Time to trade Devers?

[TomRicardo]

The Red Sox are going into their 6th rebuilding season in their quest to use private equity strategies to turn themselves into.a second division team and possibly lower their team value somehow.

Fact is even if they grabbed Burnes, Teoscar, and Fried, the team is probably an 85 win team. Maybe there is some incredible RNG like 2021 when Xander Bogaerts (remember him) led a bunch of replacement talent playing out of their mind (Arroyo, Kike, and Dalbec), the Sox make the playoffs and can steal a series or two but they have to still shake out this roster again. So then the Red Sox are saddled with a team on two to three timelines that still is probably the third best team in their division.

I think at this point the Red Sox need stop trying to throw a bunch of stop gaps that don't work, and just reset. I would personally look into trading Devers especially with Seattle.

Devers could probably fetch a package of Woo, Garcia, and Ford.

I would not go after Bergmann to fill the spot as once again trying to avoid the expensive stop gaps that have been killing the Sox in Kennedy era.

 

[Leskanic's Thread]

Throughout all of 2019, I was regularly going to a comic book store in Burbank, CA. I noticed during one of my first visits that, mixed in with Marvel and DC comics statues in one of big display cases, there was a Fenway Park brick. Turned out the owner is originally from MA and was a big Sox fan. So whenever I went to pick up some stuff, he and I would talk baseball. And every visit throughout 2019, from pre-season through the start of the offseason, his big message was this:

"We gotta trade Mookie, and we gotta do it now."

Team won't be good, you see, and they won't be able to retain him. Get value now. Otherwise we'll just be holding draft picks. Man, the best and most important step the team has to take immediately: trade Mookie Betts.

That guy is who I thought of when I read the subject line here.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

So, they won 81 last year, but if they signed Teoscar, Burnes and Fries they won’t win more than 85?

Because? Soto didn’t sign here?

81 - with almost no Casas, no Giolito, no Story, etc.

Holy shit

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

The Red Sox are going into their 6th rebuilding season in their quest to use private equity strategies to turn themselves into.a second division team and possibly lower their team value somehow.

Fact is even if they grabbed Burnes, Teoscar, and Fried, the team is probably an 85 win team. Maybe there is some incredible RNG like 2021 when Xander Bogaerts (remember him) led a bunch of replacement talent playing out of their mind (Arroyo, Kike, and Daubach), the Sox make the playoffs and can steal a series or two but they have to still shake out this roster again. So then the Red Sox are saddled with a team on two to three timelines that still is probably the third best team in their division.

I think at this point the Red Sox need stop trying to throw a bunch of stop gaps that don't work, and just reset. I would personally look into trading Devers especially with Seattle.

Devers could probably fetch a package of Woo, Garcia, and Ford.

I would not go after Bergmann to fill the spot as once again trying to avoid the expensive stop gaps that have been killing the Sox in Kennedy era.

A fact. Sure.
This is silly. Sorry Tom but could you at least express this sentiment as your opinion rather than as some sort of truth that you apparently are privvy to yet none of the Sox FO or half of us here believe.

 

[WilhelmScream]

Boston fans love fantasizing about trading players whom they just signed to long term deals. The earlier the better. 11 year deal? Trade him in year 2! That's how we get the most value!!!

 

[moondog80]

They should also trade the Big 4 and start building for 2032.

 

[Petagine in a Bottle]

This seems a tad hyperbolic. I certainly think the team needs to add some help, but even if they didn’t, this current roster could easily be on the cusp of a 90 win team if several things break right. There’s a lot of talent here.

 

[jose melendez]

The Red Sox are going into their 6th rebuilding season in their quest to use private equity strategies to turn themselves into.a second division team and possibly lower their team value somehow.

Fact is even if they grabbed Burnes, Teoscar, and Fried, the team is probably an 85 win team. Maybe there is some incredible RNG like 2021 when Xander Bogaerts (remember him) led a bunch of replacement talent playing out of their mind (Arroyo, Kike, and Daubach), the Sox make the playoffs and can steal a series or two but they have to still shake out this roster again. So then the Red Sox are saddled with a team on two to three timelines that still is probably the third best team in their division.

I think at this point the Red Sox need stop trying to throw a bunch of stop gaps that don't work, and just reset. I would personally look into trading Devers especially with Seattle.

