Red Sox legend Ortiz uses Devers trade as lesson for young stars originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Red Sox legend David Ortiz wants young stars to use Boston’s shocking trade of left-handed slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants as a lesson. In a conversation with baseball content creator Yancen Pujols on Monday, “Big Papi” detailed why he believes there is much to learn from the 28-year-old’s fallout in Boston.

“Players need to take this as an example, nobody is indispensable … You need to be smart and understand the situation. Your worst enemy is your ego,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz’s comments were directed toward Devers’ unhappiness with his role in Boston and how, despite the three-time MLB All-Star playing under the 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed with the Red Sox in 2023, no one player is above a franchise.

After playing third base for the first eight years of his MLB career, Devers was moved to designated hitter this season to make way for Alex Bregman, whom the Red Sox signed to a three-year, $120 million free-agent contract this past offseason. Then, after Triston Casas suffered a ruptured left patellar tendon in early May, Boston asked Devers to step in at first base, which he never did.

Devers simply was turned off by the Red Sox wanting him to change positions multiple times. That fact left Ortiz wanting MLB’s up-and-comers to know that, even if you are a stud like Devers, you’re still just a part of a team – and movable.

“The organization is always going to be there,” Ortiz reiterated in an interview with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal published on Monday. “Players come and go. As a player, sometimes you’ve got to put your ego aside and understand that once you get paid, you’ve got to find a way to do what you’re told. 

“That’s a message for all young players who think they turn out to be bigger than the game. I’m not saying that Devers was like that. He’s humble. He’s a good kid. But sometimes when you’re young and immature, you (don’t realize that).”

It is unknown if Devers would still be with the Red Sox had they not signed Bregman or had Casas not gotten injured. But the what-ifs don’t matter now, as Devers is San Francisco-bound and expected to work with manager Bob Melvin and president of baseball operations Buster Posey on figuring out his new role(s).

Devers exits Boston for San Francisco after posting a .905 OPS over 73 games as a full-time DH during the 2025 MLB season. Through the national noise and Ortiz’s comments, it’s clear most believe the Giants landed a potential National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, and that the Red Sox are in the dumps.

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Here's what happened in Mets Land on Sunday, in case you missed it...

• Griffin Canning put the Mets in a big early hole during a listless 9-0 loss to the Rays at Citi Field
• The Mets are quickly turning the page from their sweep at the hands of Tampa Bay
• Canning was candid about his struggles and what needs to change
• Brett Baty is day-to-day with groin tightness
• Sean Manaeamade his third rehab start
• Kodai Sengahas not been shut down completely
• Francisco Lindor's broken toe won't be a year-long issue
• Mark Vientos is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse
• Jett Williamshas seven hits -- including three triples -- in his last four games for Double-A Binghamton

Posey recalls familiar feeling leading up to Giants' Devers trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Buster Posey is no stranger to baseball-related anxiety.

The three-time World Series champion, seven-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger and 2012 National League MVP has experienced the biggest moments the game has to offer on the field. Off the field, however, as San Francisco’s new president of baseball operations, there only are so many moments where he might feel those familiar butterflies.

Acquiring superstar slugger Rafael Devers in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday certainly was one of those moments, as Posey explained Monday morning on KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus.”

“I was telling [my wife] Kristen yesterday morning as it felt like this was coming together, I kind of have some of the same anxiousness and anxiety that I had before every single game. It was a fun feeling, it was exciting,” Posey said.

The potential franchise-altering move, while a collaborative effort between Posey, general manager Zack Minasian and their team, ultimately rested on the shoulders of just one person: Posey.

“A decision like this is not made solely by myself, there’s a lot of input from our team, whether it’s Zack or Jeremy [Shelley] or our advisors,” Posey shared. “Ultimately, I had to be the one to pull the trigger on this, but felt like as a group we came to that decision together.”

Posey made the final decision for the Giants and hopped on a one-on-one call with Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to push the deal across the finish line.

“It was me and Breslow,” Posey revealed. “Breslow and I were kind of going back and forth to try and hash out the details, but ultimately it was myself and Breslow.”

The trade not only went through right before the Giants’ series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which led to some chaos on the field and in the clubhouse, but also on Father’s Day, where Posey was celebrating with his family while simultaneously pulling off one of the biggest trades in franchise history.

“It was a Father’s Day to remember, for sure,” Posey added. “I was on the phone and the little girls were running around doing their thing and the older kids were doing their thing, so it was a balancing act.”

Talk about a great Father’s Day gift.

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Who could Red Sox target in free agency after getting rid of Devers' contract? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox moved on from another face-of-the-franchise player Sunday when they traded designated hitter Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a shocking move.

Just hours after sweeping the rival New York Yankees and building some real, positive momentum for the first time all season, the Red Sox dealt Devers for a package that included left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, minor league outfielder James Tibbs III and minor league right-handed pitcher Jose Bello.

