David Ortiz Reflects on Rafael Devers’ Trade

David Ortiz had a final moment of reflection regarding Rafael Devers.

Just before Devers took the field against the Red Sox for the first time since his surprising trade to the Giants, Ortiz shared a photo of himself at Fenway Park, next to the 34 monuments dedicated to his legacy.

“To earn something like this in Boston, you’ve got to be the total package—not just a great hitter,” Ortiz remarked.

While Ortiz’s jersey number 34 is retired and he is now involved with the Fenway Sports Group, it seems he feels that Devers didn’t embody what it takes to be a cornerstone of the franchise, especially now that he plays for San Francisco.

This post echoed comments Ortiz made last week. He expressed to a publication that he sensed the partnership with Devers wouldn’t end positively, particularly after the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman, causing a shift in roles that sparked some drama.

“I played a long time with the Red Sox,” Ortiz noted. “Do you think everything was smooth? I faced challenges too, but I learned to navigate them. Even in the best families, difficult moments arise.”

Recent discussions around the team revealed that Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million deal through 2033, clarifying some of the tensions that had developed over the past two and a half years.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow mentioned they reached an “inflection point” in their conversations, highlighting a lack of alignment moving forward.

Devers also shared his feelings about being moved to designated hitter and later to first base due to Triston Casas’s injury, noting that he felt a lack of respect in that decision.

“I think I put up good numbers in Boston; I deserve to be treated with respect,” he conveyed through an interpreter. “If they had approached me at the start of spring training, I would have been on board.”

Unlike Devers, Ortiz never had to worry about position changes during his time with the team from 2003 to 2016.

Devers was reluctant to pick up the first base glove when asked, and now the Red Sox are trying to succeed without him as a homegrown star.

“The organization will always be there. Players will come and go,” Ortiz stated. “Ego has to be set aside. When you’re rewarded, you need to focus on fulfilling your role.”

He continued, “This message applies to all young players who might think they are above the game. I’m not suggesting Devers thinks that way. He’s a humble, good kid.”

“I’m not claiming the Red Sox made all the right moves. But we should give the team some credit; their goal isn’t to harm the organization, but to make decisions that ideally benefit everyone—even when they can’t always explain them well.”