The Boston Red Sox are being viewed as the early winners of the Rafael Devers trade as the star third baseman struggles and the Red Sox surge ahead.
Red Sox Viewed as Winners So Far Following Rafael Devers Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Boston Red Sox made the first big move of the season when they traded star third baseman Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on June 15. At the time, the Red Sox took a lot of criticism for the move as Devers had just signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract with Boston in 2023.
Devers was thought to be the future of the franchise, and just like that, he was gone. However, now a month later, we're at the All-Star break, and the Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball and being picked as World Series contenders.
The Red Sox are 16-9 since the Devers trade, which is good for the third-best record in baseball over that span. The only teams better - the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays. The Brewers have closed the gap in their division to just one game behind the Chicago Cubs, and the Blue Jays have taken over first place in the American League East.
The Red Sox went into the All-Star break winning 10 straight games, and since the Devers trade, Boston is averaging 5.5 runs per game.
On the flip side, the Giants are just 11-14 since acquiring Devers, and the former Red Sox star is hitting just .202 with two home runs and 10 RBI.
The Red Sox are 16-9 since the Devers trade. They are averaging 5.5 runs per game.
— Adam Jones (@JonesWEEI) July 14, 2025
The Giants are 11-14 while averaging 3.6 runs per game.
Devers is hitting .202 with 2 HR and 10 RBI. pic.twitter.com/UjNLr6N44b
In return for Devers, Boston acquired pitchers Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and prospects James Tibbs III and Jose Bello. Whether you want to consider it a positive or a negative at this point, the Red Sox haven't had any production at the Major League level from the return. However, Boston is still winning.
Devers has struggled severely lately for the Giants, heading into the All-Star break in a 1-18 slump. The Giants lost three of their last four games before the break and sit third in their division.
"Devers has struggled with his new team, batting .202/.330/.326 with two home runs, 10 RBI and nearly twice as many strikeouts (34) as hits (18)," NESN's Tyler Maher wrote. "He’s been worth -0.1 WAR for them (per Baseball-Reference) and entered the All-Star Break in a 1-for-18 funk, although a lower back injury may be to blame."
It's still very early to decide winners and losers of the Devers' trade, but right now the Red Sox look to be in pretty good shape. After the All-Star break, they should get Harrison and Hicks back soon, and we will be able to tell how the trade will work out.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
