This is the reason why the Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the Giants
Here’s the reason why the Red Sox gave Rafael Dever away to the San Francisco Giants.
On Sunday, it was announced that the San Francisco Giants had acquired Rafael Devers in a trade that will send pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, along with minor leaguers James Tibbs and Jose Bello, back to Boston.
The headline-grabbing move ends a nine-season tenure in Boston for Devers, during which he won the 2018 World Series and earned three All-Star selections — yet, for some reason, it doesn’t feel all that surprising.
Devers signed the largest contract in franchise history in 2023, worth $313.5 million. So why did the Red Sox choose to let him go?
As part of the deal, the Giants will also take on a staggering financial commitment, paying him $254.5 million over the eight seasons following the current one.
The #SFGiants have acquired Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox pic.twitter.com/sN36s6P20h
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) June 16, 2025
Why did the Red Sox trade Devers to the Giants?
The reason the Red Sox got rid of Rafael Devers, let’s be clear, is not because of his numbers: Hitting .272 with a .905 OPS and 15 home runs is a stat line any player in the game would be proud of — and the San Francisco outfit is gaining a major name thanks to the deal.
Barry Bonds was the last Giants player to hit 30 home runs, back in 2004; Devers has managed to do so three times.One reason the Red Sox signed off on the trade was his contract.
Devers is owed over $250 million through 2033, making him a significant financial burden — especially given he was only in the second year of a 10-year deal that would see him turn 36 by the time it expired.
There was also a dispute over his position. The Red Sox had signed former Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, and Devers was asked to cede his spot to the Gold Glover. He reluctantly agreed, but the rift remained.
At the time, he admitted that issues had arisen from the situation, saying: “Third base is my position. It’s what I’ve played. I don’t know what their plans are. I know we had a conversation. I made it clear what my desires were, and whatever happens from here, I don’t know.”
Rafael Devers (acquired by SFG) is an elite hitter who has been one of the proficient bats in MLB since he joined the league and a key piece of the Red Sox lineup.
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) June 15, 2025
I am shocked. pic.twitter.com/4A6DlLOs8y
Reports in Boston also said that “the team’s feeling was that a $313.5M contract comes with responsibilities to do what is right for the team and that Devers did not live up to those responsibilities. They had enough and they traded him.”
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