Devers could probably fetch a package of Woo, Garcia, and Ford.

I would not go after Bergmann to fill the spot as once again trying to avoid the expensive stop gaps that have been killing the Sox in Kennedy era.

Daubach?

 

[joe dokes]

Daubach?

 

[InsideTheParker]

Daubach?

This is the kind of thing that happens when you post at 3:56 am.
But seriously, this thread is even nuttier than most, in my definitely humble opinion.

 

[Fishy1]

This post was made at 4am. I would assume that rationality was top of mind. He called "Bregman" "Bergmann" after all.

 

[cantor44]

I agree it seems excessively pessimistic that if the team got Burnes, Teoscar, and Fried, that they would only be an 81 team. Add those guys, plus some health luck, and they are an over 90 win team.

HOWEVER, for my hot take that's not so hot: there is logic to potentially trading Devers, because, frankly, the organization has overrated him. He's a bad fielder, and doesn't seem to have the physical stamina to stay healthy for a whole season. Both those things are going to get worse if not this season, then in the next couple years. In some ways he's an elephant in the room, because he should be a DH. That's a pricey DH. I mean, he is not the equivalent of Mookie, no way, not even close, no need for flashbacks to the comic book store.

I think the team can compete for the post season if they make some bold moves this year. That doesn't mean that Devers isn't a flawed player to have at your core: he's very flawed.

 

[OCD SS]

This post was made at 4am. I would assume that rationality was top of mind. He called "Bregman" "Bergmann" after all.

Autocorrect. Every post from my phone makes this change.

 

[TomRicardo]

This seems a tad hyperbolic. I certainly think the team needs to add some help, but even if they didn’t, this current roster could easily be on the cusp of a 90 win team if several things break right. There’s a lot of talent here.

90 wins next year, how? They were a .500 team last year and they let go of their third best bat. Where do you see them pick up 10-12 wins the bridge the gap? Trevor Story hot tub time machine with Lucas Giolito?

Rafael Devers is All Star LHH Bat with weak splits against lefties. He was amazing as an 22 YO but stop growing his game after that. He is now 28 and pretty much is what he is as an bat, once again a really good left handed bat who smashes RHP and has a big split. Outside of a season, Devers never really improved on his glove and is at the point where you probably want to consider moving him to 1B or DH.

At 28, the question you have to ask, is what Devers is going to mean to a second division team going forward. His production is running about even to his contract value before we have even got to the scary part. It is not the back breaking terribleness of the Story or Yoshida contracts yet however guys like Devers (players peaking in their early 20s and producing steadily through their 20s) tend to fall off terrible after 30 especially at the 3B position.

 

[jon abbey]

Where do you see them pick up 10-12 wins the bridge the gap?

Baseball doesn't usually work like this, what were the odds in 2024 that Juan Soto would have his best season ever (he did) and that Jarren Duran and his previous career total (not high) of 1.3 bWAR would still have a superior season? I do think there are conversations to be had about Devers and his defense but also I think you are wildly underrating the potential of even the current Red Sox team, and that's before they make any more moves.

 

[pdub]

Look, I get it - you're probably emotionally drained because of how the Soto deal ended. Speaking for myself, that's the most I've been invested in any type of player acquisition since maybe A-Rod, so I am emotionally exhausted now (but glad that its over). However, after getting through my hangover, I still don't see how trading Devers makes any sort of sense. He's a good hitter on a (now) good contract. We have a good mix of talent and age, now is the time for us to push forward. A signing of a player like Burnes, and health from guys like Story, and I think we will be very competitive.

The Yankees just lost Soto, the Orioles might lose Burnes, and the Jays and Rays are not legitimate contenders. The division is up for grabs. Of course, everything could go wrong and we could be a garbage team, but we need to go all in.

Sign one of the aces, sign Tanner Scott for the bullpen, and see if a trade can be had for Seiya Suzuki. Of course, snagging Sasaki somehow would make me forget about Soto.

 

[YTF]

This is the kind of thing that happens when you post at 3:56 am.
But seriously, this thread is even nuttier than most, in my definitely humble opinion.

This post was made at 4am. I would assume that rationality was top of mind. He called "Bregman" "Bergmann" after all.

So with a 4 AM post of this nature which is mostly likely to apply? A) This is what happens when I post before having my morning coffee. or B) Rough night, this is what happens when I post after I've had too much to drink. Also any chance that Jared Carrabis has any inside info as to whether it's A or B?

