The baseball world was stunned Sunday evening when news broke that the Boston Red Sox traded their designated hitter, Rafael Devers, to the San Francisco Giants. This surprising transaction sent ripple effects through the American League East, particularly among Boston’s rivals.
The Giants secured the three-time All-Star Devers in exchange for starting pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs, and Jose Bello, a 20-year-old pitcher from the Dominican Republic who has not yet advanced beyond rookie ball. After the deal, the Red Sox assigned Harrison to Triple-A Worcester, signaling a retooling phase for Boston.
New York Yankees Express Relief Over Devers’ Departure
News of the trade sparked lively reactions, especially from the New York Yankees, who have long viewed Devers as a major obstacle. During ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast covering the Dodgers-Giants game, reporter Buster Olney shared a message from a Yankees executive expressing relief over the slugger’s exit from the AL East.
Per Jimmy Hascup of NJ.com, the executive’s text read,
“Good riddance. Thank God, because this guy murders us.”
Further amplifying the sentiment, Hascup reported that Yankees manager Aaron Boone responded with an emoji conveying shock and disbelief when contacted about the trade.
“Analyst Eduardo Perez said he got a text from Yankees manager Aaron Boone, which was simply an emoji with bulging eyes, mouth wide open,”
Hascup noted.
Rafael Devers’ Track Record Against the Yankees
Devers has been a persistent challenge for the Yankees since his rookie season in 2017. He announced his arrival with a memorable ninth-inning, game-tying home run off Aroldis Chapman’s 103 mph fastball at Yankee Stadium. This moment set the tone for years of dominance against New York’s pitching staff.
Over eight and a half seasons, Devers compiled notable numbers against the Yankees, concluding his Red Sox career with a .270 batting average, 31 home runs, 78 RBIs, and 79 runs scored in 119 games. His ability to consistently perform in crucial moments frustrated the Yankees’ efforts to gain an upper hand.
Jimmy Hascup highlighted Devers’ success, writing,
“A Yankees — and Gerrit Cole—killer, indeed,”
and added,
“Against Cole, Devers is 14 for 44 in the regular season with a .350/.435/.975 line, eight home runs, and 20 RBIs. (He’s also 1 for 2 against Cole in the playoffs, with three walks and an RBI.)”
Impact of Devers’ Exit on Yankees’ AL East Title Prospects
Devers’ trade may shift dynamics in the AL East, especially benefiting the Yankees’ division title hopes. Although measuring the influence of one player on an opposing team is difficult, Devers was a key factor in the Yankees’ early 2025 struggles against the Red Sox. New York went 1-5 in the first six matchups, during which Devers hit three home runs and drove in four RBIs.
Without his clutch hitting, the Yankees likely could have secured an additional win or two against Boston, potentially widening their division lead. Meanwhile, the Red Sox remain 6.5 games behind first place after recently sweeping the Yankees in a three-game series.