Rafael Devers Trade: Why Red Sox Sent Him to Giants

Rafael Devers, once the face of the Boston Red Sox, was traded to the San Francisco Giants in June 2025 — a move that left fans stunned and sparked pointed criticism from Red Sox legend David Ortiz. This article traces the trade, the contract behind it, and the lingering questions about Devers’s language preference and personal quirks.

Current Team: San Francisco Giants · Position: Third baseman / First baseman · Height / Weight: 6-0 / 235 lb · All-Star Selections: 3 · Silver Slugger Awards: 2 · Contract: 10 years, $313.5 million (with Boston, now on Giants via trade)

Nine key facts, one pattern: Devers’s path from Red Sox star to Giant is shaped by a massive contract, a franchise reset, and a language barrier that keeps drawing questions.

Bottom line: Devers is now a Giant, but the story is less about his new team and more about how a franchise cornerstone became expendable. Red Sox fans: the rebuild has a steep cost. Giants fans: you’re getting a proven bat with positional flexibility.

What is going on with Rafael Devers?

Trade to the San Francisco Giants

Rafael Devers was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants in June 2025 in a blockbuster deal that reshaped both franchises. The reported return for Devers included left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, right-hander Jordan Hicks, outfield prospect James Tibbs III, and additional prospects (The Athletic). FanGraphs called it an “unexpected blockbuster,” underscoring how few saw the move coming.

Recent performance and advanced statistics

• In 2025, Devers posted a .324 wOBA and a 92.1 mph average exit velocity, per FanGraphs analysis.
• He hit .272 with a .354 on-base percentage in 2025 (projected), according to Baseball-Reference.

Future outlook with new team

The Giants are expected to use Devers primarily at first base, according to Sports Illustrated. The move to first reflects both the team’s needs and Devers’s defensive limitations at third. His first game against his former club came on June 20, 2025, when the Red Sox visited Oracle Park (MLB.com).

What this means: Devers’s value will hinge on his bat, not his glove. If his power returns to 2023 levels (29 HR, .530 SLG), the Giants win. If not, they’re paying a premium for an average first baseman.

Why did the Boston Red Sox trade Rafael Devers?

Financial considerations and contract size

Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million extension before the 2023 season. At the time of the trade, about 8.5 years and roughly $258.8 million remained, according to FanGraphs. The Red Sox reportedly dumped salary in the deal, per The Athletic’s one-year retrospective.

Organizational roster rebuild

The trade was part of a broader Red Sox rebuild. The team had missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, and Devers’s long-term commitment clashed with a front office looking to restock the farm system. Sports Illustrated noted that Devers had been expected to be the face of the franchise after his extension.

Front office strategy

David Ortiz hinted at deeper issues in an interview with The Athletic, saying the trade “wasn’t going” in the direction people expected. Yahoo Sports reported Ortiz also urged players to “put your ego aside” (Yahoo Sports). The implication: culture and chemistry played a role beyond dollars.

What did David Ortiz say about the Devers trade?

Ortiz’s public statement

Red Sox legend David Ortiz gave a revealing interview to The Athletic shortly after the trade, saying, “It wasn’t going to end well for the Red Sox.” He later added on Yahoo Sports that players need to put “their ego aside.”

“unexpected blockbuster”

— FanGraphs, via FanGraphs

Fan and analyst reactions

The quotes lit up social media and sports talk radio. Some interpreted Ortiz’s words as a shot at Devers’s attitude; others read them as criticism of the front office. Sports Illustrated framed it as Ortiz “explaining why Devers didn’t work out in Boston.”

The pattern: Ortiz, who signed a “forever” contract with Boston after retirement (The Athletic), carries a loyalty that Devers’s case didn’t inspire. The catch: one legend’s endorsement or critique can shape public perception, but it doesn’t erase the payroll realities.

What is Rafael Devers’s contract?

Contract length and total value

Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million extension with the Red Sox in January 2023, as detailed by FanGraphs. The deal runs through the 2032 season.

Salary breakdown and deferrals

The contract does not include major deferrals, but the exact annual breakdown is publicly available on Baseball-Reference. At the trade, about $258.8 million remained unpaid.

Impact on trade and salary obligations

Because Devers’s contract was so large, Boston had to include cash or retain some salary to make the trade work. The precise retention amount hasn’t been disclosed, but The Athletic reported the Red Sox “dumped salary” in the deal, suggesting they covered a significant portion.

Why this matters: The Red Sox are still on the hook for part of Devers’s salary. That cap hit will affect their ability to sign free agents for years, making the trade a long-term financial reset — not a clean break.

Why does Devers not speak English?

Language barrier in MLB

Rafael Devers regularly uses a Spanish interpreter during interviews. He understands English but prefers to speak Spanish, a choice that has led to persistent fan curiosity and occasional criticism. MLB.com notes that many Latin American players work with interpreters, and Devers is no exception.

Devers’s use of an interpreter

In every media session, Devers answers questions in Spanish, with his interpreter delivering translations. This has been the norm since his rookie season. While some fans misinterpret this as a language deficiency, the reality, as Sports Illustrated pointed out, is that Devers understands English well but feels more comfortable expressing himself in his native tongue.

Cultural context and misconceptions

The question “Why doesn’t Devers speak English?” often carries a subtext about assimilation. In reality, many MLB stars — from Ichiro Suzuki to Vladimir Guerrero Sr. — have used interpreters. The trade-off: Devers’s language preference adds a layer of “otherness” in Boston’s media market, but it doesn’t affect his performance on the field.

The implication: this cultural friction is unlikely to disappear with a change of scenery, but San Francisco’s diverse market may offer a more accommodating environment.

Timeline

• 2017 — Devers makes his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox (MLB.com).
• 2021 — First All-Star selection; first Silver Slugger Award (Sports Illustrated).
• January 2023 — Signs 10-year, $313.5 million extension (FanGraphs).
• June 2025 — Traded to the San Francisco Giants (The Athletic).

Clarity: Confirmed vs. Unclear

“It wasn’t going to end well for the Red Sox.”

— David Ortiz, speaking to The Athletic

“You’ve got to put your ego aside.”

— David Ortiz, via Yahoo Sports

Bottom line: The Devers trade is a case study in what happens when a max contract, a rebuilding front office, and a player’s cultural disconnect collide. Red Sox fans: brace for a long rebuild with a lingering salary obligation. Giants fans: you’ve got a middle-of-the-order bat who needs to prove he can thrive outside Fenway.

Related reading: Rafael Devers reportedly traded to the Giants · Giants Acquire Rafael Devers in Unexpected Blockbuster

Frequently asked questions