Just hours before the team was gearing up to leave for Seattle, Rafael Devers parted ways with the Boston Red Sox. On Sunday, for one last time—wearing a Red Sox uniform—he stepped up to the plate against the Yankees and dominated Max Fried as he crushed a soaring home run over the green monster in the Red Sox’s clean sweep of the Yankees. You can say it was a parting gift to the Red Sox nation, who had witnessed him grow and transform into the face of the franchise.

Little did they know it was his last at-bat with the Red Sox. Now, the three-time all-star is defining his presence with the San Francisco Giants. For sending their star third baseman, the Red Sox brought in right-hander Jordan Hicks, promising lefty Kyle Harrison, James Tibbs and Jose Bello. Meanwhile, Devers signed a massive 10 year, $315 million contract with the Giants.

However, the Red Sox are not done yet. In fact, Devers was just the first step of their whole trade strategy. The Boston front office is now exploring trade interest in shortstop Trevor Story and outfielder Masataka Yoshida, as per MLBScoops on X

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Story signed a six-year, $140 million contract in 2022. His contract has an opt-out clause after the fourth year. The 32-year-old currently has a .234 batting average and 9 home runs to his name this season. Perhaps the Red Sox are looking to trade him for his struggles with fitness. Moreover, his offensive production hasn’t been enough.

Meanwhile, Yoshida also signed with the Red Sox in 2022 for a 5-year, $90 million deal. The 31-year-old spent 7 seasons with the Orix Buffaloes before that. Last season, he had a slash line of .335/.447/.561 with 21 home runs in a total of 508 plate appearances. Yoshida is expected to receive significant interest from multiple MLB teams.

So, yes, the Red Sox are expected the sellers from now until the deadline. They are perhaps looking to realign the entire roster structure under GM Craig Breslow. That being said, the league is still processing Devers’ trade. He was hitting with a batting average of .272 with 15 home runs to his name.

But while his numbers were great, his frustration over his position at Red Sox was no secret. Earlier this season, he was shifted to the DH role after Boston brought in Alex Bregman. And then, after Triston Casa’s injury, he was asked to move to the first base, which he refused.

So, it does make sense to an extent why he bade goodbye to Boston. But how will it turn out with the Giants?

Devers’ reaction after being traded from the Red Sox

Rafael Devers happens to be one of the most feared hitters in the league with an OPS of .905. So, nobody, seriously nobody, anticipated this move. The three-time all star was brought to the Red Sox in 2017 and he had been the face of the franchise ever since.

As per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, Devers’ first reaction to the trade was a “happy” one. Well, you see, he had a rough patch with the Red Sox as he fought for his desirable position.

More than that, if we take a look at the Giants, they are in a firm playoff position. They have a 41-30 record at the moment and hold the second spot in the NL west. So, why wouldn’t Devers be happy joining them?

Although most of Devers’ career was spent at third base, this season he had been the red Sox’s DH. Will that be his position at the Giants too? Not likely. We’re yet to know where the San Francisco Giants will eventually place him, but he might start at third base in Matt Chapman’s absence.