In Boston, the words of a legend carry the weight of history. David ‘Big Papi’ Ortiz is more than a Hall of Famer. But what happens when another fan favorite is at the receiving end of that beloved voice? A line gets drawn in the sand. A beloved city must face a struggle between its past and future. That is the tale of a trade, a cryptic Instagram post — and a fallout that now has Red Sox Nation taking sides.
It all started on Sunday, 15 June 2025. The Red Sox made a surprise deal, sending star slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. This happened less than two years into his massive 10-year, $313.5 million contract. Devers was still a force, hitting .272 with 15 homers and a stellar .899 OPS. The trouble wasn’t the bat; it was the glove and attitude. The front office said the situation had become “untenable” after years of defensive struggles and a refusal to change positions.
Five days later, on June 20, David Ortiz weighed in. He posted an Instagram story featuring himself beside his iconic Fenway Park statue. The message was unmistakable. “The thing is that to have something like this at Boston you have to just not be a hitter,” Ortiz wrote. “You have to be the full package a all the way around player…. Go Sox.” Without saying his name, Papi told the world that he felt Raffy Devers simply wasn’t the complete player required for legendary status in Boston.
David Ortiz taking a shot at Rafael Devers on his IG story. pic.twitter.com/X86OmfMc8O
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) June 20, 2025
Big Papi’s comment saga isn’t just that Insta story. Earlier, he had been more elaborate with his ideas, delivering a tough-love lesson on maturity and ego. “As a player, sometimes you’ve got to put your ego aside and understand that once you get paid, you’ve got to find a way to do what you’re told,” Ortiz said just after that trade. Players are employees, and no one is bigger than the game, he emphasized. This was a clear signal to Devers and any other young player in the organization: Know your place before challenging the organization.
But while Papi’s words carried the weight of a legend, they landed like a bombshell on a fanbase already raw with emotion.
Ortiz, Devers, and fans’ perspective
The first and most obvious point of contention for many was the stunning irony of Ortiz’s message. He called for a “full package” player, a standard many felt he himself did not meet in the field. “Says the guy who played 84% of his games as a DH. Hilarious”. This fan’s comment cut to the core of the perceived hypocrisy. David Ortiz, the greatest designated hitter ever, played a record 84% of his career games in that role, far more than even fellow legend Edgar Martínez (68%). The critique wasn’t about his Hall of Fame career, but about him judging another by a standard he never had to meet.
Other fans looked past the irony and questioned Papi’s motives directly. They pointed to his official, paid role with the club and a recent, dramatic shift in his public stance. “Let’s not forget who pays him. Not long ago he was backing Raffy up about a move to 1B.” Another fan correctly noted Ortiz’s shifting narrative. On June 2nd, Papi defended Devers, stating the team asked him to be the DH, so “he’s giving you what you asked for.” Yet, after the trade, he pivoted to criticizing Devers’ maturity. This stark contrast led fans to believe his current opinion was compromised.
Amidst the controversy, Rafael Devers offered his own rebuttal. While fans felt he had every right to fire back at Ortiz’s public criticisms about his “communication problems,” the younger star chose a different path. His response was seen by many as a masterclass in handling public pressure, “Understand why raffy aired him jeez…..”. Instead of escalating the feud, Devers responded with grace. “I love Papi. I know he loves the media. He can say whatever he wants,” he told The Boston Globe. This calm but firm statement masterfully de-escalated the situation.
For the most cynical fans, Ortiz’s alignment with management felt like a betrayal. They saw their rebellious, bat-flipping hero transform into a corporate spokesperson for Fenway Sports Group (FSG). “FSG turned my GOAT into a bootlicker”. This sentiment is fueled by Ortiz’s paid role with the team. Unlike other Dominican legends such as Pedro Martínez, who called the front office liars, or Manny Ramirez, who accused them of disrespect, Ortiz defended the organization.
Ultimately, many fans felt that Ortiz’s statement was flawed on multiple levels. “So many things wrong with that statement papi”. This comment encapsulates the entire fan backlash. The ‘wrongs’ included the DH hypocrisy, telling Devers to “keep things internal” while publicly criticizing him, and siding with management over a fellow player.
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