When the news broke that Rafael Devers was traded, Xander Bogaerts quickly reached out to his longtime friend to confirm the unexpected move. The San Diego Padres infielder learned about the trade through USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, who showed him the announcement on his phone, prompting immediate action from Bogaerts.
“He shows me on his phone: ‘Rafael Devers traded.’ I was like, ‘Nah.’ … Then I hit Devers up and he got back at me right away,”
Bogaerts recalled in an interview with WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford.
“The moment he told me is when I knew it was for real. I had texted him, Is this true? And he replied before everybody started (reporting it) … We didn’t know if it was true or not.”
Maintaining a Strong Connection Across Distances
Despite the geographic distance separating them since Bogaerts joined the Padres, the two players have stayed close. When Devers transitioned from third base to designated hitter, he shared the changes with Bogaerts, who followed the situation closely through social media and the opinions of Red Sox legends.
Bogaerts acknowledged the support given by iconic players such as Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz, seeing their influence as meaningful to both Devers and the Red Sox organization.
“Listen, man, he’s a grown man,”
Bogaerts stated.
“I saw Pedro (Martinez). I saw David (Ortiz). Those are legends of the game, legends of the Red Sox. Those guys mean so much to me and so much to the organization. I saw their input and take on it. I don’t know what I would have done, but he’s a grown man. If he has some tough questions, we talked about.”
Bogaerts Relates to Challenges of Position Changes
Bogaerts drew parallels between Devers’ experience and his own adjustment when shifting positions early in his career with the Padres. While Bogaerts moved from shortstop to second base but remained active in the field, Devers faced the more difficult transition of moving to a role that involved limited on-field play as a designated hitter.
“Similar, but I stayed on the field, though,”
Bogaerts explained.
“He went from going on the field to not being on the field at all, which was something I had never done. I stayed on the field. That’s a whole different thing.”
Reflecting on the Trade’s Impact and Mixed Emotions
As the trade officially concluded, Bogaerts expressed how strange and emotional the timing felt, given his decade-long tenure with the Red Sox and deep connections within the organization. Watching the transaction unfold between familiar faces was a surprising experience for him.
“I know them because I have been around them for a long time,”
Bogaerts reflected.
“I was surprised how it all unfolded. Life continues and baseball continues and they made the decision they wanted to make. He’s over there and they are over there and hopefully they’re both happy. But it was tough to see for sure.”
Significance of the Trade for Both Players and Teams
The Rafael Devers trade reaction by Xander Bogaerts highlights the personal and professional intersections in MLB player movements, showing how relationships endure amid change. Both athletes now face new chapters with their respective clubs, while fans and observers consider the broader ramifications for the Red Sox and Padres. Bogaerts’ response underscores the human side of roster decisions and points to continuing adjustments for all involved as the new season approaches.