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- Rafael Devers trade details
- Why did Red Sox trade Rafael Devers?
- Rafael Devers-Red Sox controversy timeline
- Rafael Devers contract details
The Boston Red Sox earned just their second postseason berth since their 2018 title in the 2025 season. Yet the team's success came in an unusual circumstance, parting ways with arguably their top hitter in the middle of the campaign.
In June 2025, the Red Sox sent Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a stunning move, ending Devers' nine-year run in Boston as his relationship with the team deteriorated. Despite giving the designated hitter a lucrative extension just a few years prior, the Red Sox made the controversial move of flipping Devers with the hopes of replacing his production elsewhere.
For the Giants, Devers wound up finishing the 2025 season with so-so numbers by his standards, slugging 20 home runs in San Francisco to finish with 35 overall. But as the Giants missed the postseason, the Red Sox snuck into the AL bracket as the No. 5 seed.
Why did Boston move on from Devers in the middle of the 2025 season? Here's what to know about the trade that send the slugging star across the country.
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Rafael Devers trade details
- Red Sox received: SP Kyle Harrison, RP Jordan Hicks, OF James Tibbs III, RHP Jose Bello
- Giants received: DH Rafael Devers
It was a four-for-one deal between Boston and San Francisco that took place on June 15, 2025. Once considered a franchise cornerstone for the Red Sox, Devers was sent to the Giants to become a much-needed power hitter in their lineup.
Meanwhile, Boston did its best to recoup some value for Devers, not only shedding his salary but also adding some MLB-level pitching depth, an outfielder prospect and a pitching prospect.
Harrison wound up appearing in just three games for the Red Sox in 2025, with a 3.00 ERA over 12 innings in those games. Hicks struggled for Boston, with an 8.20 ERA out of the bullpen over 18.2 innings, while Tibbs spent the rest of the season in Double-A and Bello in Single-A.
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Why did Red Sox trade Rafael Devers?
The Red Sox's decision to trade Devers was way more about the slugger's off-the-field personality and leadership skills, or lack thereof, than his bat. If it was purely about Devers' talent, Boston likely would've held onto him; he hit at least 30 home runs in three seasons for the Red Sox.
Instead, the trade was the culmination of a shattered relationship between Devers and the team. After the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman, one of the most talented third baseman in MLB, Devers showed a resistance to move off of third base, where he had spent the majority of his career.
After Devers agreed to be a desginated hitter, the team later wanted to move him to first base following a season-ending injury to Tristan Casas. He declined, further speaking negatively of the front office.
Despite reportedly meeting with the front office executives and ownership, the Red Sox were determined to move on from Devers due to his lack of leadership, comments about position changes and deteriorated relationship with the squad.
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Rafael Devers-Red Sox controversy timeline
Jan. 11, 2023: Devers, Red Sox agree to 10-year extension
While it was long before there were any known issues between Devers and the Red Sox, the star's contract extension certainly played into the controversy to come in 2025. In January 2023, Devers signed a 10-year extension that became the largest commitment to a player in franchise history.
For a Red Sox team that had seen talented players like Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Chris Sale exit in recent seasons, the extension marked an unusual commitment to one of their stars. By that point, Devers had emerged as one of baseball's premiere left-handed hitters and a third baseman that had contributed to their 2018 World Series run and two more postseason berths.
Devers was a two-time All-Star when he signed his extension. According to ESPN, "multiple high-ranking officials in the [Red Sox] baseball operations department opposed the idea" of extending Devers, but they were "overruled." Additionally, opinions on the extension were split around MLB, with some executives questioning how Devers would age and if he was too one-dimensional as a hitter.
Feb. 15, 2025: Red Sox sign Alex Bregman in free agency
The real controversy between Devers and the Red Sox began in February 2025, when the team made a late-offseason addition by signing star third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year contract. The Red Sox weren't considered big players for Bregman initially, but as the offseason unfolded, he remained on the open market into spring training.
According to ESPN, when the chance of Bregman signing in Boston emerged, the team's chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, "assured Devers' camp that nothing serious was afoot." Bregman quickly accepted the team's final offer though, and Devers wound up finding out about the trade when the news dropped.
When Devers came to spring training, the team asked if he would move from third base to designated hitter, allowing Bregman to play third. Per ESPN, "Devers was livid," and he wanted to at least slowly transition into his new role, which he was not allowed to do.
