In a shocking blockbuster over a month before the July 31 Trade Deadline, the Red Sox traded star slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants for Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Sunday evening. The clubs have not confirmed the deal. According to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, outfielder James Tibbs III, ranked No. 4 on MLB Pipeline’s list of the Giants’ Top 30 prospects, will also be part of the return to Boston.
Devers had become the face of the franchise in Boston since debuting in 2017, but there was some tension when the team signed Alex Bregman this offseason and Devers at first said he was not willing to move into a designated hitter role. He later walked that back and has mostly served in that role this season, but in early May he told the club that he would not be willing to play first base after Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury.
In January of 2023, the Red Sox signed Devers to an extension through the 2033 season. That deal was worth $331 million over 11 years, and the Giants are expected to pay out the rest of that contract, according to reports, which includes eight more years after this one.
The Giants are right in the thick of the NL West race and now add a premium left-handed bat to the lineup.
Devers hit 215 home runs in his nine years with the Red Sox, beginning his career with them as a 20-year-old. He is a three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and won a World Series ring with the team in 2018. He has a career OPS+ of 128 with a .279/.349/.510 slash line.
San Francisco pairs the 28-year-old with Matt Chapman and Willy Adames to deepen its lineup. Chapman — a five-time Gold Glove Award-winning third baseman — is currently on the injured list and could miss about a month, so it’s possible Devers might see some time at the hot corner again. The Red Sox travel to Oracle Park for a three-game set this weekend, which will likely be the first time Devers faces his former team in what is all of a sudden a highly anticipated clash.
The return for Boston strengthens their pitching staff behind ace Garrett Crochet, with Hicks a reliever turned starter who can pitch in multiple roles and the 23-year-old Harrison a former prospect who ranked as high as No. 11 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list in 2023.
