How Rafael Devers Trade Helped Unlock Red Sox Roster’s Full Potential

It’s been nearly two months since the Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, and so far, the move has worked out better than they could have possibly imagined.

The Red Sox have taken off without Devers, going 27-16 since the trade and surging into playoff contention. They own the second-best record in the American League during that time, behind only the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays (30-15).

Meanwhile, the Giants have collapsed, going 17-26 and falling out of the playoff race in the National League. Devers has not provided the impact they were looking for, slashing .225/.340/.375 with 59 strikeouts and 0.1 WAR in 43 games.

Surprisingly, Boston’s offense has improved without Devers, going from 4.84 runs per game with him to 5.21 runs per game without him.

A big reason why is that removing Devers from the DH spot has helped unclog the Red Sox’s roster, giving manager Alex Cora more flexibility to play matchups and get the most out of his lineup on a nightly basis. It also cleared some space for veteran sluggers Alex Bregman and Masataka Yoshida, both of whom returned from the injured list in July after Devers was dealt.

Since the trade, Boston’s platoon advantage rate has improved from 18th in MLB to eighth (60%), according to ESPN’s Paul Hembekides. Without Devers, the Red Sox’s lineup has become less left-handed-heavy. Cora has been able to stack more righty bats against lefty pitchers when needed, primarily Rob Refsnyder and Abraham Toro, giving his hitters more favorable matchups.

Boston’s defensive efficiency has also improved (especially in the outfield), climbing from 24th to 13th (71%). By freeing up the DH spot, Cora can rotate players through and better optimize his defensive alignment rather than being forced to play certain guys out of position.

And perhaps most importantly, trading Devers has opened up more playing time for the Red Sox’s young stars, namely Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer. Anthony has emerged as one of the best hitters in baseball since the trade, batting .301/.417/.452 with 17 extra-base hits in 41 games and recently earning a massive contract extension.

In short, Boston’s roster is more dynamic, flexible and athletic without Devers. It’s also more drama-free without his negative attitude hanging over the team. Everyone is rowing in the same direction now and focused on helping the club win games, which is exactly what they’ve been doing.