In a stunning turn of events, the Boston Red Sox made headlines on Sunday evening by trading their star slugger, Rafael Devers, to the San Francisco Giants in a blockbuster deal. Following this significant trade, Red Sox manager Alex Cora gathered his players to address the situation. “We’ve gotta keep going,” Cora emphasized to his team. “That’s the bottom line. We put ourselves in a good spot, right? We have played good baseball for an extended period of time. Now we have to do it without Raffy. But at the same time, we added some pieces that we do believe are gonna help us, especially in the pitching department.”
The details of the trade are noteworthy, as the Red Sox successfully negotiated with the Giants to take on all $271.153 million remaining on Devers’ contract. In return, Boston acquired two pitchers, Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, along with two additional prospects. Cora expressed optimism about the newcomers, stating, “That’s something that we’ve been talking about throughout the offseason and early in the season — we have to pitch. And these two guys, in my opinion, they’re gonna impact the big league team at one point.”
As the Red Sox prepare for their upcoming games, Harrison has been optioned to Triple-A Worcester, while Hicks is currently on the 15-day injured list due to toe inflammation but is expected to return soon. Cora noted that Hicks is set to throw a live batting practice session in Boston in the coming days, which could bolster the team’s pitching lineup.
When asked about the reasons for Devers’ departure just two years into a lengthy 10-year deal, Cora acknowledged the complexities of the situation. “There are some reasons that it didn’t work out, right?” he stated. “And I don’t want to pinpoint stuff, whatever. But the last few months haven’t been easy. We made decisions in the offseason. Circumstances have changed over the last month. That’s a decision we made as an organization. Now Raffy’s gonna be with the Giants. And like I said, we have to turn the page and be ready for this team.”
Devers has been a significant figure for the Red Sox, especially after expressing frustration during spring training when asked to transition to a full-time designated hitter role after previously being promised he would be their long-term third baseman. Cora reflected on Devers’ contributions, saying, “Obviously the guy means so much to that group. He means so much to the organization, to the city of Boston. I’m not gonna hide it. But at the same time, we gotta show up. We’re playing good baseball.”
In the absence of Devers, rookie Kristian Campbell, who has faced challenges defensively at second base, stepped in as the designated hitter on Monday. Cora acknowledged Devers’ exceptional talent, stating, “Raffy Devers is Raffy Devers. He’s a special hitter and we all know that. But there’s an opportunity for other guys to get at-bats and contribute.”
As the Red Sox team prepared for their flight to Seattle, Devers was initially set to board but was pulled off just before takeoff. Cora recounted the moment, “He shook our hands and took off.” The team then embarked on their cross-country journey, which Cora described as feeling somewhat unusual at the start. However, he quickly shifted the focus back to business. “Coaches had to prepare for the series. The boys, they played cards and had their conversations. But it’s a long flight anyways,” he noted. “Obviously the news came up early and then after that, it was a regular flight.”
Cora also conveyed that he had some awareness of the potential trade when the team was heading to the airport. “We always have conversations and had an idea of what was going on, obviously,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s not a given. It’s not 100% that it’s gonna happen. But the front office, ownership, and the group do an amazing job keeping the lines of communication and telling me what’s going on.”
As the Red Sox navigate this new chapter without Rafael Devers, they remain focused on their goal of continuing to play competitive baseball and adapting to the changes within the team.
