The Los Angeles Dodgers’ main rival, the San Francisco Giants, traded for Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers on Sunday.
The price that the Giants gave up for Devers was southpaw Kyle Harrison, right-hander Jordan Hicks, outfield prospect James Tibbs, and minor league right-hander Jose Bello.
The trade occurred about 20 minutes before the Giants would complete a three-game series against the Dodgers, and San Francisco had Harrison scheduled to take the mound against the divisional rivals. The southpaw would have to be replaced by Sean Hjelle just moments before the first pitch was thrown.
Dodgers utility star Tommy Edman spoke on both the gravity of the trade and how the Giants’ scheduled starter was shipped to Boston right before making his way to the hill.
“It was crazy,” Edman said. “You don’t expect a trade like that this time of year and just getting the pitching change at the last minute.”
Devers is currently hitting .272 with an OPS of .905. His OPS+ of 152 ranks him 52 percent higher than the average qualified hitter this season. The designated hitter is also leading the American League in walks with 56.
As designated hitter, Devers’ position has been a point of contention with his now former team.
After Boston signed third baseman Alex Bregman this offseason, Devers, who has 942 career starts at third base, was told he would be the designated hitter for the Red Sox moving forward. When Boston’s first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury and the team asked Devers to ramp up to replace Casas at first, Devers refused.
Devers expressed his disinterest in the potential move last month and sparked major tension between him and the organization. All of the combined details make the trade that much more shocking, but nothing changes the fact that the bitter rivals up North now have a lethal power bat.
The Dodgers will head to San Francisco to play a three-game set starting on July 13 as their final series before the All-Star break.