the mound instead only 30 minutes prior to the game.
Giants manager Bob Melvin expressed his excitement, stating, “Yeah, it was a lot, and it was late, but you know what? This is something we really needed. To get a guy like Devers … there’s a lot you have to give up for him, but this fits us perfectly. It’s a power left-handed bat, a guy that can go the other way and hit for power in our ballpark. I mean, it’s tailor-made for us, so kudos to the front office to swing this.”
Devers is a three-time All-Star who signed a hefty 10-year, $313.5 million deal with the Red Sox earlier this season. This year, he boasts a batting average of .272, with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs over 73 games, including a solo home run in the team’s recent 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees.
However, tensions rose between Devers and the Red Sox after the team signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman during spring training, prompting the request for Devers to shift to designated hitter. Following a brief standoff, he agreed to the transition. Yet, when first baseman Triston Casas faced a season-ending injury, Devers declined the offer to return to the field, remarking that the front office “should do their jobs” by seeking another player.
The situation escalated after Devers publicly commented about playing first base, prompting a meeting between him, Red Sox owner John Henry, team president Sam Kennedy, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow in Kansas City. This followed Bregman’s significant quadriceps injury sustained on May 23, further complicating matters.
“Everybody around the league, I think, was paying attention to that. When any team is having some kind of drama like that, with a player like Devers – he basically was the face of the franchise,” said San Francisco shortstop Willy Adames during an ESPN broadcast.
Buster Posey, the Giants’ president of baseball operations, initiated discussions regarding Devers approximately two weeks ago, and trade conversations gained momentum in recent days. When asked about where Devers would play in San Francisco, Posey deferred the matter, stating, “That’s a conversation for myself, Bob and [general manager Zack Minasian] to have with him,” while emphasizing the anticipated positive impact Devers will have on a lineup struggling for left-handed power, having produced only 16 home runs from that side this season.
“We’re excited about adding one of the best hitters in all of major league baseball to our lineup,” Posey commented. He acknowledged the financial commitment but expressed confidence that Devers’ addition positions the Giants well for continued success and playoff contention, stating, “which is our ultimate goal.”
Though the Red Sox have seen success recently, winning five out of six games against the Yankees to improve their record to 37-36, they remain fourth in the AL East, 6.5 games behind the leading New York team.
Devers, who made his major league debut with the Red Sox at age 20 in 2017, played a crucial role in their 2018 World Series win and led the team in RBIs for five consecutive seasons from 2020 to 2024. He has also been a top contender in AL MVP voting five times.
Since Barry Bonds hit 45 home runs in 2004, the Giants have struggled with slugging; they have not seen any player exceed 30 homers in that span. Devers has hit at least 30 home runs in three seasons, a much-needed boost for the Giants.
“It’s tough losing [Harrison and Hicks], but we’re getting a guy back who changes the lineup, who’s probably a top-10 hitter in baseball every year,” said Giants pitcher Logan Webb. “Any time you add a player of that caliber, I think you give yourself a chance every day. I don’t know where he’s gonna hit, but I don’t think it really matters. The guy’s a stud, plain and simple. I’m excited about it.”
Devers joins a list of notable Red Sox All-Stars who have been traded, including Mookie Betts, who left for the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2020 season. This trade, however, has drawn parallels to the 2004 midseason trade of fan-favorite Nomar Garciaparra, which helped propel the Red Sox to their long-awaited World Series title that same year.
The Devers deal marks another striking move by Posey, 38, who has previously signed Justin Verlander to a $15 million, one-year contract and outfielder Willy Adames to a $182 million, seven-year agreement in recent months.
Kyle Harrison, just 23, has posted a 9-9 record with a 4.48 ERA and 178 strikeouts over three seasons, while Jordan Hicks, 28, contributed a 5-12 record with a 4.83 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 42 games. The 22-year-old Tibbs, the 13th overall pick in last year’s draft, has a batting average of .246, with 12 homers and 32 RBIs in 57 games for Single-A Eugene. Finally, 20-year-old Bello holds a 1-0 record and a 2.00 ERA over eight games in the Giants’ rookie league system in Scottsdale, Arizona.