Red Sox Encouraged to Trade Young Slugger to Make Room for Devers
The Boston Red Sox have stumbled to a 1-4 start, sitting at the bottom of the AL East. A significant factor in this is their $313 million man, Rafael Devers, who is off to a rough start, going 0-19 with 15 strikeouts. On MLB Now, analysts Brian DeRosa and Brian Kenny discussed the issue. Kenny expressed appreciation for how the Red Sox handled the Devers situation, but noted that the team didn’t account for the human element of the decision. He even suggested that Devers appears defeated, possibly feeling overshadowed by Alex Bregman.
Some believe Devers’ struggles might stem from the Red Sox’s decision to invest $120 million in a third baseman, even after already committing to Devers. DeRosa suggested that, if he were in charge, he would have traded first baseman Triston Casas to the Seattle Mariners for pitching help, then moved Devers to first base, where he might thrive defensively and maintain his confidence. Devers is known for his defense, but he has struggled on that front this season. Playing him at first base could potentially provide him with a role where he could perform better.
Has the move to DH affected Rafael Devers?#MLBNowShowdown pic.twitter.com/Drga9wLqIk
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) April 1, 2025
Casas had a solid 2024, batting .241 with 13 home runs and 32 RBIs, and at 25 years old, he would have been attractive to many teams. The Red Sox could have used him in a trade to bring in pitching or a platoon DH while moving Devers to first. However, Casas has struggled in the early part of the 2025 season, with just one hit in 17 at-bats and seven strikeouts. This makes it more difficult to move him now, and Devers’ confidence appears to have dipped.
Despite the struggles, it’s still early in the season, and it’s not uncommon for players, even All-Stars, to have slow starts. Devers is one of the top hitters in the league and will likely find his rhythm again. The offseason turmoil might have affected his mindset, but as time passes, he’s expected to bounce back. The Red Sox are likely to hold off on making any major moves for now, given that there’s plenty of time to turn things around. However, if things don’t improve, a move could be considered before the trade deadline. The team will face the Baltimore Orioles in the next two games before starting their series with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, hoping to shake off their early-season struggles.
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