Question of the week: Was trading Devers the right call?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

17 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Prior to 1967, they were only respectable from 38-51.

Seems like Mookie was the hinge point. It wasn't about Mookie per se, but about the direction ownership took the team: inexperienced CBOs, smaller payrolls, mediocre MLB seasons while the franchise waits for prospects to mature. This just isn't the Boston Red Sox of 2003-2018. Will it work? We don't know yet. 

The reasons the Red Sox sucked for most of the 1950s and 1960s are black and white.

And giving away Betts most definitely was a turning point in franchise history. That new direction of smaller payrolls and rehab Tommy Johns was shoved down our throats for half a decade, while the Tank Sox drafted a future core they could lock up to team-friendly contracts so they wouldn't have to pay market prices to the next Mookie.

The biggest key this offseason to let fandom know that ownership is once again devoted to winning won't be trading the farm for Joe Ryan. It will be if they extend Bregman...

[mvp 78]

31 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

The reasons the Red Sox sucked for most of the 1950s and 1960s are black and white.

Yeah, an ownership and FO problem. Ruth was ownership slamming the breaks on the franchise. The franchise didn't get gassed up again until '67 really. The 40's was by accident/luck TBH.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

SFG ERA pre-trade: 3.30

SFG ERA post-trade: 4.29

How could Rafael Devers do this? 

SFG gave up two great pitchers: Hicks and Harrison!

LOL

[notin]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

SFG ERA pre-trade: 3.30

SFG ERA post-trade: 4.29

How could Rafael Devers do this? 

I’ve been telling you about his defensive shortcomings for years…

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

I’ve been telling you about his defensive shortcomings for years…

At 1b: 0 DRS, 1 OAA

[notin]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

At 1b: 0 DRS, 1 OAA

… which is where for years I wanted Boston to move him. 
 

How are his numbers at third?

 

(Before you go too far down this path, this was not a serious comment.  While Devers is a lackluster 3b, I do doubt he is capable of derailing an entire pitching staff single-handedly.)

[mvp 78]

36 minutes ago, notin said:

… which is where for years I wanted Boston to move him. 
 

How are his numbers at third?

 

(Before you go too far down this path, this was not a serious comment.  While Devers is a lackluster 3b, I do doubt he is capable of derailing an entire pitching staff single-handedly.)

This year he is 0 DRS, 0 OAA! 

[moonslav59]

7 hours ago, notin said:

I’ve been telling you about his defensive shortcomings for years…

Like CERA, now it's 1BERA and even DHERA... LOL!

[Maxbialystock]

7 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

SFG gave up two great pitchers: Hicks and Harrison!

LOL

When Devers arrived in San Francisco, the Giants were 41-31.  Now they are 60-64, largely because of their recent 7 game losing streak vs the Nationals, Padres, and Rays--all home games for the Giants. They're now 30-33 at home.  

Devers Game Log shows his OPS in August is .890, but the Giants are 6-9 in August.  

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

When Devers arrived in San Francisco, the Giants were 41-31.  Now they are 60-64, largely because of their recent 7 game losing streak vs the Nationals, Padres, and Rays--all home games for the Giants. They're now 30-33 at home.  

Devers Game Log shows his OPS in August is .890, but the Giants are 6-9 in August.  

Yup, no one players wins or loses a ton of games for their team.

[Kimmi]

On 8/18/2025 at 8:30 AM, mvp 78 said:

SFG ERA pre-trade: 3.30

SFG ERA post-trade: 4.29

How could Rafael Devers do this? 

Giants runs scored per game pre-trade:  4.3

Giants runs scored per game post-trade:  3.8

Devers has not been the offensive boost to the team that the Giants were hoping for.

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

Giants runs scored per game pre-trade:  4.3

Giants runs scored per game post-trade:  3.8

Devers has not been the offensive boost to the team that the Giants were hoping for.

7 of the top 10 Giants leaders in PA since the trade have a wRC+ below 100. Prior to the trade, it was 4 of 10. 

For example:

Heliot Ramos pre-trade: 133 wRC+

Heliot Ramos post-trade: 87 wRC+

Matt Chapman pre-trade: 133 wRC+

Matt Chapman post-trade: 87 wRC+

Mike Yastrzemski pre-trade: 108 wRC+

Mike Yastrzemski post-trade: 72 wRC+

Maybe Devers should be playing 3b for the Giants instead of Matt Chapman (655 OPS since the trade)? 

[Kimmi]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

7 of the top 10 Giants leaders in PA since the trade have a wRC+ below 100. Prior to the trade, it was 4 of 10. 

For example:

Heliot Ramos pre-trade: 133 wRC+

Heliot Ramos post-trade: 87 wRC+

Matt Chapman pre-trade: 133 wRC+

Matt Chapman post-trade: 87 wRC+

Mike Yastrzemski pre-trade: 108 wRC+

Mike Yastrzemski post-trade: 72 wRC+

Maybe Devers should be playing 3b for the Giants instead of Matt Chapman (655 OPS since the trade)? 

I'm not saying that Devers is the sole reason for the Giants' woes.  Far from it.  

However, when you add an impact bat the caliber of Devers' bat, you'd expect the overall offense to improve.  I mean, that's why the Giants traded for him, isn't it?  It's interesting that their overall offense has gotten worse.

I know that you would disagree, but I have to wonder if the rest of the team was a little wary of acquiring Devers because of the controversy that preceded him.  It might be nothing, but it might be something.

[Bellhorn04]

1 minute ago, Kimmi said:

I'm not saying that Devers is the sole reason for the Giants' woes.  Far from it.  

However, when you add an impact bat the caliber of Devers' bat, you'd expect the overall offense to improve.  I mean, that's why the Giants traded for him, isn't it?  It's interesting that their overall offense has gotten worse.

I know that you would disagree, but I have to wonder if the rest of the team was a little wary of acquiring Devers because of the controversy that preceded him.  It might be nothing, but it might be something.

It's totally impossible to quantify the psychological part of the game.  But it seems reasonable to assume that it exists.

[mvp 78]

They are clearly deeply suspicious of Devers and his friendship with in division rival Xander Bogaerts and that has closed them off to performing well! Devers also probably cuts in line at catering and sings poorly in the shower! It just makes too much dang sense when you think about it, even if it hasn't been reported on...