While, for many, the trade of Red Sox star Rafael Devers was seen as the end result of an organization that can’t get out of its own way, and an ownership group that appears to have an allergy to paying star players their going rate. Devers was, no doubt, the best hitter in the lineup, with a .272 average and a team-high 15 home runs.
While the tensions between Devers and the team have been obvious for the past five months, the Red Sox have still managed a midseason surge here in June, with nine wins in 11 games. They’re 5.5 games behind the Yankees in the A.L. East, and they’ve moved into the final spot in the American League playoff picture.
So it felt a bit like perhaps the Red Sox were folding already on a season that still holds some promise, and that perhaps a fire sale was set to follow. Team honcho Craig Breslow shot down that notion, though.
“This is in no way signifying a waving of the white flag on 2025,” Breslow said in a meeting with reporters, via MassLive. “We are as committed as we were six months ago to putting a winning team on the field, to competing for the division and making a deep postseason run.”
Devers Trade Frees Up ‘Resources’
What was interesting about Breslow’s meeting with reporters was the candor with which he addressed the next steps for the Red Sox. Rather than vague platitudes, he specifically identified some places in which the Red Sox will look to upgrade ahead of next month’s trade deadline.
“This is a roster that certainly has some needs,” Breslow said. “We can talk about starting pitching and bullpen help and we think that we addressed some of those in the return that we had in this deal. But additionally, I do think that it gives us some resources as we head toward the (trade) deadline.”
The Red Sox did acquire two big-league-ready pitchers in the deal, in Jordan Hicks and Kyle Hamilton. Clearing out Devers’ contract does open the opportunity for Boston to take on some salary.
Red Sox Will Fill Holes at Trade Deadline
“Starting pitching could be an opportunity for us to continue to upgrade,” Breslow said. “Also, we’ve had our share of both bullpen injuries and inconsistency trying to get the ball to Aroldis (Chapman) who has been so good late in games. That’s another potential pathway. Then, we have to start thinking about what a long-term solution looks like at first base.
“Triston’s rehab is going well but it’s going to be a long road there. We’re absolutely going to look at the best use of those resources and could potentially use that as early as the 2025 trade deadline.”
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