The San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox have reportedly made a surprising blockbuster deal.
According to multiple reports, the Red Sox are trading third baseman Rafael Devers to San Francisco. Pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison are reportedly part of the return being sent back to Boston. A pair of prospects, outfielder James Tibbs and pitcher Jose Bello, are also heading to the Red Sox. Julian McWilliams of CBS Sports reported that the Giants will take on Devers’ entire contract.
Devers had become a potential problem for the Red Sox. After the Red Sox signed third baseman Alex Bregman, Devers spoke out against a possible position change and didn’t rule out a potential trade away. While Devers eventually agreed to be the Red Sox’s designated hitter, he went off about the front office when he was asked to return to the hot corner when Bregman was injured.
Although Devers may have been unhappy with his role, he is in the midst of what may be a career year. He had posted a .272/.401/.504 batting line in 334 plate appearances, hitting 15 homers and 18 doubles.
The question is where he will play for the Giants. Third base is set as the Giants signed Matt Chapman to a six-year, $151M extension before the end of the 2024 season. The Giants need help at first base, but given Devers’ previous reluctance to move across the diamond, he may not be the answer.
In exchange, the Red Sox get a pair of arms to bolster the pitching staff. Hicks has struggled thus far as he has moved between the rotation and bullpen, posting a 6.47 ERA and a 1.541 WHiP over his 48.2 innings, striking out 43 batters with 20 walks. Harrison had been a consensus top 100 prospect from 2022 through 2024, regarded as the Giants’ top prospect heading into last season. He has split the 2025 season between Triple-A and the majors, posting a 4.56 ERA and a 1.268 WHiP over 23.2 innings for the Giants, striking out 25 batters with nine walks.
Tibbs may be the headliner for the Red Sox. Ranked as the Giants’ fourth-best prospect by MLB.com at the time of the trade, he is lauded for his smooth swing from the left side and power potential. While he was primarily a right fielder in the Giants system, he had spent time at left and first base in college.
Bello, ranked as the Giants’ 22nd-best prospect by FanGraphs, is getting his first look stateside this season. He is viewed as a potential starter with a plus slider and the possibility of a solid three-pitch mix if his fastball and changeup continue to develop.
