By Mauricio Segura June 15, 2025
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 7: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox at bat during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 7, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
On June 15, 2025, baseball fans got one of the biggest surprises in recent memory: the Boston Red Sox traded their star hitter, Rafael Devers, to the San Francisco Giants. The move came just after the Red Sox swept the Yankees and were riding above a .500 record. Instead of waiting until the end-of-July trade deadline, Boston sent Devers to the Giants at midseason, an almost unheard-of decision.
At 28 years old, Devers is in his prime. He has been a three-time All-Star, won the Silver Slugger Award twice, and even helped Boston win the World Series in 2018. This season alone, he had hit 15 home runs, knocked in 58 runs, and was batting .272. His on-base percentage was .401, slugging .504, which added up to a whopping .905 OPS.
Devers was signed in January 2023 to a 10-year contract worth $313.5 million, extending through 2033. When the deal went through, the Giants agreed to take on approximately $250 million left on his contract, another bold sign of how big this trade was.
The trade included right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks and left-handed prospect Kyle Harrison, plus two minor-league talents: James Tibbs III and Jose Bello. Boston hopes these arms, especially Harrison and Hicks, will help improve their pitching lineup.
But why did this trade happen so suddenly? A key reason was tension between Devers and the organization. This spring, Boston signed Alex Bregman to play third base, pushing Devers into the designated hitter role. Then, when starting first baseman Triston Casas injured his knee in May, the team asked Devers to move to first base. He refused and reportedly criticized the front office, which escalated the conflict.
For San Francisco, this trade is a game-changer. The Giants are just one game behind the Dodgers in the National League West at the time of the deal. Devers brings a powerful left-handed bat to a team that has lacked consistent power. Even though their usual third baseman, Matt Chapman, is sidelined with injury, Devers can fill in at first base or serve as a designated hitter. The Giants are also shedding Hicks’s $32 million contract, which frees up money for more talent.
On the flip side, Boston loses one of its best hitters in the middle of the season. Devers had been the face of their franchise since debuting in 2017, compiling 214 home runs, an .858 career OPS, and 24.8 WAR. Losing his bat leaves a big hole in their lineup, especially as Alex Bregman is dealing with a quad injury, and shifts the team’s strategy toward building youth and pitching depth.
Rafael Devers's story is already legendary. Born October 24, 1996, in Sánchez, Dominican Republic, he signed with Boston at age 16 for $1.5 million. He made his MLB debut on July 25, 2017, and became the youngest Red Sox player to homer since 1965. Over the years, he earned three All-Star selections, two Silver Sluggers, and helped his team win the 2018 World Series. But despite his power, he struggled defensively, especially at third base.
Few anticipated a mid-season trade of this magnitude. Normally, blockbuster trades involving franchise cornerstones happen later in summer, and rarely when both teams are still competing. That’s what made this deal so shocking.
This blockbuster illustrates a modern trend: even star players with big contracts can be traded if teams believe they can gain better value elsewhere. It also shows front offices' increasing emphasis on flexibility, attitude, and long-term strategies.
For Giants fans, Devers’s arrival signals a serious push toward playoff contention. For Red Sox fans, it feels like saying farewell to an era. But one thing's clear: baseball’s power landscape has shifted, and this trade changes the game. Devers heads west to make a fresh start, the Giants ramp up their power lineup, and Boston bets on promising arms and young talent. On both coasts, the season now has a blockbuster new storyline.
