Boston Red Sox fans are not buying what general manager Craig Breslow is trying to sell regarding the Rafael Devers trade.
The Red Sox sold low on their hard-hitting superstar on Sunday, trading him to the San Francisco Giants for a pitching boost and some prospects. The move drew widespread criticism amongst Red Sox fans, with many comparing it to the Mookie Betts deal.
On Monday, Breslow spoke to reporters and addressed some of the fans’ concerns. The 44-year-old claimed that the team could end up winning more games without Devers in the clubhouse.
“On paper, we’re not going to have the same lineup that we did,” said Breslow. “But this isn’t about the game that’s played on paper, this is about the game that’s played on the field … I do think there’s a real chance that at the end of the season, we’re looking back and we’ve won more games than we otherwise would have.”
The Red Sox executive added that shedding Devers makes the team more “functional” and “complete” while giving the team some added flexibility.
The fans did not see things that way.
How is this team better off of paper??
— Crochet Enjoyer (@crochet1enjoyer) June 17, 2025
This dude is such a liar. There is no chance he believes this team is better off without Devers. No chance.
— Brandon (@BoSoxBrando) June 17, 2025
He should be fired and banned from baseball for saying that.
— Matthew Leb (@Leb_Zeppelins) June 17, 2025
Craig Breslow on being unemployed in 2026: “I should have never traded Rafael Devers.”
— erica (@midgetbubz) June 17, 2025
It’s not hard to see why Red Sox fans are upset. It’s one thing to trade Devers, but it’s another to peddle the notion that the team got better by trading him.
Through 73 games before the trade, Devers led Boston in home runs (15) and RBIs (54). His 56 walks in that span led the American League by a wide margin. Devers shook off a historically bad start to the 2025 season to post a batting average of .272 and an OPS of .905.
While Devers’ production won’t be easily replaced, the move is believed to have eased tensions in the clubhouse. Red Sox players had reportedly been at odds with some of Devers’ comments before the trade.
