After the Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on June 15, Craig Breslow boldly attested that they could be a better team. Roman Anthony's arrival helped his prediction seem more true than it really was.
The Red Sox ranked 27th in home runs in the second half of the season and their lack of power contributed to their struggles with runners in scoring position and their early postseason exit. Meanwhile, Devers took more walks than ever, mashed 35 home runs between Boston and San Francisco and took up a new position.
Devers seems primed to take over as the Giants' everyday first baseman, something the Red Sox could desperately use. Giants general manager Zach Minasian appeared on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM to talk about the future at the corner, and Boston fans will feel the sting of his comments.
"I don't think Bryce [Eldridge] would be upset with me for saying this, I would say right now Raffy's a better defender at first base. He really improved over his time last year working there over, jeez, probably a legitimate two-month span," Minasian said. "...I think we're looking at someone that's potentially an above-average to plus defensive first baseman. We were really happy with how he transitioned there."
Devers appeared in 28 games at first base for the Giants, beginning after an adjustment period to his new club across the country. He made two errors and helped turn 19 double plays over 249 innings. Devers' stats don't jump off the page, and there's definitely room for improvement. The season before he was shipped to NorCal, Devers posted the best defensive season of his career at third base with 12 errors. He's used to leading MLB in miscues, but he only led the American League (which still isn't great).
Giants GM Zach Minasian says Rafael Devers is a superior defender to their other first base options, reopening Red Sox's trade wounds
The Red Sox targeted Pete Alonso as an upgrade at first base and a power bat in their lineup, but they didn't try hard enough — they reportedly made him a pitiful three-year offer before he signed with the division-rival Orioles. Boston also reportedly liked Kyle Schwarber as a candidate to be its newest slugger before he signed with the Phillies, but an offer was never made.
Minasian seems to believe that Devers has what it takes to be the Giants' primary first baseman, despite his rocky history at third base. Instead of misleading him about their plans for Bregman and souring the relationship with their franchise star (before Anthony), the Red Sox should've moved Devers to first base to give him a chance to prove himself — whether or not he would've said yes to a position change is uncertain, as he denied a later move to first base, but that was only after the front office was dishonest with him.
Based on Minasian's comments' Devers could even be a better defender at first base than Alonso, although the bar is low. Alonso's range ranked in the second percentile among first basemen and he posted -9 outs above average last season. Devers' previous experience at third base could set him up for success at the opposite corner and, unfortunately, the Red Sox will never get to see it. Had they kept him around last season, his 35 home runs would've led the team, and maybe he would've hit more had his career not been uprooted.
Now, Alonso and Schwarber are both making more than Devers on their respective teams. The former is a division rival the Sox will have to face four series a year, and possibly in the postseason, if they make it that far. The Red Sox's early playoff exit, Alex Bregman's opt out, and their whiff on Alonso highlighted just how big a mistake the Devers trade could be if they don't make the right moves this offseason, and they've already missed out on an ideal candidate.