San Francisco Giants Acquire Rafael Devers in a Surprising Move
The San Francisco Giants have finalized a significant move by acquiring the outstanding hitter Rafael Devers, coming from the Boston Red Sox. The news was confirmed by sources close to the matter on Sunday night, marking a significant change in the lineup of both teams.
In the agreement, the Giants will send pitcher Jordan Hicks, young lefty Kyle Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs, and another prospect.
Devers, 28, is in his second season of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed to remain in Boston in January 2023. The Red Sox will not send money to cover the more than $250 million remaining on Devers’ contract.
Devers’ relationship with the team took a significant hit this spring after the starting third baseman reportedly felt blindsided by a move to designated hitter.
When Triston Casas was sidelined by a season-ending knee injury, the Red Sox approached Devers about playing first base. He refused and suggested to the management “to do their job” and look for another player.
A day after Devers’ comments to the media about playing at first, Red Sox owner John Henry, team president Sam Kennedy, and baseball director Craig Breslow flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers and manager Alex Cora.
Hicks and Harrison provide the Red Sox, who need pitchers, more depth in their pitching staff, while Devers provides a big boost to the Giants’ offense, which is struggling.
Devers, one of the most feared hitters in baseball, is batting .272 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 73 games, after hitting a solo home run in Boston’s 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday.
He first signed with Boston as an international free agent in August 2013. He was 20 years old when he made his Major League debut with the Red Sox on July 25, 2017.
He helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series and led the team in RBIs for five consecutive seasons from 2020 to 2024. He has finished in the top 20 in American League MVP voting five times.
Devers is not the first Red Sox All-Star to be traded: the team sent Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2020 season, just one year after winning the American League Most Valuable Player award and leading Boston to a franchise-record 108 wins and their fourth World Series title since 2004.
