In wake of Rafael Devers trade, there’s only one question that matters for the Red Sox

The only question that matters, in the wake of the Boston Red Sox showing Rafael Devers who’s the boss, is this:

Are the Sox a better team?

For 2025, it’s difficult to imagine the answer is yes. Beyond that, the Sox might come out ahead, but only if chief baseball officer Craig Breslow puts the team’s savings on Devers — some $235 million over the next eight-plus seasons — to good use.

Based on Breslow’s performance thus far, including his dubious return for Devers from the San Francisco Giants, believe it when you see it.

There is no drama like Red Sox drama, and their latest messy divorce with a star player is one that figures to generate debate for some time.

Only the Red Sox could upstage themselves after sweeping the New York Yankees for their third straight series win over a division rival and fifth straight victory overall.

This had to happen now? It could not wait until the offseason? By holding off, the Sox might have given themselves a better chance to continue their 2025 revival. They then could have shopped Devers to the entire industry this winter while also using him as a hedge against the possible departure of third baseman Alex Bregman, who is an opt-out waiting to happen.

But nope, the Sox were giddy to find an immediate taker for Devers, and perhaps for good reason. The Giants assumed the remainder of Devers’ 10-year, $313.5 million contract, in only its second year, yet still parted with four players: pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs III and pitching prospect Jose Bello.

Sure, Devers’ contract is likely to age poorly. But he is only 28. And good luck to the Red Sox replacing one of the top 10 to 15 hitters in the game, no matter how many precious prospects they push to the majors.

If you want to call Devers selfish for refusing to play first base, it would be difficult to argue, even though the Sox deserve at least partial blame for mistreating him.

If you want to applaud the Sox for escaping Devers’ contract, go right ahead, even though that deal was in part a reaction to their failures to retain Xander Bogaerts (for the better) and Mookie Betts (to their eternal dismay).

But the Red Sox, by failing to keep Devers apprised of their pursuit of Bregman in free agency last offseason, turned a seemingly sweet kid into a malcontent faster than you could say “Carl Everett.”

They asked Devers to become a DH, and after initially resisting the idea, he became the best DH in the American League. Then, after a season-ending injury to Triston Casas, they asked him to play first base, and he balked.

That request, coming in the middle of a season, when Devers isn’t an accomplished defender to begin with, effectively set him up as a bad actor. Red Sox owner John Henry flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers, to no avail. Devers remained steadfast and didn’t help his cause by saying of Breslow, “I’m not certain what he has with me.”

Questioning your boss. Refusing to sacrifice for your team. Shirking responsibilities that come with being a $300 million player. The Sox will sell all that and more as justification for this move. But the sequence of events was hardly a case study in Management 101.

And the return might prove to be just as meager as what the Sox “landed” for Betts and lefty David Price, though Tibbs was the 13th overall pick out of Florida State in last year’s MLB Draft and No. 2 on Keith Law’s list of the Giants’ top prospects.

Hicks, signed through 2027 at annual salaries of $12.5 million, is on the injured list with right toe inflammation and a 6.47 ERA. Harrison, who began the season at Triple A, had a 4.56 ERA in four starts and four relief appearances after the Giants promoted him May 5. The Sox, whose starting pitching has been better of late, acquired his four-plus years of club control and immediately returned him to Triple A. The start of another beautiful relationship.

By trading Devers, the Red Sox subtracted a hitter who was batting .272 with 15 home runs and a .905 OPS — this, after starting the season 0-for-19 with 15 strikeouts. They also removed some of the veteran cover for their top position prospects: Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony.

Oh, but Bregman will be back soon, you say? Yep, and the Sox can bank on him opting out at the end of the season. No problem, just give Bregman the money the Sox saved with Devers, right? That sound you hear is the cackling of Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras, who, according to unconfirmed reports, was last seen rolling on the floor in hysterics.

Breslow took over in October 2023, replacing Chaim Bloom, the principal architect of the Sox’s youth movement. He made excellent trades on the same day last December for ace left-hander Garrett Crochet and catcher Carlos Narváez. He also signed Bregman, albeit for $40 million per season and possibly three years, and reliever Aroldis Chapman.

The jury, however, is still out on two free-agent pitchers Breslow added: Lucas Giolito, who missed the first season of a two-year deal in 2024 after undergoing major elbow surgery, and Walker Buehler, the pitcher to whom the Sox pivoted last offseason rather than re-sign Nick Pivetta.

Breslow is also the guy who traded Chris Sale for Vaughn Grissom and acquired a series of flops at last year’s deadline: pitchers James Paxton, Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia and catcher Danny Jansen. And the 2025 deadline now looms as his next test.

The Red Sox cannot be confident in a rotation that, though better of late, entered Sunday ranked 22nd in ERA. Nor can they be confident in Harrison and Hicks making a major difference short-term. Oh, and by the way, they now need another hitter.

The Sox clubhouse will be fine without Devers. He was too quiet to be considered a leader, and some players reportedly were put off by his refusal to play first. But removing Devers’ bat in the middle of a pennant race because club officials considered him, what, insubordinate?

Let’s see how that goes. Let’s see if the Red Sox cut off their nose to spite their face.

(Top photo: Michael Urakami / MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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