Red Sox Ripped for 'Losing' Rafael Devers Trade With Giants

"Boston’s return for Rafael Devers includes left-handed starter Kyle Harrison, right-hander Jordan Hicks, outfield prospect James Tibbs and another prospect, sources tell ESPN," Passan continued. "The Red Sox will not send any money to cover the remaining $250 million-plus on Devers’ contract."

Media members and baseball fans alike immediately criticized Boston's return for the star player, even despite the Red Sox getting off the entirety of Devers' contract.   

"Why does this Devers deal feel like the Luka deal?" Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports wrote on X. "Red Sox front office bother trying to get any real prospects and real return for Devers, or nah?"

The Luka Doncic trade between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers in February, which was widely criticized by NBA analysts and fans as one-sided, was a common point of comparison by those who didn't like/understand why Boston dealt Devers for a 28-year-old starting pitcher in Hicks who owns a  1-5 record with a 6.47 ERA in nine starts this season and has never been an All-Star in seven MLB campaigns. 

"This is the MLB version of Luka to the Lakers," one fan responded to Passan's report on X. 

"I don’t get this at all from Red Sox perspective for so many different reasons," another fan wrote. 

"Night ruined, goodbye," a third person responded.

Devers' relationship with the Red Sox deteriorated earlier this year when the team acquired Alex Bregman, who they put at third base. 

Boston moved Devers to the designated hitter spot, later asking him to move to first base following an injury to Triston Casas in May -- a request Devers rebuked publicly.