MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers Rise, Yankees Plummet, More
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The past week of the 2025 Major League Baseball season could end up going down as the most exciting one when it's all said and done.
Out of nowhere on Sunday, Boston Red Sox All-Star designated hitter Rafael Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants in one of the most surprising trades in recent memory.
Days later, Devers was at his introductory press conference in San Francisco saying he was open to playing wherever the Giants needed him — a complete 180 from his comments in Boston the last few months.
Read more: Rafael Devers Makes Surprising Announcement Regarding Position With Giants Following Red Sox Trade
That blockbuster deal officially kicked off trade season, which could feature plenty of surprises as a majority of teams still remain in the hunt with six weeks until the deadline.
Elsewhere around the league, the Dodgers asserted their dominance over their National League West counterparts, while the New York Yankees endured a brutal slump that included a 30-inning scoreless streak.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 12: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts during the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on June 12, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri....
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 12: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts during the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on June 12, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. MoreWith all that being said, here is the 12th edition of Newsweek Sports' MLB Power Rankings, with tons of movement among the top 10 teams — but no change at No. 1.
More news: Red Sox Shockingly Demoting Top Prospect Amid Struggles
1. Detroit Tigers (48-28)
2. Chicago Cubs (45-29)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (46-30)
4. New York Mets (45-30)
5. New York Yankees (43-31)
6. Philadelphia Phillies (45-30)
7. Houston Astros (43-32)
8. San Francisco Giants (42-33)
9. Tampa Bay Rays (41-34)
10. San Diego Padres (40-34)
11. Milwaukee Brewers (40-35)
12. Toronto Blue Jays (40-34)
13. St. Louis Cardinals (40-35)
14. Cincinnati Reds (39-36)
15. Boston Red Sox (39-37)
16. Minnesota Twins (37-37)
17. Cleveland Guardians (37-36)
18. Seattle Mariners (37-36)
19. Arizona Diamondbacks (37-37)
20. Kansas City Royals (37-38)
21. Texas Rangers (36-39)
22. Atlanta Braves (34-39)
23. Los Angeles Angels (36-38)
24. Baltimore Orioles (32-42)
25. Washington Nationals (31-44)
26. Pittsburgh Pirates (30-46)
27. Miami Marlins (29-44)
28. Athletics (31-46)
29. Chicago White Sox (23-52)
30. Colorado Rockies (17-58)
Biggest Riser
Boston Red Sox (+5)
The Red Sox were coming off five straight wins and a series sweep of the Yankees when they shocked the league and moved off of Devers and the remainder of his 10-year contract. Since, they took a series against the Mariners in which they scored a total of five runs. For now, they move up the rankings from their dominant stretch of play. But the offense is a big concern at this point in the year without Devers.
Biggest Faller
Minnesota Twins (-4)
The Twins lost six in a row before stopping the bleeding with a win over the Reds to avoid a sweep. In the tight AL Central — three teams are within one game of .500 — they can't afford many stretches like that as the year goes on.
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San Francisco Chronicle
22 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rafael Devers explains why he is willing to play first base for the Giants but not the Red Sox
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Rafael Devers had a consistent mantra when he addressed the Boston media for the first time since his surprising trade from the Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants five days ago. 'The past is in the past,' Devers said repeatedly Friday when asked about his time with the Red Sox and why the relationship deteriorated so much this season that the team traded him less than two years into a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed in 2023. Devers did give one piece of insight when asked what he would tell Red Sox fans about why he is willing to play first base in San Francisco if he is asked after refusing to do so with the Red Sox when asked last month. 'I would say that I have put some good numbers up over in Boston,' he said through an interpreter. 'I think that I do feel that I have earned some respect. If they would have asked me at the beginning of spring training, yes, I would have played (first).' Devers' relationship with the Red Sox began to deteriorate when the team signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman during spring training and asked Devers to move to DH; he balked before agreeing to the switch. When first baseman Triston Casas sustained a season-ending knee injury, the Red Sox approached Devers about playing the field and he declined, saying the front office 'should do their jobs' and look for another player. A day after Devers' comments to the media about playing first, Red Sox owner John Henry, team president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers and manager Alex Cora. Devers' stance didn't change and he was eventually traded to San Francisco. He said he wouldn't have done anything differently in his time in Boston. 'I put up good numbers over there,' he said. 