"Third base is my position," Devers said through an interpreter, per ESPN. "It's what I play. I don't know what their plans are. We had a conversation. I made it clear on what my desires were. Whatever happens from here, I don't know."
Devers said at the time that he talked to Breslow and manager Alex Cora and was caught off guard by discussions about the topic.
"I'm someone that believes in people's word," Devers said, per ESPN. "I take it to heart. And, yeah, it was very surprising that they would suggest that. I've known that this is a business. I know that each side is going to do what is best for them, what is most comfortable for them. I don't think that was the right way to do business."
Devers did wind up giving into the team's needs, starting the 2025 season as a designated hitter, which allowed him to spend his time on the offensive side.
Rafael Devers explains why he is not willing to play first base in Boston
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 8, 2025
via @SmittyOnMLB pic.twitter.com/n2COGyEfTh
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May 2, 2025: Tristan Casas gets injured, Red Sox approach Devers about 1B
In May 2025, Red Sox first baseman Tristan Casas went down with a season-ending knee injury. Not only was it a tough blow for the team's 2025 outlook, but it wound up indirectly leading to one of the biggest trades in Red Sox history.
With internal options at first base limited, Boston turned toward Devers about a potential position change once again, especially with an influx of young talent in 2025 at various other positions. And once again, Devers declined to play a new position very publicly.
“They had the conversation with me,” Devers said through a translator, per Yahoo. “I don’t think me personally it’s the best decision after they asked me to play a different position, and I only have two months of playing this position."
That wasn't all Devers said though, as he called out the Red Sox front office to look on the open market for a first baseman.
“I know I’m a ballplayer but at the same time, they can’t expect me to play every single position out there. In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove — that I wasn’t going to play any other position but DH. So right now, I just feel like it’s not an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position," Devers said, per Yahoo.
"Now I think they should do their job essentially and hit the market and look for another player [to play first base]. I'm not sure why they want me to be in between the way they have me now. ... I don’t think they stay true to their word. They told me I was going to be playing this position, DH. And now they are going back on that. So yeah, I don’t think they stay true to their word."
Those words caused an even bigger rift between Devers and the Red Sox than the one that existed.
May 2025: Red Sox executives meet with Devers about first base comments
In the days after Devers' comments to reporters about playing first base, team owner John Henry, Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy and Breslow flew to Kansas City, where Boston was playing, to speak with Devers, according to ESPN.
During those conversations, Devers reportedly indicated that he would prepare to play first base in 2026 if the team wanted him to move there.
Still, the relationship between the slugger and front office was strained. His comments helped motivate the front office to find a deal, putting an end to the drama by finding a trade partner.
June 15, 2025: Devers is traded to the Giants
The Red Sox officially parted ways with Devers on June 15, 2025, sending him to San Francisco in exchange for Harrison, Hicks, Tibbs and Bello.
In the trade, the Giants also took on the remainder of Devers' significant contract, which allowed the Red Sox to free up some money. The deal was met with some criticism from Boston's fanbase, departing with yet another star-level talent, while Devers added a huge power boost to the Giants' lineup.
While the Giants went on to miss the postseason, the Red Sox secured the No. 5 seed in the AL without Devers in 2025.
June 21, 2025: Devers homers vs. Red Sox
Just a week after the stunning deal that sent Devers to the Bay Area, the Giants and Red Sox faced off in San Francisco.
Devers' first home run as a Giant came against his former team, with an opposite-way shot that made it a 3-0 advantage for the Giants.
Rafael Devers hits his first @SFGiants home run! pic.twitter.com/6uV3XQ8H5L
— MLB (@MLB) June 21, 2025
July 22, 2025: Devers plays first base for the Giants
While Devers primarily started at designated hitter in his initial time with the Giants, he wound up playing the position that led to his Boston exit: first base.
On July 22, 2025, Devers was in San Francisco's lineup as the first baseman, causing some headlines after refusing to play the position for the Red Sox.
Devers finished the 2025 season with 35 total homers, 20 of which came with the Giants.
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Rafael Devers contract details
- 10 years, $313.5 million (8 years remaining)
The contract Devers signed with the Red Sox in 2023 was for 10 years and $313.5 million in total, and it began in the 2024 season. Not counting the 2025 season, Devers has eight years remaining in the deal, going through the 2033 season, his age-36 campaign.
From 2027-33, Devers will account for $28.5 million against the Giants' payroll, per Spotrac.
Devers was the 15th-highest paid player in MLB in 2025, per Spotrac.