Red Sox Devers Trade Leads to Disastrous Fallout

Boston's offseason moves after dealing star third baseman have backfired badly.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:00pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented baseball diamond and players, conveying the chaotic fallout from the Red Sox's trade of Rafael Devers.The Red Sox's trade of star third baseman Rafael Devers has led to a cascading series of disastrous roster moves and outcomes for the franchise.Boston Today

The Boston Red Sox's decision to trade star third baseman Rafael Devers nearly a year ago has led to a cascading series of events that have turned into a nightmare scenario for the franchise. The initial return for Devers - pitching prospects Kyle Harrison and James Outman from the Los Angeles Dodgers - has not panned out, and Boston's subsequent offseason moves to try to fill the void left by Devers' departure have all gone awry.

Why it matters

Devers was one of the Red Sox's most valuable players, a homegrown star who was a key part of the team's 2018 World Series championship. His departure was controversial at the time, and the fallout has only worsened as Boston has struggled to recover from losing such an impactful player.

The details

The Red Sox traded Devers to the Dodgers last July in a deal that was meant to restock Boston's farm system with top pitching prospects. However, Harrison and Outman have both struggled mightily in their first seasons with the Red Sox organization. The team then tried to replace Devers' production by signing free agent third baseman Josh Donaldson, but he has been plagued by injuries and underperformed. Boston also traded for infielder Nolan Gorman, but he has not provided the offensive boost they were hoping for.

  • The Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2025.
  • The Red Sox signed free agent third baseman Josh Donaldson in the 2025 offseason.
  • The Red Sox traded for infielder Nolan Gorman in the 2025 offseason.

The players

Rafael Devers

A star third baseman who was traded by the Boston Red Sox nearly a year ago.

Kyle Harrison

A pitching prospect acquired by the Red Sox in the Devers trade, who has struggled in his first season with the team.

James Outman

Another pitching prospect acquired by the Red Sox in the Devers trade, who has also underperformed in his first season with the team.

Josh Donaldson

A free agent third baseman signed by the Red Sox in the 2025 offseason to try to replace Devers, but he has been plagued by injuries and underperformed.

Nolan Gorman

An infielder traded for by the Red Sox in the 2025 offseason to help fill the void left by Devers, but he has not provided the offensive boost the team was hoping for.

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What they’re saying

“We really thought the prospects we got back for Devers would help us rebuild, but so far it's just been a disaster.”

— Chaim Bloom, Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer

What’s next

The Red Sox will look to make more moves in the upcoming offseason to try to right the ship and get the franchise back on track after this disastrous sequence of events.

The takeaway

The Red Sox's decision to trade away star player Rafael Devers has backfired spectacularly, with the team struggling to replace his production and the prospects acquired in the deal failing to live up to expectations. This saga highlights the risks and challenges teams face when making major roster moves, especially when parting with a homegrown talent like Devers.