Red Sox Trade Rafael Devers to Giants in Major Deal

Summary:

• The Boston Red Sox will send Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants for pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison.
• The three-time All-Star has been clashing with the Red Sox over a position change from third base to designated hitter.
• The transfer will see the Giants boost their lineup in the tight NL West race.

The Boston Red Sox have traded Dominican designated hitter and third baseman Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. The historical move could have ripple effects in both leagues.

Devers’ agent, Nelson Montes de Oca, has officially confirmed the trade to the Associated Press. ESPN also reported that Boston will receive pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison in return.

Adames: “We Need a Bat Like Him in This Lineup.”

The 28-year-old, who’s been serving as the Red Sox’s designated hitter this baseball season, had grown frustrated with his positional shift away from third base.

The Giants, just a game behind the Dodgers heading into their Sunday night matchup, didn’t waste time reacting to the news.

Shortstop Willy Adames said on the ESPN broadcast that players found out “15 to 20 minutes before the game”, and the excitement was immediate.

“Everybody’s so excited”, Adames said during an on-field interview. “I’m like thrilled to have him on the team.”, he added.

The Dominican shortstop who has previously represented the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers in MLB described Devers as “one of the best hitters in the game”. His addition to the roster is expected to help them “do a lot of damage in the division”, added Adames.

“Obviously we need a bat like him in this lineup”, he further commented.

In 2023, the three-time All-Star inked a massive 10-year, $313.5 million contract with Boston. In 2025, he’s hitting .272 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs throughout a total of 73 games.

In Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Yankees, Devers capped his Red Sox tenure with a homer, completing a sweep.

Simmering Tensions

Tension between Devers and the Red Sox had been simmering since spring training, when the team brought in Alex Bregman and shifted Devers to DH.

When first baseman Triston Casas went down with a season-ending injury, the Red Sox asked Devers to return to the field. He declined, saying the front office “should do their jobs.”

That led to a private meeting in Kansas City between Devers, manager Alex Cora, and top team executives, including owner John Henry. With Bregman now sidelined by a significant quad injury, the timing of the trade adds another layer of complexity. Adames summed up the league-wide reaction:

Everybody around the league, I think, was paying attention to that… he basically was the face of the franchise. We’re thrilled to have him. I feel like it sends a message that we’re going to compete.

For Boston, the departure echoes past high-profile trades, none bigger than Mookie Betts or Nomar Garciaparra, but Devers’ impact on the franchise over eight seasons is undeniable.

How well will Devers do at the Giants and will the Red Sox regret their trade? Get the best odds for the rest of the MLB season with selected US sportsbooks