How Does Blockbuster Rafael Devers Trade Affect Orioles?
We Oโs fans were having a nice little Fatherโs Day evening, basking in the sweep over the Angels, when some gigantic and unexpected AL East news broke, the Rafael Devers trade.
The Boston Red Sox had traded Devers to the San Francisco Giants forโฆnot much? The jaws of basically everyone who follows the sport were left hanging. Devers is in just the second year of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract that he signed in 2023 (and which took effect in 2024), and has been the face of the Red Sox for several years (basically since they last traded a franchise mainstay in Mookie Betts).
The Sunday Night Baseball broadcast was in shock, and they even asked Clayton Kershaw about it during an in-game interview.
A shocked ESPN Sunday Night Baseball crew continues reacting to the Rafael Devers trade into the Giants-Dodgers game.
Clayton Kershaw: โHow about that trade? Thatโs wild! Busterโs really doing it! Not Olney; Buster Poseyโs really doing it over there. Good for Buster, man. Heโs going for it. Iโd consider [Rafael Devers] one of probably the top 10 hitters in the game at worst.โ
It had been a rocky year for Devers in Boston, as there was drama surrounding his change of positions not just once, but twice: when Alex Bregman was signed and again when Tristan Casas was lost for the year with a knee injury. In the end, it seems that Boston GM Craig Breslow just wanted to assert his authority over a player he didnโt see as a โteamโ guy.