The return was underwhelming, to put it mildly. None of these players or prospects have star potential, although Tibbs could develop into a useful player. He was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

One of the most significant aspects of the trade for the Red Sox was they managed to offload all of the $254 million remaining on Devers’ 10-year, $313 million contract.

As a result, the Red Sox could have a lot of money to spend in the offseason in the free agent and/or trade markets. And in addition to getting rid of Devers’ contract, the Red Sox also have the salaries of Walker Buehler ($21 million) and Lucas Giolito ($19 million), among others, coming off the books following the 2025 season.

While the Devers trade itself looks like a huge blunder based on the return, this deal ultimately will be judged by how the Red Sox are able to upgrade their roster with the money they saved by moving him.

So, which players could potentially be available for the Red Sox to spend their money on this winter?

Here’s a list of notable players who are able to become unrestricted free agents after the 2025 season. It should be noted that some of them could remain with their current teams.

Kyle Tucker, RF, Cubs

Tucker likely will be the best position player available, assuming he reaches the open market. The Cubs traded for him last offseason, and he’s one of the primary reasons why they lead the National League Central Division right now.

He is batting .277 with 13 home runs, 43 RBI, a .389 on-base percentage and a .893 OPS. Tucker also won the 2022 World Series with the Houston Astros. The 28-year-old veteran would be very expensive to sign, and the Red Sox don’t have a huge need in the outfield. But if the Red Sox want a proven bat for their lineup, Tucker is worth pursuing.

Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets

The Red Sox have a massive need for a first baseman, the position where Alonso has made a huge impact on the Mets for many years. He’s also having a tremendous season, hitting .293 with 17 home runs and a league-leading 63 RBI. His .960 OPS ranks fifth among all players. Alonso will be 31 in December, and he might need to switch to DH at some point, but his ability to play first base and be very productive at the plate would make him an interesting target for Boston.

Josh Naylor, 1B, Diamondbacks

Another option at first base for the Red Sox could be Naylor, who set career highs with 31 home runs and 108 RBI for the Cleveland Guardians last season. He is hitting .300 with nine homers, 48 RBI and an .827 OPS in 69 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2025. Naylor isn’t an amazing defensive player at first base, but he would add some reliable offensive production to Boston’s lineup.

Dylan Cease, SP, Padres

The Red Sox need another ace to join Garrett Crochet atop the rotation, and Cease could be one of the top pitchers available in the offseason. He is the only pitcher who has struck out 200-plus batters in each of the last four seasons, and with 96 strikeouts in 14 games this year, he’s on pace to hit that mark again.

His 2025 season — 2-5, 4.28 ERA, 1.30 WHIP — has been disappointing so far. But in his last start on June 11, Cease pitched seven innings and gave up just three hits and zero runs, while striking out 11 in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cease would be a huge addition to the Red Sox rotation, but would their front office splurge for a starter who will be 30 years old on Opening Day 2026?

Zac Gallen, SP, Diamondbacks

Gallen is not having a great 2025 campaign so far. He is 4-8 with a 5.19 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and 0.4 WAR. However, he has been a very good pitcher for the Diamondbacks over the last four seasons, including two top-five finishes in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2022 and 2023.

Framber Valdez, SP, Astros

Valdez will be 32 years old at the start of next season, so he might not be the best long-term fit for the Red Sox, but he is a very talented and reliable starter. He has started at least 28 games for the Astros in each of the last three years. He’s having a good 2025 season, too, posting a 7-4 record with a 3.10 ERA, 96 strikeouts and a 1.09 WHIP in 14 appearances so far.

And if the Red Sox get back to the postseason in the short term, Valdez would be a nice pitcher to have in that kind of atmosphere given his previous experience and success in big games. He pitched fantastic during the Astros’ run to a 2022 World Series title.

Watch Red Sox fans' incredulous reaction to Devers-to-Giants trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants’ trade with the Boston Red Sox for three-time MLB All-Star Rafael Devers left the baseball world stunned ever since news broke minutes before San Francisco’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

Considering how unexpected the move for the 28-year-old was – especially its unusual timing – many fans even initially doubted the deal was real, much like NBA fans did when news broke of the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers swapping Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis in early February.

A TikTok posted by user @eileenflynn11 captured the immediate reactions of what appeared to be a crowd of Red Sox fans who truly didn’t believe Boston was sending Devers to San Francisco, especially after he helped his old club sweep the New York Yankees.

Most people laughed and mocked the original poster for throwing out what appeared to be an outlandish, April Fools-esque joke. But they soon realized she wasn’t kidding and that Devers was bound for the Bay.

Indeed, it was a “tough day for Boston Dads,” as the post’s caption read.

Another TikTok, posted by user @patsatonafatcat, captured what probably was an even worse moment – a Red Sox fan being gifted a shirt with Devers’ last name and number on it minutes after the trade broke the internet.

Keep the tags on that one.

While Boston fans were heartbroken and clearly in disbelief, San Francisco fans couldn’t be more excited. 

