Boston Red Sox’s Former Slugger Rafael Devers Stuck In Slump With San Francisco Giants

After cutting ties with Alex Bregman in the offseason while bringing in Ranger Suarez and Sonny Gray, it became clear that the Red Sox were going to emphasize their pitching strength. But on Wednesday, franchise ace Garrett Crochet was placed on the injured list, dealing a blow to the rotation.

Still, this isn’t uncharted territory for the team. Just last year, it managed to enjoy a second-half surge in the standings and a postseason bid after cutting ties with a significant figure in the organization, when it traded away franchise slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants well before the trade deadline.

Though the Red Sox look like they need some offensive reinforcement this year, getting rid of Devers might have been a savvy decision for the team, as he is slashing just .211/.250/.298 with only two homers so far for the Giants.

Boston Red Sox’s Former Slugger Rafael Devers Offers ‘No Comment’ On Alex Cora Decision

Devers has been avoiding the San Francisco media this season as he struggles at the plate, but reporters recently caught up with him as his team visits the Philadelphia Phillies.

“Devers speaks to media for the first time in 3 weeks, says he isn’t frustrated — down stretches are something hitters go through,” the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser reported on Wednesday. “He isn’t making any major changes, he knows he will come out of it.”

But even though Devers was willing to go on the record about his slump, he was less interested in sharing his thoughts about the Red Sox’s decision to fire Cora, who was his manager for seven seasons in Boston.

“Rafael Devers spoke to reporters in Philadelphia. He said he’s not frustrated, and while he acknowledged he has to make adjustments, he said he’s going to stay with his swing,” the Mercury News’ Justice delos Santos reported. “He had no comment on Alex Cora’s firing.”

Devers’ own exit from the Red Sox was mired in a controversy about the team’s short-notice request that he take over first base following an injury to Triston Casas. Since then, he has become the Giants’ everyday first baseman.

“Devers’ interview session Wednesday concluded with the requisite questions about his former team, the Red Sox,” Slusser noted. “Asked if he had any opinions about Alex Cora’s firing last week, he said, ‘No,’ and he had the same response when asked if he’d spoken to any of the Red Sox.”