 

[TomRicardo]

Sign one of the aces, sign Tanner Scott for the bullpen, and see if a trade can be had for Seiya Suzuki. Of course, snagging Sasaki somehow would make me forget about Soto.

Where is the improvement from last year? Why would you even get Suzuki?

We literally already have a weak fielding slightly above average hitting past their prime Japanese player we literally don't have room for on our roster. What roles does the right handed Yoshida play for us? He would be a huge downgrade from O'Neill on this team. Why would you give talent up for that?

You sound like a Jets fan.

 

[lexrageorge]

If the Sox sign Burnes, Fried and Ted, there is no fucking way they are finishing only 4 games above 0.500, unless every amount of organic growth from the roster last season was a total mirage.

 

[cantor44]

Where is the improvement from last year? Why would you even get Suzuki?

We literally already have a weak fielding slightly above average hitting past their prime Japanese player we literally don't have room for on our roster. What roles does the right handed Yoshida play for us? He would be a huge downgrade from O'Neill on this team. Why would you give talent up for that?

You sound like a Jets fan.

If they sign Fried or Burnes, and trade for Crochet (that is, get two front end starting pitchers) they are immediately better than last year. If Story is healthy, he makes a massive difference in fielding up the middle. If Campbell can keep moving forward, you add his athleticism to second base and a RH bat. If Anthony keeps moving forward you have a ROY bat added to the lineup. Casas healthy brings on over .800 OPS to the line up. NOW ..they are still very lefty heavy and need a RHH power bat. I'm not sure how they get that but maybe an overpay for Teoscar. But, let's wishcast here a bit, in response to the opening post. If they get HIM, plus those other guys, frankly, I think they could win the division.

 

[soxhop411]

This post was made at 4am. I would assume that rationality was top of mind. He called "Bregman" "Bergmann" after all.

Nope.. This is a bit from Tom... He did this same thing last offseason as well

https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/chatgpts-virtual-town-hall-for-the-boston-red-sox.41532/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/the-fallacy-of-the-anthony-mayer-teel-window.41622/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/red-sox-sponsors.42188/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/the-value-of-being-competitive.43696/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/big-clinch.43915/

Engagement bait.

its exactly this and nothing more

 

[TomRicardo]

If they sign Fried or Burnes, and trade for Crochet (that is, get two front end starting pitchers) they are immediately better than last year. If Story is healthy, he makes a massive difference in fielding up the middle. If Campbell can keep moving forward, you add his athleticism to second base and a RH bat. If Anthony keeps moving forward you have a ROY bat added to the lineup. Casas healthy brings on over .800 OPS to the line up. NOW ..they are still very lefty heavy and need a RHH power bat. I'm not sure how they get that but maybe an overpay for Teoscar. But, let's wishcast here a bit, in response to the opening post. If they get HIM, plus those other guys, frankly, I think they could win the division.

So the assumptions are:

Jared Duran is going top be a top 3 OF in baseball again
Trevor Story is going to be healthy all year
MLB Baseball is going to allow the Red Sox to play 4 OF (not sure where Duran, Abreu, Anthony, Teoscar are all going to play)
Campbell in his rookie year will be an above average starter at 2B and the Sox won't give Grissom a gazillion chances as they have with every asset.
The Red Sox are willing to push Bello to the bullpen

Aaron Rodgers hasn't lost a step

 

[Fishy1]

Nope.. This is a bit from Tom... He did this same thing last offseason as well

https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/chatgpts-virtual-town-hall-for-the-boston-red-sox.41532/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/the-fallacy-of-the-anthony-mayer-teel-window.41622/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/red-sox-sponsors.42188/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/the-value-of-being-competitive.43696/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/big-clinch.43915/

its exactly this and nothing more

And it's so funny.

 

[TomRicardo]

Nope.. This is a bit from Tom... He did this same thing last offseason as well

https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/chatgpts-virtual-town-hall-for-the-boston-red-sox.41532/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/the-fallacy-of-the-anthony-mayer-teel-window.41622/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/red-sox-sponsors.42188/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/the-value-of-being-competitive.43696/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/big-clinch.43915/

its exactly this and nothing more

So I said the Red Sox were going to be bad, they were bad, and I pointed it out... so you got me?

