1. After the Boston Red Sox chose to move on from Rafael Devers, one central question arises: has this decision actually improved the team?
Looking toward the 2025 season, it’s hard to say yes. The long-term value may hinge on how effectively chief baseball officer Craig Breslow uses the $235 million the team no longer owes Devers over the next eight years. Given some of Breslow’s recent moves—including a deal with the San Francisco Giants that many consider questionable—it’s fair to remain skeptical.
This is just the latest chapter in the Red Sox’s ongoing saga of headline-making decisions. Their most recent controversy erupted just after they completed a sweep of the Yankees, marking their third straight series win and fifth consecutive victory overall.
Some believe the timing was off. Waiting until the offseason might have allowed Boston to explore more trade options or use Devers as leverage while eyeing potential additions like Alex Bregman, who may soon hit the free-agent market.
Instead, the Red Sox acted quickly, unloading Devers and his 10-year, $313.5 million contract—just two years in—and received four players in return from San Francisco: pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle
2 . Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs III, and pitching prospect Jose Bello.
Long-term contracts often carry risk, and Devers’ deal is no exception. Yet, at 28, he’s still considered among the league’s elite hitters. Finding a player of similar offensive impact isn’t likely, no matter how talented the upcoming prospects may be.
Internal friction also played a role. Reports say Devers declined a shift to first base after stepping in as designated hitter earlier in the season. This reluctance created tension with team leadership, especially with Breslow, who Devers later publicly questioned.
Boston is framing this move as a shift in team culture, but some feel Devers was pushed away by poor communication, including the organization’s pursuit of Bregman without his knowledge.
Some praise the team for cutting ties with a burdensome contract, but it’s worth remembering that Devers’ extension came after Boston failed to hold onto stars like Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts. His deal was seen as a reaction to those earlier losses.
In terms of the trade return, it’s a mixed bag. Tibbs is a top prospect with strong potential, but Hicks is injured and underperforming, and Harrison, who returned to Triple-A, still needs development.
Losing Devers means giving up a productive hitter with a .272 average, 15 home runs, and a .905 OPS. His absence also removes a veteran presence that shielded younger players like Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, and Roman Anthony.
Now, the Red Sox appear to be banking on Bregman opting out of his deal, using the money saved from Devers to bring him in. But with Scott Boras representing Bregman, that scenario is anything but certain.
Since taking the helm in late 2023, Breslow has made bold roster moves, including trades for ace Garrett Crochet and catcher Carlos Narváez, along with the high-priced signing of Bregman. However, not all of his additions have worked out—Lucas Giolito missed 2024 due to surgery, and Walker Buehler still hasn’t proven his worth.
Other moves, such as trading Chris Sale for Vaughn Grissom, showed promise, but the 2024 trade deadline acquisitions—including Paxton and Sims—had minimal impact. As the 2025 deadline approaches, Breslow’s decision-making will remain under the microscope.
Despite recent pitching improvements, Boston’s rotation remains shaky, with a team ERA ranking 22nd in the league. The immediate contributions of Hicks and Harrison are uncertain, and the team now lacks a powerful bat in the heart of the order.
Devers may not have been a vocal clubhouse leader, but his unwillingness to switch positions reportedly unsettled some teammates. Even so, removing a hitter with his level of production during a playoff chase is a risky move.
(Top photo: Michael Urakami / MLB Photos via Getty Images)