'I always gave my 100 percent.' The Giants were happy to acquire Devers after striking out in their bid to sign a big bat for the middle of the lineup in free agency. Devers went 3 for 11 with two walks and an RBI in his first three games with San Francisco as a designated hitter. He has started working out at first base and said he would be happy to play there as soon as he feels comfortable. 'Like I said in the past, that is not a position that you're going to learn how to play overnight,' he said. 'I just have to continue that practice there.' Devers said he is as happy as he has been in years in his first few days with the Giants and enjoyed the opportunity to see some of his friends on the Red Sox on Thursday night when the team arrived in town. 'It's been a few hectic days,' he said. 'A long week it feels like. But I saw my friends yesterday, so, I was happy to be able to see them. I'm very happy.' Devers said he didn't have 'anything good or bad to say" about Cora but said he would talk to him on the field this weekend when he had the chance. Devers was 20 when he made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2017. He helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series and led the team in RBIs for five consecutive seasons from 2020-24. He has finished in the top 20 in voting for AL MVP five times. The Giants have lacked slugging since Barry Bonds hit 45 homers in 2004; they are the only team in the majors who have not had a batter hit 30 homers since then. Devers has hit at least 30 homers three times. Devers is not the first Red Sox All-Star to be traded away: The team sent Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2020 season in a salary dump -- just a year after he won the AL MVP award and led Boston to a franchise-record 108 wins and its fourth World Series title since 2004. ___
Fox Sports
23 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Rafael Devers Explains Why He's Willing to Play 1B With the Giants
Rafael Devers had a consistent mantra when he addressed the Boston media for the first time since his surprising trade from the Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants five days ago. "The past is in the past," Devers said repeatedly Friday when asked about his time with the Red Sox and why the relationship deteriorated so much this season that the team traded him less than two years into a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed in 2023. Devers did give one piece of insight when asked what he would tell Red Sox fans about why he is willing to play first base in San Francisco if he is asked after refusing to do so with the Red Sox when asked last month. "I would say that I have put some good numbers up over in Boston," he said through an interpreter. "I think that I do feel that I have earned some respect. If they would have asked me at the beginning of spring training, yes, I would have played (first)." Devers' relationship with the Red Sox began to deteriorate when the team signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman during spring training and asked Devers to move to DH; he balked before agreeing to the switch. When first baseman Triston Casas sustained a season-ending knee injury, the Red Sox approached Devers about playing the field and he declined, saying the front office "should do their jobs" and look for another player. A day after Devers' comments to the media about playing first, Red Sox owner John Henry, team president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers and manager Alex Cora. Devers' stance didn't change and he was eventually traded to San Francisco. He said he wouldn't have done anything differently in his time in Boston. "I put up good numbers over there," he said. "I always gave my 100 percent." The Giants were happy to acquire Devers after striking out in their bid to sign a big bat for the middle of the lineup in free agency. Devers went 3 for 11 with two walks and an RBI in his first three games with San Francisco as a designated hitter. He has started working out at first base and said he would be happy to play there as soon as he feels comfortable. "Like I said in the past, that is not a position that you're going to learn how to play overnight," he said. "I just have to continue that practice there." Devers said he is as happy as he has been in years in his first few days with the Giants and enjoyed the opportunity to see some of his friends on the Red Sox on Thursday night when the team arrived in town. "It's been a few hectic days," he said. "A long week it feels like. But I saw my friends yesterday, so, I was happy to be able to see them. I'm very happy." Devers said he didn't have "anything good or bad to say" about Cora but said he would talk to him on the field this weekend when he had the chance. Devers was 20 when he made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2017. He helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series and led the team in RBIs for five consecutive seasons from 2020-24. He has finished in the top 20 in voting for AL MVP five times. The Giants have lacked slugging since Barry Bonds hit 45 homers in 2004; they are the only team in the majors who have not had a batter hit 30 homers since then. Devers has hit at least 30 homers three times. Devers is not the first Red Sox All-Star to be traded away: The team sent Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2020 season in a salary dump -- just a year after he won the AL MVP award and led Boston to a franchise-record 108 wins and its fourth World Series title since 2004. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
27 minutes ago
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Most home runs before All-Star break: Cal Raleigh breaks Johnny Bench's catcher record
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