Red Sox’ David Ortiz Sends Clear Message to Rafael Devers After Trade

Big Papi didn’t mince words when speaking about the Red Sox superstar in a recent comment to ESPN’s Hector Gómez.

“You cannot imagine how many times I wrote to Devers trying to give him advice…he almost never returned my messages,” Ortiz said.

It’s surprising that Devers didn’t listen to Ortiz, who is widely respected not just for his work in the broadcast booth but also for his temperament and his stature in Red Sox history.

Ortiz also works for Fenway Sports Group as a special assistant, but he told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that Devers should have handled his internal affairs more discreetly.

“I played for the Red Sox a long time,” Ortiz said. “You think everything with me and the Red Sox was roses and flowers?

“I went through some tough times also. But I was mature enough to understand and keep things internal,” Ortiz added.

Ortiz’s perspective on the end of Devers’ tumultuous time in Boston is one that might rattle Red Sox fans, who have been quick to jump on general manager Craig Breslow for pulling the trigger on this trade.

The secrecy and immediacy behind this trade clearly reflect a sentiment by the front office that Devers was a clubhouse pariah and detrimental to the organization, which many Red Sox fans resent.

Ortiz’s comments ultimately point some blame at Devers, who poured gasoline on a burning flame by going public with his problems within the organization.