Devers Dealt — Baseball's Blockbuster Fallout

GIANTS GET:

• Rafael Devers, 3B

RED SOX GET:

• Kyle Harrison, LHP
• Jordan Hicks, RHP
• Jose Bello, RHP
• James Tibbs III, OF

I can't comment with any certainty on the behind-the-scenes drama leading to the deal but it's safe to say something's bubbled under the surface for months. Starting with the signing of fellow All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, the vibes immediately turned south when Devers met questions surrounding a positional move with sour tones.

Rafael Devers' bat instantly fills a desperate need in a power-starved Giants' order, that's unbelievably still just a single game behind the vaunted Dodgers. The 28-year-old's taken some heat for his performance this season, which feels significantly overblown to me given the box score — .272 BA, .905 OPS, 47 Runs, 58 RBI, 15.7% Barrel, 15 HR, 148 wRC+. That'll play anywhere, especially in a pennant chase,

Moving on from Devers on its own isn't necessarily crazy on its face when considering the contract length, positional logjam, and wealth of young bats in Boston's farm system. That said, you'd think one of the game's premiere bets firmly in his prime would fetch more of a haul.

Find yourself scratching your head? You're not the only one...

Kyle Harrison, LHP: 

Through 182.2 IP of work, Harrison's yet to deliver on the hype from those lower-level 2021-2022 MiLB seasons. Mostly featuring a 95 mph fastball with tons of horizontal arm-side run, the three-pitch arsenal prototypes more like that of a reliever than anything. 

Jordan Hicks, RHP:

Despite beginning his pro career a decade ago, Hicks (who I admit, I thought was much older) enters his age-29 season. Derailed by a multitude of throwing arm injuries costing him up to five miles an hour on a once +100 mph heater, Boston's new RHP never once eclipsed +110 IP in a big league season. Now relying mostly on a power-sinker, degrading stuff plus below-average location's led to a ballooned 6.47 ERA in 2025. I don't see how or where he fits into this new staff maybe outside as a long reliever.

Jose Bello, RHP:

A 20-year-old righty yet to pitch above the Complex level, Bello projects as a potential backend SP. Strictly from a box score perspective, he checks a lot boxes (high K-BB, high groundball rates, low HR/9) — but it's impossible to make a determination without experience against much better hitters.

James Tibbs III, OF

Presumably the trade's keystone, James Tibbs III is a 22-year-old left-handed OF with fewer than 400 professional plate appearances. A former first-round pick in 2024, Tibbs very well may make good on the draft capital associated with a thirteenth overall pick — but at the very least it's going to be a while. Per Fangraphs, his projection "could shift into more of an everyday role if the defense improves and/or he shows he can hit upper-level lefties". That last part's the real kicker to me, with so much competition for at-bats with the big club.

LAGHEZZA'S LEAN:

In a best case scenario, I guess we could theoretically look back favorably on this some day for Boston, though I highly doubt it. More interesting to me is the non-impact on betting markets — San Fran's price to win the West didn't budge from (+700).

The more I digest the current scenario, the less I understand it. Why are the Dodgers such runaway favorites with just a two game lead on the Giants and Padres? Yes, the offense rocks — I get it. However, every week LAD seems to report more bad pitching news (Roki Sasaki recently shut down again with arm discomfort) and it's just a matter of pricing. 

If I had to stake a claim on the best value, it's splitting a low-risk wager on San Francisco (+700) and San Diego (+1100) to take the division on the hope Los Angeles' pitching doesn't get to the finish line. Speaking of which, Shohei Ohtani's preparing to pitch tonight, which doesn't make me feel any better about the prospect of that happening. The market's extremely hot on the Dodgers and I can't say I agree. with Devers introduced to the fold.

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