It’s only been a week since the seismic trade, but the effects are still felt throughout the baseball world. From quiet locker rooms to heated sports radio conversations, every expert and insider is examining the situation from every angle. Was it necessary? Could it have been stopped? Could Rafael Devers have done something? But now, it seems like every question has been answered with Devers weighing in.
The position rift was out in the open, from 3B to DH to 1B. But did you know Rafael Devers was ready to play at 1B? Well, all he wanted was a year, as it requires practice. But Boston seemed to want results right away. And from Devers’ point of view, he did everything.
After the storm, Rafael Devers finally spoke up. He remarked, “Nothing. I put up good numbers over there, and I always gave 100%.” That line didn’t just hit home; it struck a chord. Devers, a three-time All-Star and a Silver Slugger twice, made it very clear that he gave Boston everything. From his .272/.401/.504 slash line (15 home runs and 58 RBIs before the trade) to his entire legacy. When asked if he would do things differently, he said he had no regrets.
Devers on what he wished he had done differently in Boston: “Nothing. I put good numbers there and I always gave 100 percent.”
— Sean McAdam (@Sean_McAdam) June 20, 2025
However, the feelings inside the organization told a different, more complicated story. And it’s not us but Jeff Passan, who spoke on a Boston sports radio station recently, shedding light on the deeper issues at play. “It’s the manager’s job to fix things if there are problems in the clubhouse. And Alex Cora couldn’t do that here, so I think everyone would have gotten to the point where they thought, ‘Okay, if AC can’t fix it, maybe we’re past the point of no return.’” It kinda indicated that there is a bigger problem in the team’s ecosystem. The manager, caught between the front office and the players, seemed unable to fix the issues, worsening the situation.
Well, the rift within the organization is nothing new. It’s been on a stretch. Just a couple of days after the trade, Alex Cora and Craig Breslow “have not seen eye-to-eye on the direction of the team.” Apparently, Cora wants to win games, but Breslow wants to build a team that can give a steady future to the clubhouse.
And in the West? Everything seems to be calm, with Rafael Devers being “happy” and having left the things in the “past.” However, it seems like the Boston great, David Ortiz, is not ready to leave the past behind.
Big Papi scores a subtle knock at Rafael Devers
David Ortiz quietly got a lot of attention on Instagram. He posted a picture of himself next to his No. 34 statue at Fenway Park with the remark, “Best organization in baseball. The thing is… you have to be the full package all the way around player… go Sox.” This slight jab said a lot about how he thought players should act in Boston, both on and off the field.
Just a few days after the deal, Ortiz told The Athletic that the relationship between Devers and the team “wasn’t going to end well.” He talked about attitude issues and stressed that a player had to learn to “put [his] ego aside” after obtaining a big contract. In Ortiz’s world, accepting decisions made by the organization is part of the job.
He told young athletes that money doesn’t make someone irreplaceable. “Once you get paid, you have to find a way to do what you’re told.” Ortiz added that being humble and following orders should come before your preferences. His statements made it clear that devotion and being able to change are just as important as stats in Boston.
Ortiz sent a clear message—first, the Instagram story and those earlier comments. In Fenway, a player must do more than produce; they must also respect the team’s demands. His statements are both critiques and advice.
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