Rafael Devers gets traded in stunning move

The deal was essentially confirmed when the Giants scratched Harrison from his scheduled start against the Dodgers just minutes before the first pitch.

There had been no indications that the Red Sox were even considering trading Devers, even after he and the organization fell out earlier this year.

Devers was moved from third base during the offseason after the team signed Alex Bregman. He balked when the Red Sox asked him to play first base amid an injury crisis. From that point on, there were suggestions that Devers could be traded eventually, but few saw it coming this soon.

Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract with the Red Sox in 2023. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Giants will take on the entirety of that contract.

The Giants are acquiring one of the game’s best hitters. Devers is hitting .271 this season with 14 home runs. The 28-year-old has three 30-homer seasons to his name.

Entering play Sunday, the Giants sit at 41-30, one game back of the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. A trade like this suggests they plan to make a real push for the division and the World Series.