Giants to Acquire Rafael Devers from Red Sox: What to Make of Trade

Arguably, the biggest trade of the year took place on June 15. The Giants swung a blockbuster trade for Rafael Devers, the All-Star slugger from the Red Sox in exchange for four players. Boston’s return includes two Minor Leaguers and two Major Leaguers.

The Giants’ Return

• 3B/DH Rafael Devers (.272/.401/.504, 15 HR, 33 XBH over 73 GP)

While his defensive capabilities were not the best in all of baseball, Rafael Devers was a superstar slugger with the Red Sox. His .869 OPS between 2020-25 (min. 2,000 PA) ranked him 13th-best in all of baseball and second-best among third basemen. Only Jose Ramirez (.882) had a better one.

Devers is one of the most fascinating sluggers in all of baseball. The 28-year-old posted Barrel% north of 10% every year since 2020, including this season. However, he’s not like typical power hitters; Devers loves to keep the hands in, creating an odd batted-ball profile where he hits it hard often but often, it goes to the opposite field.

But that doesn’t mean he can’t pull it every time. He doesn’t (33 of his 76 home runs from 2023-25 went to the pull side).

However, there was the baggage that came with Devers. Namely, the controversy that surrounded him over the last few months.

Devers, who’s in the second year of a 10-year, $313MM extension signed two years ago to prevent him from walking after 2023, did not take kindly to questions surrounding whether he’d move off third for Alex Bregman, who signed with Boston in the offseason.. The 28-year-old stated in the spring he was a third baseman but ultimately, did move to a DH role.

It seemed likely at some point Devers was going to move off third at some point. Devers is a below-average runner who doesn’t have great foot speed or range. His -27 Outs Above Average at third was a clear indication that it just wasn’t a fit.

But when Triston Casas went down to a season-ending injury, Devers refused to entertain the idea of playing first base. “I know I’m a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can’t expect me to play every single position out there,” Devers said in May regarding a potential move.

The team’s brass, including owner John Henry, spoke to Devers about the issue he had with the front office. That was a month ago. Now, he’s off to San Francisco.

Devers is under contract through the end of the 2033 season.

The Red Sox’s Return

• RHP Jose Bello (28 K, three BB over 18 IP) (ACL)
• LHP Kyle Harrison (25 K, nine BB over 23.2 IP)
• RHP Jordan Hicks (43 K, 20 BB over 48.2 IP)
• 1B/OF James Tibbs III (.246/.379/.478, 12 HR, 23 XBH over 57 GP) (A+)

Jordan Hicks might be the most well-known player in this deal.

Hicks was a strong, yet enigmatic reliever with the Cardinals. However, the Giants’ previous regime gave him a multi-year deal two years ago with the hope that he could develop as a starter. Hicks was a starter in his Minor League days.

The experiment didn’t work well. As expected, the velocity dropped and dropped it a lot. Hicks sat in the 96-97 MPH range early on in the season last year but as it progressed, he began to wear down and only sat in the low-90s.

Hicks got a second shot as a starter in 2025. However, San Francisco moved him out of the rotation last month.

The 28-year-old never had average command as a reliever but made up for it over the past two years thanks to heavy usage of the slider. He generates a lot of ground balls and few barrels. However, he’s a reliever.

The other MLB player in this deal, Kyle Harrison, was one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball two years ago. Harrison struck out 186 batters over 113 innings, beating Minor Leaguers with ease, thanks in large part to a very good fastball.

That fastball’s given him success in 2025; opposing batters hit .175 off it in 2025, along with a 27.5% Whiff%. Harrison’s fastball doesn’t have plus IVB but between the low arm slot and above-average extension, it can get on hitters fast.

Harrison will also use a changeup with sink and separation, plus a slurve. His slurve isn’t the most consistent offering.