Devers Faces Red Sox, Focuses on Future After Trade
San Francisco Giants slugger Rafael Devers is focusing on his future with the team after being traded from the Boston Red Sox, a move that has brought a mix of emotions. Devers is navigating a new chapter in his career, facing his former team just days after the trade.
The unexpected trade sent shockwaves through the baseball world. Just three games into his Giants career, Devers found himself facing his former teammates in a weekend series at Oracle Park.
"Whatever happened, happened," Devers said. "But they’re still my friends."
This weekend series marked a pivotal moment, forcing Devers to confront the past while forging ahead. He acknowledged that it has been a "long week" but expressed a feeling of being more relaxed and even happy now. Before the game on June 21, 2025, he had gone 3-for-11 with two walks and four strikeouts for his new team. Devers served as the designated hitter, batting third. He received a standing ovation before grounding out in his first at-bat in the first inning.
Shifting Loyalties and New Opportunities
The trade has presented Devers with a new opportunity. He was asked about playing first base for the Giants.
"I put up some good numbers in Boston, and I feel like I earned some respect," Devers said through an interpreter. "If they would have asked me at the beginning of spring training, yes, I would have played [first]."
The article states that there wasn’t a Red Sox first base opening at the beginning of the season. The lack of communication seemingly contributed to the trade.
Devers’s former manager, Alex Cora, also addressed the trade. "There’s a lot of stuff that Raffy did for us that we’re going to miss. We’re very proud of him."
One analyst noted that Cora added that the trade is simply “a baseball trade.”
Cora was also asked if he was surprised that Devers was working at first base, to which he replied, "No."
A New Beginning
Devers is taking his new role in stride, understanding that it takes time to adjust to a new position. "It’s not a position I’m going to learn how to play overnight," Devers said.
The game on June 21, 2025, saw Devers finish 0-for-5.
The narrative centers around the theme of change, as Devers adapts to his new team and his new role. He wants to leave the past behind and focus on the future.
Devers’s teammate, Ceddanne Rafaela, who caught a drive to the wall, expressed his admiration, saying, "I really looked up to him when I was coming up," adding, "It’s always a pleasure for me to watch him play and watch him perform. It was fun."
The conversation eventually circled back to his relationship with the Red Sox. Devers insisted on moving forward. "I really don’t want to talk about it," he said. "I want to concentrate what’s in the future for me."
