The Fenway Park was humming ‘Sweet Caroline’ after sweeping their arch rivals on Sunday afternoon. But who would have known the celebration would soon fade away? Boston was doing great in both pitching and hitting. Rafael Devers hit a home run off Max Fried, leading to a sweep of the Yankees and the “best weekend of the season.” Standing at the podium, he was confident that the team was coming together. Who would have thought it would be his last time representing Beantown’s ballclub?

The Red Sox and Rafael Devers’ season has been more dramatic and unpredictable than a Hollywood blockbuster. Now, this trade news seems to be the final climax that the Red Sox had planned for him. At 28, with a batting average of .272 with 15 home runs, 58 RBIs, and an amazing 13th best in the majors with a .905 OPS, his on-base percentage was the highest of his career. He led the AL with 56 walks and had an OPS+ of 149, which is the highest it has ever been.

From the outside, everything looked perfectly fine. But we all know tensions had been simmering since spring training. First came Bregman’s trade, then Casas’ injury, which led to a request for a position change. And who was in the middle of it? Rafael Devers. He was not happy with the organisation, but it doesn’t mean he wanted a trade, and that too like this one. As per Chris Cotillo’s X post, “Rafael Devers did not demand a trade.”

Well, he was not amused with how the front office was juggling with him on the position. And as per the reports, “Devers has felt for months that he had been poorly treated by the organization and, in emotional moments during spring training, had told friends and confidants that he had considered asking for one.” Asking for it and considering it are two different things, and what the Red Sox did with him was fair? Um, doubtful!

Where is he heading now? The San Francisco Giants welcomed him. On June 15, the trade became official: Devers went to the Giants, and Hicks and Harrison, along with two minor league pitchers, James Tibbs III and Jose Bello, went to Boston.

And is he happy now? Well, yes, as per the MLB insider Jon Heyman, he is “happy” and will join the Giants. Can he be the missing piece that the Giants were looking for?

Giants’ mid‑season power boost

Rafael Devers is the spark that will ignite San Francisco—a city that has long been waiting for one. The Giants were in the middle of the pack (14th in runs and 21st in homers), so they really needed an electrifying bat. Enter Devers: he’s hitting. 272/.401/.504 with 15 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a career-high. 905 OPS—exactly what the lineup needed to get out of the rut.

Buster Posey made a significant statement with this transaction. Posey’s first big move as President of Baseball Operations was to send pitchers Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and two top prospects to Boston to get Devers. As the NL West heats up, San Francisco has made a bold and clear declaration that it is fully committed to the race for the title.

The only thing that’s lacking is how the defense works. Further, it’s hardly surprising that Devers didn’t want to switch positions in Boston. However, how it will figure in the Giants’ lineup is also up for question, given that they have Matt Chapman, who won the Gold Glove at third base. Devers may switch between DH and first base for now, but it’s not decided yet. But looking at the long run, there might be a logjam with top prospect Bryce Eldridge waiting in the wings.

Same bat, different cave—fantasy owners should pay attention. Oracle Park is not Fenway. It is less accommodating to left-handed batters because it has a lower average for extra-base hits than the league average. However, Rafael Devers delivers exceptional barrel and hard-hit rates, and he has been generating consistent home runs since 2021: 38, 27, 33, and 28. He should easily fill the need that the Giants have been experiencing for years.

Are you curious to watch him in his new cleats? Because we are!