Major League Baseball was rocked on Sunday, June 15, 2025, by a stunning blockbuster trade: the San Francisco Giants acquired three-time All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox. The deal sends one of baseball’s premier sluggers to the Bay Area in exchange for a significant package of young talent, marking a pivotal moment for both franchises.
The trade, confirmed by Devers’ agent, Nelson Montes de Oca, sends Devers to a Giants team desperately seeking an offensive jolt. San Francisco’s lineup ranked 15th in runs scored across MLB prior to the deal, and they haven’t had a player hit 30 home runs in a season since Barry Bonds in 2004 — by far the longest active drought in the league. Adding Devers, who immediately changes the dynamic of any lineup, directly addresses this need.
“To get a guy like Devers … there’s a lot you have to give up for him, but this fits us perfectly,” said Giants manager Bob Melvin. “It’s a power left-handed bat, a guy that can go the other way and hit for power in our ballpark. I mean, it’s tailor-made for us.”
Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey echoed the sentiment, stating, “We’re excited about adding one of the best hitters in all of Major League Baseball to our lineup. We’re obviously taking on a lot of dollars, but there’s a belief that adding a guy like this puts us in a good position to keep winning ballgames, get into the playoffs and try to win a World Series, which is our ultimate goal.”
For the Red Sox, the trade represents a strategic shift, restocking their pitching depth and farm system while resolving a increasingly fractured relationship with their former cornerstone player. In return for Devers, Boston received:
Left-handed starting pitcher Kyle Harrison
Right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks
Outfield prospect James Tibbs III
Rookie League right-hander Jose Bello
Crucially, sources indicate the Giants will cover the remainder of Devers’ massive contract, which runs through 2033 and is valued at over $250 million. The Red Sox are not sending any money to San Francisco as part of the transaction.
A Fractured Relationship Leads to a Blockbuster
While the trade package is significant, a key driver for the Red Sox appears to be the resolution of a deteriorating relationship with Devers that had become public. The friction began in spring training following the signing of free agent Alex Bregman, when Devers initially balked at moving off his career position at third base before reluctantly agreeing to be the designated hitter.
The situation escalated in May after a season-ending injury to first baseman Triston Casas. When asked to shift to first base, Devers declined, publicly suggesting the front office “should do their jobs” and find another player, contradicting previous discussions about his role. This led to a rare meeting in Kansas City the following day involving Devers, ownership (John Henry), team president Sam Kennedy, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
Sources close to the situation revealed that Devers’ refusal to play first base in the weeks following that meeting created significant internal tension, ultimately helping to facilitate the trade. As Giants shortstop Willy Adames observed, “Everybody around the league, I think, was paying attention to that. When any team is having some kind of drama like that, with a player like Devers — he basically was the face of the franchise.”
Rafael Devers: A Bat the Giants Coveted
Rafael Devers, 28, departs Boston as one of the most productive hitters in recent team history. He was a member of the 2018 World Series-winning team and led the Red Sox in RBIs for five consecutive seasons from 2020 through 2024, earning American League MVP votes in each of those years. He made his third All-Star appearance in 2024 and was awarded a Silver Slugger in 2023.
Devers was hitting .272/.401/.504 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs for the Red Sox at the time of the trade; his 58 RBIs were tied for the third most in MLB. Over his nine-year career, spent entirely with Boston since signing as an international free agent in 2013 and debuting at age 20 in 2017, he boasts a .279/.349/.509 slash line with 215 home runs and 696 RBIs in 1,053 games. His final act in a Red Sox uniform on Sunday was hitting his 31st career home run against the rival New York Yankees.
While his primary position with the Giants (first base or designated hitter) remains a topic for internal discussion, his value lies squarely in his powerful left-handed bat, which fellow Giants pitcher Logan Webb called that of a “top-10 hitter in baseball every year.”
The Return Package for Boston
The Red Sox acquire a mix of current big leaguers and prospects in the deal, signaling a focus on their long-term organizational depth, particularly on the pitching side, which has been a noted need.
Kyle Harrison: The 23-year-old left-hander is considered the centerpiece of the return for Boston. Once a highly-touted pitching prospect, Harrison has split time between San Francisco and Triple-A since his MLB debut in 2023. Over 182⅔ major league innings, he holds a 4.48 ERA with 178 strikeouts, but has also allowed 30 home runs. He was optioned to Triple-A Worcester after the trade.
Jordan Hicks: The 28-year-old right-hander, a former Cardinals flamethrower who signed a four-year deal with the Giants before the 2024 season, was moved into a starting role by San Francisco. Hicks is currently on the injured list with right toe inflammation and struggled this season with a 6.47 ERA over 48⅔ innings. His hard-throwing profile could see him transition back to a relief role for the Red Sox’s bullpen.
James Tibbs III: Selected 13th overall in the 2024 draft out of Florida State, the 22-year-old corner outfielder has spent this season at High-A. In 56 games, he hit .245/.377/.480 with 12 homers and 32 RBIs. Scouts praise his plate discipline (41 walks vs. 45 strikeouts) but question if his swing will translate to higher levels.
Jose Bello: The 20-year-old right-hander pitched out of the bullpen for the Giants’ Rookie League affiliate, posting a 2.00 ERA with an impressive 28 strikeouts and only 3 walks in 18 innings.
This move follows a pattern for the Red Sox, reminiscent of their February 2020 trade of MVP Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, just over a year after he helped lead them to a World Series title. As Boston continues to integrate young talent like infielders Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer, outfielder Roman Anthony, and others into their lineup, the Devers trade provides pitching assets and prospects aimed at bolstering their future contention hopes. Meanwhile, the Giants immediately add a proven superstar bat in their pursuit of the National League West crown.
