With Rafael Devers gone, and the Red Sox now trailing five games in the AL East, the stakes have only grown steeper. The decision to shift Devers from third base to make room for Alex Bregman sparked more than a positional shuffle. It lit the fuse on a season of tough choices. And now, as Boston tries to steady itself in a tightening race, they’re once again facing a moment that could shape their future. This time, with Bregman. How they respond to this may say more about where this team is headed than any midseason record ever could.
Boston’s season has not gone the way they planned. They are just hanging on as a .500 team with a 40–38 record, sitting fourth in the AL East and are 5 games back. Now, the Red Sox are gearing up to make moves in the market with the trade deadline less than six weeks away. And, they have around $250 million saved from the Devers deal, which they can use to solve their growing roster concerns.
However, if they tilt toward selling, the best option might be All-Star Bregman.
“We may very well see the Red Sox reverse course again, in which case, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow could be tempted to shop Bregman to avoid potentially losing him for nothing in free agency,” wrote MLB.com’s Thomas Harrigan. Well, Bregman’s three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox since February also includes an opt-out after the season. Plus, his resurgent season has boosted his market value, and it now seems almost certain he’ll choose free agency.
So, if the Red Sox want to save the remaining $80 million, they would need to make a trade soon.
But they could also use the money saved from Devers to sign him, as advised by Jon Heyman earlier this week. “They should try to lock up Bregman. I mean, look, he’s got an opt-out. He’s going to opt out. There’s no way around that at this point.”
Heyman didn’t just push for Bregman; he also urged the Red Sox to sign MLB’s top prospect. “They have hit fairly well, but they had Devers on the team, so there’s still work to be done this year. But to me, got to sign Bregman, got to sign Roman Anthony.”
But the question is, can the Red Sox offer enough to convince Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras? The value of Bregman has definitely gone up this season. He’s hitting .299 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. In fact, the Detroit Tigers even offered him $171.5 million earlier. So he clearly knows his worth and expects the team to make a long-term commitment; otherwise, he’ll opt out. If they can’t afford to do that, selling him would be the best option.
Plus, their one long-term bet they took on June 15 is now with the Giants, and is already responding with hits.
Devers delivers against Boston
Devers had only ever called the Red Sox home in his MLB career. When he signed a 10-year, $313 million contract back in 2023, he would not have expected his journey with the team to be cut short. But he had to say goodbye and shake hands with the San Francisco Giants, all thanks to the month-long position drama.
Raffy wears the Giants tag with pride now. And just days after the trade, he got to face his former team. And the second game in Oracle Park gave him the perfect opportunity for a sweet revenge. He hit his first home run in a Giants jersey, leading them to a 3–2 win.
Devers modestly replied when asked about the homer he scored against his former team, “Nothing more special than any other home run I hit. I’m just here and happy that I was able to contribute to the team’s win.” He had even calculated Brayan Bello’s pitch: “I was expecting that because it’s a pitch I’ve been missing a lot, but eventually I will make my adjustments,” he added.
The 370-foot home run came in the bottom of the third. When Bello threw a fastball right down the middle, all Devers had to do was time his swing better by adjusting his approach.
The three-time All-Star is hitting .267 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs, with an OPS of .890 this season. And now, the Giants can breathe a sigh of relief—they’ve just signed one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball right now.
The Giants and Red Sox will face each other for the series finale on Monday evening. Will Devers be able to continue delivering for his new team? Let’s wait and watch…
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