Rafael Devers trade: MLB world reacts as Red Sox send All-Star to Giants

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Jun 16, 2025 - 04:00

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Rafael Devers trade: MLB world reacts as Red Sox send All-Star to Giants

The San Francisco Giants stunned the baseball world on Sunday, June 15, by acquiring Rafael Devers as part of a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox, in return, receive pitchers Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks, and prospects James Tibbs and Jose Bello. Harrison (1-1, 4.56 ERA), a former Giants top prospect, is the best player going to Boston. The Red Sox also freed up the remainder of Deevers' 10-year, $313.5 million contract.

The Giants will pay the entirety of Devers' deal, USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reported, with the slugger still owed more than $250 million. The Red Sox will pay the rest of Hicks' four-year, $44 million contract, with 2½ years remaining.

Devers became an All-Star for the third time last season and was previously an All-Star in both 2021 and 2022. Devers made his debut in 2017 and won the World Series in 2018 to conclude his first full season with the Red Sox. He was named to the All-MLB second team in 2021 and was named a Silver Slugger award winner in 2021 and 2023.

The Giants will host the Red Sox for a 3-game series that starts on Friday, June 20, at Oracle Park.

Until then, fans and pundits alike will be buzzing with their takes. Scroll below to see how the baseball world reacted to Devers' trade after it was announced:

MLB world reacts to Rafael Devers trade

Giants shortstop Willy Adames was mic'd up during Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and talked about the trade for Devers with ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball broadcast team.

Willy Adames is on the mic and is excited about the reported trade that will bring Rafael Devers to the Giants. pic.twitter.com/uenh4IzKlS— MLB (@MLB) June 15, 2025

Longtime Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was also interview during the broadcast of Sunday night's game with the Dodgers, exclaiming: "How about that trade? That's wild!"

Clayton Kershaw: "How about that trade? That's wild! Buster's really doing it! Not Olney; Buster Posey's really doing it over there. Good for Buster, man. He's going for it. I'd consider [Rafael Devers] one of probably the top 10 hitters in the game at worst." ⚾️🎙️ #MLB https://t.co/VtlTFADepA pic.twitter.com/gqPKFdZYdr— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 16, 2025

Sports writer, critic and podcaster Bill Simmons, a Massachusetts native, also had strong thoughts, while another called it an "organizational failure."

It’s a shocking Devers trade, especially the timing, but can you really be shocked it happened? These owners had already revealed who they were. Post-2018 the Red Sox became part of the FSG business portfolio and that’s it.

It’s a special team that’s NOT special to them anymore.— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) June 16, 2025

It’s insane that the Red Sox gave a long term deal to Rafael Devers in part because of the enormous backlash to the Mookie Betts trade, and this where the situation ends, with a shocking trade to the Giants.

This is an organizational failure on so many fronts that Devers is gone— Joon Lee (@joonlee) June 15, 2025

Even if Red Sox fans were annoyed with Rafael Devers, or are fine trading him, feels like the return for a player of his caliber should be something a bit more appealing than what I am seeing.

Clearly, Boston was fine going this route as soon as they overpaid for Alex Bregman. pic.twitter.com/YDEbAYeQ3p— Dan Kelley (@DanKelley66) June 15, 2025

Devers hit a home run in the Red Sox's 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on Sunday and then spoke with reporters in Boston after the game (and before the trade) about adapting to his role and the distractions from earlier in the season.

Rafael Devers sneaks one over the monster 😳 pic.twitter.com/NdYKAUk44D— MLB (@MLB) June 15, 2025

Rafael Devers thinks this team can still kick it up a notch 📈

"We're playing good baseball but we still have more." pic.twitter.com/XUg8O2YZFP— NESN (@NESN) June 15, 2025

While Devers addressed the situation publicly regarding the distractions about his role with Boston this season, ESPN's Jeff Passan explained that some of those distractions had still lingered on behind the scenes.

“The timing is shocking.”@JeffPassan reporting on Rafael Devers getting traded to the Giants ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/5C25Icq9yg— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 15, 2025

Rafael Devers’ career extra-base hits overlaid on Oracle Park

McCovey Cove…helloooo pic.twitter.com/9b5jcUxKSG— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 16, 2025

The San Francisco Giants potential lineup at full strength after trading for Rafael Devers 👀 pic.twitter.com/FXdpKAgNYt— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 16, 2025