David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox legend and MLB Hall of Famer, recently expressed disappointment over the Rafael Devers trade, with the star slugger moving to the San Francisco Giants in the National League.
But more than the trade itself, Ortiz was disheartened by what he saw as Devers’ lack of interest in fully embracing his role as the face of the Red Sox.
David Ortiz on Rafael Devers Trade: “Could Have Been the Face of Red Sox”
According to Boston Strong on X, Ortiz revealed on Instagram Live that he offered advice to Devers “multiple times” during his time at the Red Sox but rarely got a response, noting that Devers never showed interest in learning how to get better as the face of the franchise.
David Ortiz says on IG live that he offered his assistance and guidance to Rafael Devers multiple times during his time in Boston and he rarely heard back from him, he never showed interest in learning how to get better as the face of the franchise.
— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) June 16, 2025
He also didn’t hold back in subtly calling out Devers for stoking tensions with the Boston front office about his playing role. The Red Sox legend’s comments were shared by MLB Insider Hector Gomez on X, with Ortiz criticizing players who act like they’re bigger than a game that “is over 100 years old” and highlighting the responsibilities that come with a $300 million contract.
“What f–king company pays you $300 million to do whatever you want,” Ortiz asked. “They’d tell me ‘jump,’ and I’d jump; ‘roll,’ and I’d roll, that’s why I’m a Hall of Famer, and in Boston they love me because I was an employee.” Ortiz himself was not any better during his playing days when it came to contract negotiations with the Red Sox, saying he went through times.
“But I was mature enough to understand and keep things internal. Even in the best families, between the best brothers, s–t happens. You need to have the maturity to resolve the problems and move on.”
Ortiz likely saw himself in Devers and thought it might be best to reach out to the star slugger and try talking sense to him. “This is a business. It’s not your house. It’s not about what you want or don’t want. This is a business people have to respect and fight for. Devers could have been the face of the Red Sox franchise.”
Who is Ortiz Blaming, the Red Sox or Devers?
“I know the communication between Devers and the Red Sox wasn’t the best at the very beginning,” Ortiz said. “But at some point, you have to realize the organization has the power over everyone. They can play you, trade you, let you go.”
Ortiz, though, wanted players to take Devers’ trade as an example to show that a player is never bigger than the club. He believed that young players sometimes forget that “the only thing you can control is what you do on the field.”
“I’m not saying that Devers was like that. He’s humble. He’s a good kid. But sometimes when you’re young and immature, you don’t realize that,” he added.
WATCH: Rafael Devers Sent Back to Fenway in Cab After Last-Minute Red Sox Trade Leaves MLB World Stunned
While he admitted that the Red Sox didn’t do a lot of things right, Ortiz wanted to give the club the benefit of the doubt. “In business, things happen,” the Hall of Famer said, according to The Athletic. “When you’ve got a lot of money involved, sometimes you pay for what you expect, and sometimes it doesn’t work out. It’s nothing personal. It’s part of business.”
He pointed to stars like Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, and Manny Ramirez as players who learned their lesson late. “Your worst enemy is your ego. Once you mature, you understand,” he added.
To further highlight how the club holds power over a player in the trade, Ortiz joked, implying he was not sure if Devers was eager to make the switch to the West Coast: “I prefer to play in Boston than freezing-ass San Francisco for the next 10 years.”
Check: Boston Red Sox GM Drops Blunt Take On Team’s Upside Without Rafael Devers