Red Sox: Devers out for lack of “alignment”, end of the era?

Red Sox Surprise with Rafael Devers Trade to the Giants

In an unexpected move, the Boston Red Sox have decided to trade their star third baseman, Rafael Devers, to the San Francisco Giants. The news, confirmed by Red Sox president Sam Kennedy, has generated surprise among fans and the team, especially after a winning streak. The decision, according to Kennedy, was based on the disagreement with Devers about his role in the team. The player refused to change positions, which, according to the management, made his stay at the club difficult.

“In terms of what was missing, it was that alignment in terms of what we felt we needed from him that would be in the absolute best interest of the baseball club,” Kennedy said. “That’s non-negotiable for us. We have to have that. We couldn’t get there. … So we made the decision we made.”

Sam Kennedy, President of the Red Sox

The trade was finalized despite Devers having signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract less than two years ago. In return, the Red Sox received pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, as well as a couple of prospects. This move comes at a time when the Boston team had achieved five consecutive victories, including a sweep against the New York Yankees. Pitcher Garrett Crochet expressed his surprise at the news, highlighting the importance of maintaining focus for the remainder of the season. Baseball’s Chief of Operations, Craig Breslow, acknowledged that the trade leaves a void in the lineup, but hopes this benefits the team in the long run. Breslow emphasized that the decision does not signify a surrender for the 2025 season, and that the team remains committed to competing for the championship. The relationship between Devers and the team deteriorated after the arrival of third baseman Alex Bregman, who created the need for Devers to move to another position. Devers, who led the league in errors for a third baseman during the last seven seasons, refused to play in other positions. President Kennedy justified the decision by arguing the responsibility to improve the team and the commitment to each player. Manager Alex Cora also addressed the situation, indicating that, despite the circumstances, the team must move forward and prepare for the future.

“We’re working on it. We had a different vision for him in the future than he had, and we couldn’t come to an agreement. We couldn’t find the alignment,” said Red Sox president Sam Kennedy. “And we reached that inflection point and made the decision to make a big move.”