The Boston Red Sox were not expecting their best and longest-tenured player to get traded in the middle of June, especially after sweeping the New York Yankees.
However, Rafael Devers was shockingly dealt to the San Francisco Giants on June 15, a full 46 days before the MLB Trade Deadline. There had been no publicized trade rumors in the media and the move seemed to come out of nowhere, making it even more stunning.
It reminded the Red Sox of two important things: baseball is a business, and anything can happen.
While Boston initially struggled after the trade, the team banded together and found its identity. Younger players stepped up, injured veterans returned and the club hit its stride, going 22-15 since the trade.
The move was a wake-up call for the Red Sox, who feel more prepared for this year’s deadline compared to previous seasons, according to The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey.
“I think when Rafael Devers gets traded,” Rob Refsnyder told McCaffrey, “all of us are on high alert.”
Boston remained on high alert over the past several weeks as Jarren Duran’s name was floated in trade rumors, but nothing came of them. As of this writing, the Red Sox have yet to trade anyone else notable from their core.
Still, their players aren’t taking anything for granted.
“Having something like that happen a few weeks ago helps you prepare even more,” Refsnyder said. “This is the most prepared the team has been, in my opinion, going into the deadline of knowing some of those moves might be made.”
Refsnyder also added that the communication with Craig Breslow has been better since the Devers trade — something Breslow acknowledged that he needed to improve.
“I think Craig has done an excellent job of communicating with us, and if established guys have questions, he answers,” Refsnyder said. “I think his communication and his honesty has been really good and if we don’t add, I don’t think it’s for a lack of effort by him.”
With only a few hours to go until the 6 p.m. ET deadline, Boston’s ready for anything.
