The Boston Red Sox offloaded designated hitter Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a shock blockbuster trade.
It is unusual to see one of the best hitters in baseball traded by a playoff contender — especially a potential postseason rival.
Devers is playing on the second season of a massive $313.5 million, 10-year contract and began with a five-game hitless streak before bouncing back to average .272.
But his relationship with the Sox disintegrated after Alex Bregman was signed to replace him on third base.
Devers was named a designated hitter after showdown talks with owner John W. Henry and later refused to play first base when Triston Casas suffered an injury.
The 28-year-old is a big coup for the Giants, who gave up pitchers Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks, outfielder James Tibbs and minor league pitcher Jose Bello.
Henry, who has a net worth of $5.5 billion per Forbes, and the Fenway Sports Group will hope Devers’ exit creates a better culture in the locker room with Boston 37-36 and fourth in the American League East.
Fans are gutted to lose the three-time All-Star, and the timing has gone over like a lead balloon.
Across the pond, Fenway Sports Group has just made Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz the most expensive Premier League player ever after he joined FSG-owned Liverpool FC for $156 million.
Angry supporters took to social media to claim the moves show Henry is prioritizing the soccer team over his Fenway Park franchise.
“Fenway Sports Group is experiencing major turnover, as sources have indicated that John Henry and co. will be prioritizing Liverpool Football Club for the time being,” claimed one fan.
“Interestingly, this trade comes only days after the club record signing of Florian Wirtz was agreed to.
“John Henry sell the team,” wrote another.
“Might not be directly related, but no ifs ands or buts about it, the return on this trade is an accounting move, not a baseball one. Just like the Mookie trade. Disgusting,” added a third.
“Fans weren’t lying when they said all John Henry cares about is Liverpool,” wrote a fourth.
“Obviously I don’t know if there is any connection here, but Devers being traded with $250M left on his contract and news of the Penguins potentially being back up for sale have both occurred in the same week that Liverpool signed a player for ~$160M USD,” another bemoaned.
Soccer fans did point out that Liverpool is a financially independent entity.
The Red Sox just swept the New York Yankees and have won seven of their last eight games. Losing Devers will be a tough blow to recover from.
On the opposite coast, the Giants are surprise contenders and sit just behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.
Barry Bonds was the last San Francisco player to hit 30 home runs — Devers, who has 15 this season, has managed it three times.
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With a talented roster of pitchers, the Giants now have the big hitter they craved.
Fans think the Dodgers should fear their rivals.
“The Giants just got an all time great for basically free,” wrote one.
“Giants roster looks insane now,” added a second.
“This trade will go down identically as the Mookie Betts trade. Betts was putting up great numbers & great fielding for the Sox & now he’s a key part of a superb Dodgers team. Devers is excellent in the clutch & is a good fielder; now SF will be able to take full advantage of this,” noted a third.
Time will tell who won the trade but in the battle of public opinion, San Francisco has taken a landslide victory.