Red Sox ready to turn page on Rafael Devers trade, but book will be open for years to come
The Boston Red Sox and the San Francisco Giants are two ancient big-league franchises with rich histories but not much in the way of shared history.
Plus, each team has a classic, hated rival. With the Giants, it's the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the Red Sox, it's the New York Yankees. In other words, the Giants don't need a three-game weekend series against the Red Sox to fire up their fans, and Red Sox fans don't need the Giants.
Advertisement
But, yes, and you know where I'm taking this, the Rafael Devers situation changes things. It's been a wild week since the Red Sox and the Giants pulled off the stunning trade that sent Devers from the Back Bay to the City by the Bay, hasn't it? For not only did the trade involve a highly paid player who might one day wind up in the Hall of Fame, but it came with this bonus subplot: Just a couple of days after Devers arrived at Oracle Park, the Red Sox arrived to play a three-game set against the Giants.
Well, that series came to an end Sunday, with the Giants taking two out of three. The finale was a 9-5 victory for the Giants over the sloppy Red Sox, after which manager Alex Cora went on record as the 6,364th person to say it's time to turn the page on the Devers trade.
Except that's not going to happen, and for all kinds of reasons. I'll start with aesthetics, because we all love aesthetics. From the moment Devers arrived in the big leagues in 2017, all of 20 years old and not at all blinded by the big-league lights, it was jaw-droppingly clear he was going to be one of the good ones.
We can agree he lacks the carriage of a star athlete. He's heavy. He never was much of a third baseman. He came to camp this year out of shape, and, sure, we expect better than that from the highest-paid player on the team. I'll even throw in the part, yet again, about how he didn't step up when the Sox needed somebody to play first base after Triston Casas was lost for the season.
But that Devers swing! Here's where the aesthetics come into play. To whatever degree you're a baseball fan — casual, die-hard or just in it for the investment opportunities — it's impossible not to be drawn to Devers' swing. Whether he's pulling the ball or taking it the other way, as he did Saturday afternoon off former teammate Brayan Bello, a two-run shot that was the margin of difference in the Giants' 3-2 victory, Devers makes you pay extra close attention when he's at the dish.
Rafael Devers hits his first @SFGiants home run! pic.twitter.com/6uV3XQ8H5L
— MLB (@MLB) June 21, 2025
I suspect a subsection of Red Sox fans will still follow Devers — not to cheer him, but to celebrate the swing. I have Boston friends who still look in on Dodgers games to see what Mookie Betts is up to. They're not cheering for the Dodgers to win another World Series. They just like Betts as a player, is all. There's so much to like there.
Advertisement
But if aesthetics aren't enough to inspire a Red Sox fan to not turn the page on Devers, there's this: It might be a long, long time, as in four or five years, before it can be determined whether it was the Giants or the Red Sox who 'won' the trade. No need to rehash old stuff here, other than to state the obvious: If Devers ages fast and because of that his swing goes south, the Sox will be looked upon as smarties for having unloaded an overpaid player whose contract runs through 2033. But if he turns out to be the long-term franchise slugger the Giants have been looking for, that's another story.
But there's also the 'right now' about the trade, and right now, the Red Sox aren't as good a team as they were when they had Devers in the lineup. For more on that, let's return to my observation about Cora saying it's time to turn the page.
Cora was finishing up his postgame media availability when somebody asked about all the lineup mixing and matching the skipper has been doing lately. It had been a day when just about everything had gone wrong for the Sox, but Cora used the question to speak to the depth and diversity of his roster.
A Red Sox error gives the Giants a seventh inning lead! pic.twitter.com/SZFD0mQpnN
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 22, 2025
'Those guys are good,' Cora said, those guys being his guys. 'We're really good. … Obviously, Raffy's over there, now we turn the page, but we have a team, and versatility's part of it. Ref (Rob Refsnyder) and Romy (González) are outstanding, and now we have Nate (Eaton), who's really good. I think we're in a good spot. We have to pitch, and let's add defense. We play good defense and we're gonna be OK.'