I don't get what you people want, this team is not being managed well and haven't been since 2019. Each year the hole gets dug bigger and bigger because they screw up and make terrible reactionary signings or they try to get cute. It is trainwreck to watch.

They are exactly where most mediocre franchises end up, in limbo.

Devers was not a good contract extension. It was made out of place of fear and the contract is a time bomb that is locked into place at the end of next year. There are teams today who would take that risk because a) They have actual team close to competing and b) they wouldn't be locked in for five years

The Red Sox have a flux of solid LHH bats coming up as well as under contract. They need young pitching. Seattle would take the risk for Devers because he could help get them in 90-92 win range dipping into their vast amount of young MLB ready pitching.

 

[Jimbodandy]

Nope.. This is a bit from Tom... He did this same thing last offseason as well.

Um...was he wrong last offseason?

We ended up a .500 team, and the "WTF are the Dodgers doing???" Dodgers won the title, right?

 

[pdub]

Where is the improvement from last year? Why would you even get Suzuki?

We literally already have a weak fielding slightly above average hitting past their prime Japanese player we literally don't have room for on our roster. What roles does the right handed Yoshida play for us? He would be a huge downgrade from O'Neill on this team. Why would you give talent up for that?

You sound like a Jets fan.

You don't think obtaining a legitimate ace, and fortifying the bullpen, would be an improvement over last year? There is no point to trading Devers, he is a good hitter on a good deal. If you trade him, you might as well trade Duran, Houck, and anybody even remotely close to 30 years of age.

And yes, I'm a Jets fan. You got me.

 

[nellenelle]

No one can reasonably expect Duran to repeat last year. At the same time, his speed and demonstrated defensive improvement does put a healthy floor under him for 2025 contributions to team success. Giving him some rest along the way in 2025 is advisable. Beyond that, I'm not one to predict anything. Let's see what the roster looks like on Friday.

 

[TomRicardo]

You don't think obtaining a legitimate ace, and fortifying the bullpen, would be an improvement over last year? There is no point to trading Devers, he is a good hitter on a good deal. If you trade him, you might as well trade Duran, Houck, and anybody even remotely close to 30 years of age.

And yes, I'm a Jets fan. You got me.

Oh I am sorry for that, that was insensitive of me.

 

[bosox1534]

The Red Sox are going into their 6th rebuilding season in their quest to use private equity strategies to turn themselves into.a second division team and possibly lower their team value somehow.

Fact is even if they grabbed Burnes, Teoscar, and Fried, the team is probably an 85 win team. Maybe there is some incredible RNG like 2021 when Xander Bogaerts (remember him) led a bunch of replacement talent playing out of their mind (Arroyo, Kike, and Daubach), the Sox make the playoffs and can steal a series or two but they have to still shake out this roster again. So then the Red Sox are saddled with a team on two to three timelines that still is probably the third best team in their division.

I think at this point the Red Sox need stop trying to throw a bunch of stop gaps that don't work, and just reset. I would personally look into trading Devers especially with Seattle.

Devers could probably fetch a package of Woo, Garcia, and Ford.

I would not go after Bergmann to fill the spot as once again trying to avoid the expensive stop gaps that have been killing the Sox in Kennedy era.

You need to get off this forum and stop watching the Sox play, it’s obviously keeping you up at night and you sound in pain when discussing them. What a depressing post from a depressing “fan”.

 

[pgeyer13]

You need to get off this forum and stop watching the Sox play, it’s obviously keeping you up at night and you sound in pain when discussing them. What a depressing post from a depressing “fan”.

You need to get off this forum and stop watching the Sox play, it’s obviously keeping you up at night and you sound in pain when discussing them. What a depressing post from a depressing “fan”.

Seriously. Who even starts a thread like this?

 

[Hank Scorpio]

You need to get off this forum and stop watching the Sox play, it’s obviously keeping you up at night and you sound in pain when discussing them. What a depressing post from a depressing “fan”.

It’s not really nice to essentially tell someone who has been here since 2006 to get out, bosox1534.

 

[TomRicardo]

You need to get off this forum and stop watching the Sox play, it’s obviously keeping you up at night and you sound in pain when discussing them. What a depressing post from a depressing “fan”.

Looks like the Red Sox got 82nd win from the biggest fan!

