"We are not Pirates, White Sox" - Red Sox loyalist blasts Boston’s management over Rafael Devers trade

The Boston Red Sox shocked the MLB community by trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants for Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, James Tibbs III, and Jose Bello. The 28-year-old's departure has split the Red Sox fan base, with many blaming the team management.

Chris Brockman, a diehard Red Sox fan, co-host and senior producer of "The Rich Eisen Show," shared his feelings about the trade on Monday.

"This is so embarrassing on so many levels," Brockman said. (Timestamp- 7:28). "Fans have no reason to root for this team. If ownership and the front office are going to behave this way, what are you teaching and showing these younger kids?"

Brockman claimed that the Red Sox "lied to" Devers in the offseason before acquiring free agent Alex Bregman. He points out that the team management didn't inform Devers about their plans to make him a designated hitter, paving the way for Bregman to play third base.

Therefore, Brockman felt Rafael Devers was wronged when the team asked him to play first base after Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury.

Brockman pointed out that Devers came to the limelight by homering off Aroldis Chapman when he was just a teenager. The Red Sox fandom regarded him as the franchise's future, but Brockman claimed that the current management has no ambition and is interested in matters other than the team.

"This is clearly just a salary dump, and they’re going to trash him for being a malcontent on the way out," Brockman added. "And that is really disappointing. It’s really embarrassing.

"We’re not the Pirates. We’re not the White Sox. We’re the Red Sox. They’ve won the most championships this century. What are we doing?"

Rafael Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension with the Red Sox in 2023. He is the third superstar of the team to leave Boston, after Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts. Bogaerts left as a free agent, joining the Padres in 2022, while the Red Sox traded Betts to the Dodgers in 2020.

Yankees loyalist highlights Rafael Devers' impressive record against the Bronx Bombers

Sportscaster Rich Eisen, a diehard Yankees fan, also believes that the Red Sox were wrong by trading Rafael Devers to the Giants. He pointed out that Devers had a dominant record against the Yankees, Boston's fiercest rivals in the division.

"I have his (Rafael Devers) numbers against Gerrit Cole, the guy who the Yankees have spent a gazillion dollars on," Eisen said (From 10:10). "And until Max Fried, who gave up a home run to Devers, I think to make it 31, if not 32, career home runs against the Yankees. The ace, Gerrit Cole: 14 hits, 8 home runs, 20 runs batted in against Cole in his career," .

Incidentally, the Red Sox had swept the three-game series against the Yankees before the trade. In the final game, Rafael Devers homered against Max Fried, the current Yankees ace.

About the author

Safeer M S is a baseball journalist at Sportskeeda, having delved into the sport professionally since 2024. His journey into baseball was sparked by Shohei Ohtani’s remarkable MLB performances, which ignited his passion for the game. Safeer’s enthusiasm for fantasy baseball further fueled his engagement with the sport.

Safeer supports baseball stars like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Aaron Judge, with Shohei Ohtani's dual-threat dominance being his most memorable baseball moment. He admires Willie Mays for his athleticism and historic achievements in pinch-hitting and stealing bases.

In addition to his baseball expertise, Safeer is deeply passionate about combat sports, which he has been reporting on since 2022. His journey into combat sports began with Karate lessons in school, followed by boxing training. Films like Rocky 4, Never Back Down, and Warrior inspired his love for MMA, and witnessing Demetrious Johnson's victory over Kyoji Horiguchi solidified his commitment to the sport.

When not immersed in sports, Safeer enjoys playing football, working out, and watching anime or thriller movies.

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Edited by Ruth John S