Refsynder and González are complementary players, no doubt about that. They're having fine seasons. Eaton, 28, came up through the Kansas City Royals system and hooked up with the Red Sox during the offseason. He has played in three games since getting called up from Triple-A Worcester. Cora seems to like him.
Advertisement
Complementary players are fine. Show me a team that won the World Series and I'll show you the complementary players who helped put that team over the top.
But you need stars. Especially stars who can really, really hit, and do so in a way that you sit up and take notice.
I offer a compromise to Red Sox fans: Turn the page, but bookmark Rafael Devers.
(Photo of Rafael Devers celebrating with catcher Patrick Bailey: D. Ross Cameron / Imagn Images)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jon Anik on Jon Jones retiring: 'A lot of public figures feel perpetually misunderstood'
Jon Anik is grateful for Jon Jones' time in the UFC. Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) has officially retired, relinquishing his UFC heavyweight title. The former two-division UFC champion has never lost a fight outside of a disqualification blemish in 2010. Advertisement Anik, who has witnessed all of Jones' championship reign in the UFC, heaped praise on him as both a fighter and a person. "Congratulations to the 🐐, @jonnybones on accomplishing more as a mixed martial arts fighter than any man had prior! I met Jon in his hotel room in 2011, a few hours before he beat Shogun to become the youngest champion in UFC history. A lot of public figures feel perpetually misunderstood. Jones' infectious smile and presence cloaked the absolute killer that resided within. Over 15 years, I have witnessed this man's graciousness, kindness, and generosity with the UFC fan base. His success has helped push the UFC and MMA forward and, indirectly, he helped guys like me to make a living in the sport we all hold so dear. Look forward to seeing that grin and presence at @dirtyboxing soon, champ. Appreciate all the time, energy, and love over the years. You will be missed. -30-" Jones defended his UFC light heavyweight title a total of 11 times before opting to make the move up to heavyweight years later. He claimed the vacant belt with a quick finish of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, then successfully defended it against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, which would mark his final fight. "Bones" finds himself in legal trouble once again, with reports in Albuquerque accusing Jones of leaving the scene of an accident with a half-naked and intoxicated woman in the car. Jones' attorney says his client has been falsely accused and is being targeted by police. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC commentator Jon Anik reflects on Jon Jones' retirement
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jeeno Thitikul makes nearly 200 feet of putts to lead KPMG Women's PGA
FRISCO, Texas — Jenno Thitikul walked off the fifth green after a double bogey in the first round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship reminding herself to stay patient and that some missed shots are going to happen. 'Majors, you're going to miss anyway,' said Thitikul, who's No. 2 in the women's world ranking. 'A way to bounce back, it's more important.' Advertisement Thitikul certainly found a way to do that on a hot and windy Thursday, finishing with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke lead over Minjee Lee (69). Haeran Ryu, Rio Takeda and Somi Lee all shot 70. That only hole over par for Thitikul was followed by a par before she made five birdies in a six-hole stretch, with a 60-footer on the par-3 eighth hole in the middle of three in a row. 'My putter went really well,' said the 22-year-old from Thailand, who is seeking her first major title. 'In the front nine we had a lot of breeze going, and more than the back nine, but like (made) putts 7, 8, 9, which boosts the confidence up making the turn to the back nine.' Thitikul, who lives in the Dallas area, needed only 25 putts on the Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco. Her makes measured 199 1/2 feet. Advertisement Thitikul played with top-ranked Nelly Korda (72) and No. 3 Lydia Ko (75). Korda, who reaggravated a neck injury with a shot out of the rough during a practice round Monday, opened with seven consecutive pars in a round that had two birdies and two bogeys. Ko was the only in the group to make a birdie at the 513-yard, par-5 first hole, but didn't make another the rest of the day. While Korda said she doesn't feel pain hitting shots, the two-time major champion said she has pain 'just with rotation' of her neck and that it is hard to get comfortable to sleep at night. 