The Giants are getting one of the best bats in baseball, and if things go well over the eight years remaining on the 10-year contract Devers signed with the Red Sox in 2023, there’s a real chance the left-handed slugger could be remembered as a West Coast superstar despite being part of Boston’s organization since he was a 16-year-old prospect.

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Betts has stunned reaction to ex-teammate Devers' trade to Giants originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

On Sunday afternoon, ex-Boston Red Sox teammate and current Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts was rocked by the Giants’ monumental trade for All-Star designated hitter Rafael Devers.

And that’s considering that back in 2020, Betts, who was crowned 2018 World Series Champion along with Devers, was traded by the Red Sox to the Dodgers along with a slew of players.

“I just thought it was crazy,” said Betts of Devers’ trade to the Giants (h/t The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya). “Nothing really to say, it’s just crazy.”

The 28-year-old slugger joins the Giants in exchange for pitchers Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison and prospects James Tibbs III and Jose Bello. 

It’s a game-changing acquisition for San Francisco, which had been notably seeking a superstar hitter for several years.

Devers is in the second season of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract that was signed back in Jan. 2023.

The three-time MLB All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger is estimated to make roughly $250 million over the next eight-plus seasons, likely securing his long-term future in the Bay Area.

Surely, Devers will look to follow Betts’ lead in winning two more World Series with his new team.

Ironically, Betts is now Devers’ top rival to beat.

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Willy Adames, Dominic Smith confident Rafael Devers will be perfect Giants fit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LOS ANGELES — A couple of weeks ago, the Giants had one of the worst first base situations in baseball. They woke up Monday morning with a different dilemma: Will they now be able to find enough at-bats for Wilmer Flores, the team RBI leader, and Dominic Smith, who has hit the ground running in orange and black?

Smith has been a revelation at first, but he’ll lose some playing time one way or another once Rafael Devers arrives on Tuesday, a debut that will come two weeks after the Giants DFA’d struggling first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. and signed Smith out of the minors.

President of baseball operations Buster Posey and manager Bob Melvin said late Sunday night that they want to talk to Devers before deciding where he will play, but it seems likely he’ll be the everyday DH once all the dust settles and everyone gets healthy.

That would mean more starts at first base for Flores, and possibly a platoon there with Smith. If either loses significant time — and it should be noted that the sample size with Smith is extremely small — that will only strengthen what has been a weak bench. 

There’s a lot to sort out, but on Sunday night, Smith was all smiles. After the game at Dodger Stadium, he said Devers, his teammate in 2024, will be a perfect fit with this group.

“The thing that I admire is he wanted to play every day. The stuff behind the scenes — he’s a grinder, he doesn’t want a day off, he wants to play against the elite pitching and he wants to be in the big moments and he wants to win,” Smith said. “I know this is a crazy last few hours, but we’ve got a really, really, really talented ballplayer. Young, right in his prime, I can’t wait to see how many balls he hits in the cove.”

Smith has the most experience with Devers, but a lot has changed since they were teammates. Last year, Devers was in the first season of a 10-year contract extension that promised to make him the face of the franchise in Boston. But in the offseason, the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman, kicking off what turned into months of drama. Devers wasn’t thrilled, and he didn’t want to move to first base in-season when Triston Casas went down with a season-ending knee injury.

Smith said his own experience with Devers was all positive, noting repeatedly that Devers just wants to play every day.

“He’s going to come in and play hard and show the fans what type of player he is,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to see him do his thing.”

The most excited player in the Giants’ clubhouse might have been another infielder. Willy Adames has been friends with Devers for about a decade, and they exchanged texts after the deal became official. Adames was so fired up that he forgot to stretch before the finale against the Dodgers. 

“You see the numbers every year that he always puts up in Boston,” Adames said. “We need someone like that … when we get Chappy back, it’s going to be a problem for pitchers.”

Devers has a .905 OPS and 15 homers, and he’s 15th among big leaguers with a wRC+ of 148. By that last metric, the Giants — yes, the San Francisco Giants — will soon have three of the top 32 hitters in baseball in their lineup. Chapman, who is out another three or four weeks, ranks 30th and Heliot Ramos is 32nd. 

The addition should be a game-changing one for the lineup, and it stunned the rest of the industry. Devers, 28, is not the type of player who ever gets traded in June, but the back-and-forth about his position led to a falling out in Boston. Management there apparently had seen and heard enough and was eager to move on, but Posey said Sunday that he did his due diligence and came away convinced that there was simply miscommunication in Boston, and that Devers will be a positive addition to the clubhouse. 

Adames gave a full endorsement Sunday night, and he said he texted Devers that everyone in the clubhouse was excited to play with him. Devers responded that he was fired up about the trade.  

“He’s great, he’s great. He’s a great guy,” Adames said. “Obviously, there has been some miscommunication there. I think that from what I know from him, I know he likes to know things. He wants people to communicate to him and be honest, you know? I feel like here with Buster, that’s all we’ve got.

“Buster is a super honest guy, he’s going to be straight up (and Devers) is going to love that. He’s going to feel comfortable here. I know that for a fact.”

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