Can you explain to me why you expect that Devers contract is going to look good going forward and how paying 30 million a year for a LHH DH makes sense with the current roster? Mind you Devers is a 4 WAR player who maxed out his production at 22. Historically guys that have max out that young have a steep decline after 30. Guys like David Wright, Hanley Ramirez, Jordan Zimmermann, and Evan Longoria.

This is the height of Devers value unlike Yoshida who you will literally have to pay for someone to take or Casas that might get you a B Prospect.

In conclusion, we have a log jam and a player on what looks like a very risky contract at the height of his value to a team Seattle with a surpass of young pitching. I would rather going forward on a team that is still rebuilding have Casas and Woo than Devers because Devers is not an elite player. He is a very good player at 3-4ish WAR and is more likely to decline going forward than improve.

 

[bosox1534]

Looks like the Red Sox got 82nd win from the biggest fan!

Can you explain to me why you expect that Devers contract is going to look good going forward and how paying 30 million a year for a LHH DH makes sense with the current roster? Mind you Devers is a 4 WAR player who maxed out his production at 22. Historically guys that have max out that young have a steep decline after 30. Guys like David Wright, Hanley Ramirez, Jordan Zimmermann, and Evan Longoria.

This is the height of Devers value unlike Yoshida who you will literally have to pay for someone to take or Casas that might get you a B Prospect.

In conclusion, we have a log jam and a player on what looks like a very risky contract at the height of his value to a team Seattle with a surpass of young pitching. I would rather going forward on a team that is still rebuilding have Casas and Woo than Devers because Devers is not an elite player. He is a very good player at 3-4ish WAR.

Devers is an elite hitter and right now is a top 3-5 third baseman in the league. I don’t understand your reasonings whatsoever. We don’t have a replacement for him at the moment, so who would you suggest play 3B next season? Sign Bregman, who is older and a much worse hitter? Hope Mayer can make the position switch? The move would do nothing but send a bad message to current and future Red Sox players. You made a silly emotional thread at 4 am that made absolutely no sense and now are trying to put down others for saying you’re wrong.

 

[bosox1534]

It’s not really nice to essentially tell someone who has been here since 2006 to get out, bosox1534.

I was being facetious, however I don’t think that seniority should be a reason to make silly uninformed posts and then tell others they are wrong when responding to those silly uniformed posts.

 

[SuperManny]

Devers has been one of the top 2 players on the Sox in fWAR for the last 4 years (2nd, 2nd, 1st, 2nd). I wouldn't be in a rush to trade the consistency.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

 

[E5 Yaz]

 

[TomRicardo]

Devers is an elite hitter and right now is a top 3-5 third baseman in the league. I don’t understand your reasonings whatsoever. We don’t have a replacement for him at the moment, so who would you suggest play 3B next season? Sign Bregman, who is older and a much worse hitter? Hope Mayer can make the position switch? The move would do nothing but send a bad message to current and future Red Sox players. You made a silly emotional thread at 4 am that made absolutely no sense and now are trying to put down others for saying you’re wrong.

Devers is an elite hitter? He was outside the top 20 hitters in baseball last year in RC+. I would say he is a very good hitter but I wouldn't say elite like an Ohtani, Soto, or Witt. His weakness against LHP keeps him out of elite. Of course this doesn't mean bad, because as you said he is a top 5 third baseman. As for 3rd next year, I would probably go with Campbell with Mayer, Grissom, Hamilton, Sogard, Meidroth, and Rafaela all getting reps in Spring Training all over the infield.

If I am wrong come at me with some numbers and facts instead of a silly little emotional whine that I am big meanie. If you can show where I am wrong with Devers not looking like a good contract going into another rebuilding year, show it.

Right now which is the first actually relevant thing you said is that it sends a bad message to future players in which in a vacuum I would agree. However the Red Sox ripped that band aid with way more relevant players than Devers like Mookie Betts and more so Xander Bogaerts. After dicking over better more substantial players, ownership panicked and extended Devers. The argument was he was younger. However Devers' profile was the most risky of the 3, because players like him who peak before 25 generally fall off hard after 30.

I appreciate you finally actually added something to the conversation this time. Explain to me how I am wrong. Explain how the Red Sox couldn't easily add 130-140 RC+ 1B/DH for 30 million a year for 3 to 4 years. Pretty sure they could grab Teoscar for around there, lose a little in today value (Devers is a better hitter) but add some RHH. Explain to me how dumping Devers now then going after Vlad Jr. (an elite hitter) who works much better in age and handedness with the Red Sox current and future roster is a bad idea.