'It's better, yeah. Getting better every day, which is nice,' she said. 'Just because I injured it last year, whenever I do injure my neck it takes a little bit longer than normal. ... Just takes me like a week to kind of recover when I tweak my neck now.' Advertisement Korda opened with seven pars, including at the 317-yard, par-4 seventh hole, where she hit a 294-yard drive into a valley just short of the green. Her initial pitch from there ricocheted off the edge of the green and rolled back down the slope to where she was. Korda hit her next shot to 2 feet. LPGA: KPMG Women's PGA Championship - First Round Battling neck injury, Nelly Korda opens KPMG Women's PGA in even par Nelly Korda shot an even-par 72 in the opening round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship on Thursday, three days after the world's top-ranked player reaggravated a neck injury during a practice round. That fifth hole for Thitkul started with a drive out of bounds and a penalty. Her birdie streak began with a nearly 18-footer at No. 7 before the long one at the eighth. She rolled in a 35-foot birdie at No. 17, and just missed making another one more than twice that long on the 434-yard, par-4 18th. Advertisement Two-time major winner Lee, a 29-year-old Australian, hasn't won since 2023. She opened Thursday with a bogey and finished with two bogeys over the last three holes. In between, she made seven birdies. 'I feel like they were pretty soft bogeys. ... Well, on 16, that was a bit soft and obviously the first hole is a par 5. I should be making birdie or par at the least,' Lee said. 'Obviously there will be bogeys, but I think for me, I just try to stay patient. If I make a bogey I just try it back it up with something better than that. Can't get ahead of yourself, especially in this kind of weather. I think it's more just the heat that's draining your focus.' Lee bogeyed the 425-yard 12th hole, where she drove into thick rough to the right and from there went into the left rough. She saved par at the par-3 13th by blasting from a bunker to 5 1/2 feet and had consecutive birdies to get to 5 under — the lowest by anyone in the first round. Then came her late bogeys, missing a 7-foot par on the 16th and hitting her approach on the 18th into a bunker.
NBC Sports
28 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Top fantasy baseball prospects: Chase Burns getting the call, Colt Emerson heating up
A reminder: This is ONLY players who have Rookie of the Year MLB eligibility, and ONLY a look at potential help for 2025. That out of the way, here's a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy roster this season. 1. Chase Burns, RHP, Cincinnati Reds 2025 stats: 12 G, 59 IP, 1.83 ERA, .170 BAA, 13 BB, 82 SO at High-A Dayton, Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. For the fourth straight week, we get to cheat. According to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, the Reds will select the contract of Burns on Tuesday for his MLB debut against the New York Yankees. First, yes, this is a tough first test. The Yankees have a few players -- particularly that really tall guy -- who can give players trouble. Also, it'll come in Great American Ball Park; a park that is well known for being hitter-friendly. That being said, this is a pitcher who can miss bats with multiple pitches and commands them well enough -- well enough is an understatement -- to have immediate success. The ceiling for Burns is ace, but even if he's not that in his first taste of MLB action, he's obviously talented enough to provide fantasy success immediately. 2. Jordan Lawlar, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks 2025 stats: 52 G, .321/.411/.586, 10 HR, 18 SB, 30 BB, 60 SO at Triple-A Reno; 8 G .000/.175/.000, 0 SB, 3 BB, 9 SO at Arizona. L8awlar's average has taken a slight dip since being demoted back to Reno, but he's seen his slugging percentage go up and had another homer and stole two more bags since our last update. He also drew five free passes, as he's showing more patience at the plate and pitchers are terrified to throw the former first-round pick strikes. Even with how disappointing his run with Arizona was, there's doubt in my mind that he belongs on this list. There's five tools at his disposal, and he offers as much upside as any prospect in the minors -- at least at the higher levels. When the Diamondbacks give him another chance this summer, I'd still be willing to make the roster move. 3. Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Baltimore Orioles 2025 stats: 43 G, .264/.371/.588, 15 HR, 0 SB, 28 BB, 46 SO at Triple-A Norfolk. Basallo added another homer last week, and also doubled over his last two games as he continues to impress in the International League. Since the start of June, the 20-year-old has excelled with a slash of .352/.435/.722 with six homers over his 14 games. Pretty good. He's also been playing first base nearly as he has been behind the plate, which suggests the Orioles want to see him at both positions both in the short and long-term. Basallo isn't guaranteed to get a promotion this summer, but it sure seems likely, and his offensive upside competes with any prospects still in the minors. 4. Harry Ford, C, Seattle Mariners 2025 stats: 56 G, .306/.422/.468, 8 HR, 3 SB, 41 BB, 47 SO at Triple-A Tacoma. Another catcher? And this time one who is in the same organization as the best catcher in baseball in Cal Raleigh? Have I lost my mind? Probably, but I can explain my rationale. Ford has been one of the best hitters in Triple-A over the last month-plus for an offense that has been inconsistent -- at best -- in that time frame. Ford is also athletic enough to play in the outfield and first base, and Mitch Garver is currently languishing on the Seattle roster. Seattle would be able to find a way to get Ford at-bats, and the tools are there for him to be a fantasy-relevant player once that takes place. 5. Andrew Painter, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies 2025 stats: 12 G, 47.1 IP, 4.18 ERA, .243 BAA, 18 BB, 58 SO at Low-A Clearwater and Triple-A LeHigh Valley. Welcome to the list, Andrew. Painter's numbers aren't overly impressive, on paper, but they've been better as of late; including five innings of two-run baseball with five strikeouts against Triple-A Rochester on Saturday. Honestly, the numbers really don't mean as much here as they do with other prospects. This is a pitcher with three swing-and-miss pitches from a 6-foot-7 frame, and while he's battled some command issues this year, there's no concern that he has the ability to throw strikes at a consistent enough level to be a starter at the highest level. The Phillies are going to be careful with Painter because he's a hurler who missed the previous two seasons, but he'd be someone I'd roster immediately as soon as Philadelphia made that call. Around the minors: The Mariners have one of the best systems in baseball, and Colt Emerson ranks as the top player in the system. He's played at that level and then some as of late, as he's hitting .438/.550/.781 with a pair of homers and two stolen bases over his last 10 games. A first-round selection in 2023, Emerson has one of the best potential hit tools in the minors regardless of level, and he's beginning to tap into solid -- perhaps even better -- power as well. He has the ability to stick at shortstop, and of all the quality infield prospects Seattle has, he's the most likely to stay at that position outside of maybe Felnin Celestin. Wherever he plays Emerson's bat plays as well, and he could be an everyday option for Seattle by the end of 2026. Alex Freeland was another player that I considered for the fifth spot in this week's list, and if he played for a different team, he'd probably be up there. The 23-year-old has forged a solid .857 OPS in 2025, but he's been even better as of late with seven homers over the last month and a .703 slugging percentage over his last 10 games. Freeland has 55-grade (on the 20-80 scouting scale) hit and power tools, and is a solid defender who could play shortstop and third base. As much as Max Muncy has struggled with the glove, it seems likely that the Dodgers would need an injury before he got a chance to play at the highest level. He seems likely to be the future at that position, however, and is someone fantasy managers should do their best to acquire in keeper formats. If you're looking for a pitcher that isn't getting enough attention -- and who isn't? -- then you might wanna take a closer look at Henry Baez. In his 14 starts with Double-A San Antonio, Baez has forged a 2.06 ERA, 69/22 K/BB and 1.04 WHIP over 70 innings. The 22-year-old doesn't possess a pitch that tops the scales, but everything has a chance to be above-average, and his command should be good enough to allow that arsenal to play as a starter; although it could play up in a relief role. Baez should get a chance to face Triple-A hitting soon -- a much tougher test to be sure -- and if he handles that level with anything close to the level of his success in Double-A, he could be making appearances for San Diego by the end of the year. More than likely he's a 2026 play, and one who deserves attention in those keeper formats we mentioned with Freeland.
