Tensions Growing Between Red Sox and Rafael Devers
Lately, there has been noticeable friction between the Boston Red Sox and star third baseman Rafael Devers. The team’s offseason signing of Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal pushed management to ask Devers to relinquish his spot at third base.
Though initially resistant, Devers eventually adjusted to a full-time designated hitter role, following a rocky start. Now focused solely on hitting, the 28-year-old has posted a .253/.374/.447 slash line with a .820 OPS and a 130 OPS+ this season.
Asked to Move Again — This Time to First Base
Following a significant injury to first baseman Triston Casas, Boston hoped Devers would be willing to shift to first. However, Devers declined, a decision that reportedly caused tension within the organization and triggered trade rumors.
Chicago Cubs Emerge as Potential Trade Partner
Among the teams most prominently linked to Devers are the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs. In a recent piece for Yahoo Sports, Zach Kaplan projected that Devers might be a fit for Chicago.
“With Devers carrying a hefty contract and the Red Sox aiming to maximize their current contention window,” Kaplan wrote, “a trade could open the door for top prospects like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer. The Cubs, who have a glaring need at third base, could be a logical destination.”
Social Buzz and the Cubs’ Struggles at Third
FanDuel even joined the conversation on social media, highlighting the Red Sox-Devers drama and Chicago’s glaring need at third base — a position that’s remained in flux since the Cubs dealt former MVP Kris Bryant in 2021.
Since then, no one has claimed the spot convincingly, despite efforts with players like Patrick Wisdom, Isaac Paredes, David Bote, and Christopher Morel.
While the Cubs hope highly-touted prospect Matt Shaw eventually becomes their long-term answer at third, he’s still unproven at the major league level — unlike Devers, who has established himself as an elite offensive threat.
Contract and Control Make Devers Even More Attractive
Devers’ long-term contract is another selling point. He’s signed through 2034 at roughly $28 million per season. While it’s a substantial financial commitment, it offers nearly a decade of control — a rarity for a player of his caliber.
Chicago has built a strong farm system and is likely to deal from it to bolster their roster this summer, especially with only one year of club control left on Kyle Tucker. That reality could motivate President Jed Hoyer to make a bold move to win now.
The extent of the fallout between Devers and the Red Sox remains unclear, but a potential deal with the Cubs could be mutually beneficial — giving Boston a chance to retool and Chicago a true star at a position of need.