My silly little emotional post is far less emotional and silly than your pearl grasping. Tell me how maybe Devers isn't a great fit for Seattle. Maybe there are some players who peak under 24 that have a second peak in their late 20s/early 30s that I am missing. Maybe Roman Anthony is actually Devers' BFF. There needs to be something other than Red Sox are going to get a bad rep because they already have a bad rep dumping their two franchise stars at the beginning of this rebuilding project for the likes of Verdugo and Trevor Story.

 

[TomRicardo]

Devers has been one of the top 2 players on the Sox in fWAR for the last 4 years (2nd, 2nd, 1st, 2nd). I wouldn't be in a rush to trade the consistency.

Being the coolest kid on Math Team doesn't mean you are going to get a date to prom.

He is 20-30th in RC+ those four years. Very good not elite. Triston ranked higher in the league last year than Devers has over those four years. Probably good odds he would again.

 

[bosox1534]

Devers is an elite hitter? He was outside the top 20 hitters in baseball last year in RC+. I would say he is a very good hitter but I wouldn't say elite like an Ohtani, Soto, or Witt. His weakness against LHP keeps him out of elite. Of course this doesn't mean bad, because as you said he is a top 5 third baseman. As for 3rd next year, I would probably go with Campbell with Mayer, Grissom, Hamilton, Sogard, Meidroth, and Rafaela all getting reps in Spring Training all over the infield.

If I am wrong come at me with some numbers and facts instead of a silly little emotional whine that I am big meanie. If you can show where I am wrong with Devers not looking like a good contract going into another rebuilding year, show it.

Right now which is the first actually relevant thing you said is that it sends a bad message to future players in which in a vacuum I would agree. However the Red Sox ripped that band aid with way more relevant players than Devers like Mookie Betts and more so Xander Bogaerts. After dicking over better more substantial players, ownership panicked and extended Devers. The argument was he was younger. However Devers' profile was the most risky of the 3, because players like him who peak before 25 generally fall off hard after 30.

I appreciate you finally actually added something to the conversation this time. Explain to me how I am wrong. Explain how the Red Sox couldn't easily add 130-140 RC+ 1B/DH for 30 million a year for 3 to 4 years. Pretty sure they could grab Teoscar for around there, lose a little in today value (Devers is a better hitter) but add some RHH. Explain to me how dumping Devers now then going after Vlad Jr. (an elite hitter) who works much better in age and handedness with the Red Sox current and future roster is a bad idea.

My silly little emotional post is far less emotional and silly than your pearl grasping. Tell me how maybe Devers isn't a great fit for Seattle. Maybe there are some players who peak under 24 that have a second peak in their late 20s/early 30s that I am missing. Maybe Roman Anthony is actually Devers' BFF. There needs to be something other than Red Sox are going to get a bad rep because they already have a bad rep dumping their two franchise stars at the beginning of this rebuilding project for the likes of Verdugo and Trevor Story.

Being 21st in WRC+ fighting a shoulder injury while playing 3B with not much protection in the lineup is a very good season from an elite hitter who has had elite seasons and garnered top 20 MVP votes the last 5 of his 6 seasons. One slightly down year is not going to change my opinion on him as being an elite hitter. It isn’t fair to justify RC+ in 2024 as being the determining factor that shows how good a player is. Brent Rooker was top 10 in RC+ last season, but I don’t think anyone would say he is a better hitter than Devers.
Campbell is a good player, but you cannot justify him as being a capable replacement for Devers when the team is trying to make a playoff run. That’s a move for a team rebuilding. For years we have been asking for another bat in the lineup, and by getting rid of Devers we not only need another, but we need to then replace the only one that’s been consistently great for the past 5 years. Woo is a good pitcher, but there are much less detrimental ways to obtain pitching.
Regarding sending a bad message, the Betts one I understand, but there were reasoning behind that move that have been discussed extensively in other threads, but you cannot truly believe that Xander Bogaerts is a better player than Devers, and had the Sox signed him to his current contract and let Devers go, you would be making a post complaining about them making that move as well.
At some point can’t you just be happy the Red Sox have a good player and build around that player. Hardly any player in MLB is truly worth their contract, but had Devers hit the open market he would’ve received a deal most likely higher than the one he was extended for.
Vlad Jr is a great talent, but he’s also likely to receive a contract much higher than Devers (like $100M higher) and I don’t think that would really improve the offense all that much from having Devers.
I understand Devers isn’t the perfect player, but he’s a homegrown talent who has blossomed into a great player capable of putting elite seasons, and I find it extremely disappointing you have already decided it’s best we move on from him.

