This Sunday has not only shocked the baseball fraternity but has also created a cross connection with the hardwood. But how? Remember the Red Sox’s move to trade Rafael Devers, which came out of nowhere? When the news broke, everyone fell silent. This wasn’t simply a baseball decision. It had the full support of someone whose presence is often felt on an NBA court. Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Red Sox, brought the team’s chaos to the ears of its minority owner, who just so happens to be LeBron James. Yes, the NBA legend himself.
Devers’s season has seen its share of ups and downs. Initially, there was public debate about whether he should play third base or be the designated hitter. A persistent injury reignited discussions among players and coaches. However, when Devers returned and began hitting well, things calmed down in Boston. Unfortunately, that turns out to be the calm before a storm.
And just like that, Devers was on the move. It turns out that this wasn’t just a choice made in isolation. James, being the minority owner, was in on it. According to reports, he had full knowledge of it, and he gave it the green signal. Yup, you read it right. MLB Scoops’ latest post on X revealed, “Sources say that Fenway Sports Group briefed minority owner, LeBron James, regarding this move and he was onboard.”
Sources say that Fenway Sports Group briefed minority owner, LeBron James, regarding this move and he was onboard. James’ success as a personnel decision maker has led to 4 NBA titles, and John Henry is leaning on his expertise here in Boston with the Red Sox. https://t.co/5E5xw8OCH4
— MLBScoops (@mlb_scoops) June 15, 2025
Are you finding it a little hard to believe, too? Well, it is what it is. And it just didn’t end here.
Being traded overnight, even if you’re a cornerstone player of your franchise—does it all sound very familiar to you? No, it’s not something we have ever seen in MLB. But in the NBA! Remember the famous Luka Doncic trade? Rewind to February 1, 2025, in the middle of the season, Doncic was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. It was a trade that shocked the entire league.
Now, the Red Sox just pulled off something similar. And Karl Ravech of ESPN described it best. In the game against the Giants and the Dodgers, he said, “Maybe Luka Doncic, at least most recently, is like the most impactful kid of deal in the middle that immediately said, ‘can we win an NBA championship now, is it going to happen?’”
And what’s Skipper’s take on it? Um, nothing much, just a one-word comment. Alex Cora shared a picture of himself and Devers from the 2018 championship on his Instagram handle with the caption, “Gracias @rafael.devers.”
Both trades came as a shock. The Luka Doncic trade from the Mavericks to the Lakers was completed overnight. That year, the Lakers performed well, and so did Doncic. And now, the Red Sox traded Devers to the Giants overnight. Can the same happen with the Giants?
And most importantly, can this overnight decision be costly for the Red Sox?
A gamble played by the Red Sox, can they regret it?
When the Red Sox moved Rafael Devers in the middle of the season, it brought back memories of Boston’s controversial Mookie Betts deal from 2020. Although the reason was different, the front office refused to meet his contract demands. And if Devers keeps going the way he is, trading away two great hitters in five years, one of whom was the franchise’s cornerstone after Betts, it won’t look good.
This agreement raises concerns for young Red Sox players like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer. It signals an ongoing issue regarding loyalty and trust in the front office. Will they receive extensions and stay where they belong, or will they fear becoming the next Rafael Devers, facing uncertainty and potential trades? This uncertainty might affect the mindset of these young talents, too.
The stakes have just risen for manager Cora. People are questioning the very idea of his job: Is he really the glue that holds the clubhouse together, or is he merely a front-office figurehead in a time where the front office runs everything? Cora had to deal with all the back-and-forth over Devers’s defensive moves between 3B, DH, and 1B. Managers are generally in charge of keeping great players happy and on the same page, and this move implies that the strain between the club and the locker room may have become serious.
The Red Sox are losing star power while trying to rebuild, yet lack a coherent plan. Cora now has to lead a clubhouse missing its best hitter and reassure fans and players that Boston’s trajectory is still positive.
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