The Boston Red Sox traded their cornerstone third baseman, Rafael Devers, to the San Francisco Giants this Sunday. The move ends Devers’ nine-year tenure with the franchise he helped lead to a 2018 World Series title. However, behind the massive deal, some insiders are reporting that the move was more than a strategic career decision.
Rafael Devers Pushed To Jump Ships Due To Feeling “Unappreciated” By His Team?
According to MLB insider Mike Rodriguez, Devers’ exit was prompted by an unsavory conversation with the Red Sox management. Rodriguez made a post on X; he shared that, according to his sources, Devers “expressed his love for the city and his desire to stay.”
Rodriguez continued, “But feeling unappreciated, he asked them that if they did not want him, to kindly trade him, as he does not wish to be in a place where he is not valued.” This insider news made the departure of the All-Star more bittersweet than it already is.
According to my sources, the last conversation between Rafael Devers and the Red Sox management went like this: he expressed his love for the city and his desire to stay, but feeling unappreciated, he asked them that if they did not want him, to kindly trade him, as he does not… pic.twitter.com/jpL5MVZgQd
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) June 16, 2025
Devers is a three-time All-Star and a fixture in Boston’s lineup since debuting at age 20 in 2017. This season, the 28-year-old hit .272 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 73 games. His career slash line of .279/.349/.510, paired with 215 homers and 696 RBIs over 1,053 games, stands as a testament to his top-of-the-line production.
However, tensions arose when the Red Sox signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman in the offseason, pushing Devers to resist a shift to designated hitter. He later declined to move to first base after Triston Casas’ season-ending injury on May 2, further straining relations with the front office.
The Red Sox sent Devers, who had signed an 11-year, $331 million extension in January 2023, to San Francisco. The Giants will cover the remaining eight seasons of his contract. In return, Boston acquired right-hander Jordan Hicks, left-hander Kyle Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs III, and right-handed pitching prospect Jose Bello.
Hicks, 28, brings a 97.3 mph fastball but has struggled with command, posting a 1-5 record and 6.47 ERA over 48 2/3 innings this season. Harrison, a 23-year-old former top prospect, has shown promise with a 4.56 ERA in eight appearances (four starts) in 2025.
Tibbs, the Giants’ 2024 first-round pick, hit .246/.379/.479 with 12 homers at High Class-A Eugene. Bello, a 20-year-old reliever, has a 2.00 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 18 innings in the Florida Complex League.
In the end, Boston’s trade made their intention of investing in young talent very clear to the Baseball world. Harrison and Tibbs offer long-term potential, while Hicks could stabilize the bullpen if he regains form. Nevertheless, losing Devers can sting them in the back in the future.
The Red Sox must now prove this gamble can boost them back to contention. For Devers, a fresh start in San Francisco offers a chance to have a fresh start.