 

[Bread of Yaz]

Mariners call and offer George Kirby for Devers. Would you do it? I think I would

 

[bosox1534]

Mariners call and offer George Kirby for Devers. Would you do it? I think I would

It’s a better deal than Woo, but like I said if this team is making a playoff run, who is going to replace Devers?

 

[pk1627]

Over the last few years, I have been told by our resident experts that Tampa, Toronto, Yankees and Baltimore were assembling WS winning teams. We have witnessed the first 3 crash and burn, and we’ll see on the O’s.

How about we keep Devers and go boldly into our window of contention?

 

[bosox1534]

Over the last few years, I have been told by our resident experts that Tampa, Toronto, Yankees and Baltimore were assembling WS winning teams. We have witnessed the first 3 crash and burn, and we’ll see on the O’s.

How about we keep Devers and go boldly into our window of contention?

Exactly, we’ve been going through this rebuild to get to this point of being able to compete long-term at a World Series, not selling out for a year and then rebuilding again, and trading Devers would set the franchise back again. Just cannot make sense of it how some people think trading Devers would help this teams chances of winning the World Series in the future.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Mariners call and offer George Kirby for Devers. Would you do it? I think I would

Hard pass for me. Devers is a middle of the order hitter right in his prime. The Mariners have all this pitching and can’t do squat because their hitting is so anemic.

 

[brienc]

The only reason to consider trading Devers is if ownership is looking to cut payroll. If that is the case, then you might as well put cardboard cutouts in the seats like they did in 2020, because Fenway would be a ghost town.

 

[cantor44]

I'm going to defend TomRicardo a bit and reiterate that I think Devers is overrated. He is indeed a very good, but not great player. His splits don't do him any favors, same with his capacity to stay healthy, and his fielding. And I agree that's he's not likely to improve on any of those fronts. Trading him would be a Brad Stevens kind of move, akin to trading Marcus Smart. Though part II of a Smart type trade would be to improve the team here and now. That's where I disagree with Tom: I think the team is just about 3 acquired players (plus the rising youngsters) from being a contender.

 

[Jimbodandy]

I'm going to defend TomRicardo a bit and reiterate that I think Devers is overrated. He is indeed a very good, but not great player. His splits don't do him any favors, same with his capacity to stay healthy, and his fielding. And I agree that's he's not likely to improve on any of those fronts. Trading him would be a Brad Stevens kind of move, akin to trading Marcus Smart. Though part II of a Smart type trade would be to improve the team here and now. That's where I disagree with Tom: I think the team is just about 3 acquired players (plus the rising youngsters) from being a contender.

I agree with your overall take, but the original argument implies that we're still in a rebuild. If so, your hypothetical of three acquired players plus the rising youngsters away (which I agree with btw) is not something that's going to happen. If they sign a tier 3 starter and then trade away one of those rising stars for another starter (tier 2/3) and pick up a bullpen arm, are they really a contender? Some of the depth would be gone, not enough impact players added, and maybe the team squeaks into the last playoff spot and does a rain dance for the "goalie stood on his head" scenario. And if that's the case, and it's a definite possibility, then Tom is saying why not just reboot then, starting with RD. But if you're right, and they actually spend and add real talent without jettisoning impact MiLB talent, then sure, why rebuild?

 

[Adirondack jack]

Pretty sure we gotta hold onto Devers going forward, but TomRicardo is probably right, in that Devers contract might never look better then now, post 3/4 of a billion $ contracts being thrown around.

 

[amfox1]

Devers remaining contract ($7.5mm/yr deferred for 10 years)

25-26 (ages 29-30) $32.5mm (incl $5mm/yr bonus) pre-deferral
27-30 (ages 31-34) $31mm pre-deferral
31-33 (ages 35-37) $29mm pre-deferral

I wouldn't be looking to trade Devers at this time.