Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz believes Rafael Devers mostly has himself to blame for being traded away from his long-time team over the weekend.
While fans were well aware of the ongoing issues between the Red Sox front office and their top star, the trade that sent the three-time All-Star to the San Francisco Giants caught many off guard. However, Sox great Ortiz told The Athletic this week, “I knew it wasn’t going to end well,” and believes much of the blame for the end of the relationship falls squarely on Devers.
“I played for the Red Sox for a long time. You think everything with me and the Red Sox was roses and flowers?” said Ortiz. “I went through some tough times also. But I was mature enough to understand and keep things internal. Even in the best families, between the best brothers, s*** happens. You need to have the maturity to resolve the problems and move on.”
Ortiz certainly believes the Red Sox are not innocent in a situation that sees them move on from another homegrown All-Star in their prime. However, Devers’ immaturity to his situation, and not understanding his place in the organization, is why things fell apart, in his opinion.
Rafael Devers stats (2025): .272 AVG, .401 OBP, .504 SLG, .905 OPS, 15 HR, 58 RBI, 47 R
“At some point, you have to realize the organization has the power over everyone,” he said. “They can play you, trade you, let you go. Sometimes, as a young player, it’s hard to understand that. But they have the power to do whatever they want. The only thing you can control is what you do on the field.”
“… Players’ egos play a big role sometimes. I’ve seen it with so many players. Sammy Sosa. A-Rod. My friend Manny Ramirez, you name it. And guess what? At the end of the day … you know you did wrong. Once you mature, you understand.”
Ortiz believes that Rafael Devers is a humble and good person. However, in his view, he had a moment that many other stars have in their early prime and “think they turn out to be bigger than the game.” The Hall of Famer currently has a “forever” contract with the club as a brand ambassador and advisor.
The legendary first baseman played 14 seasons in Boston and earned All-Star honors on 10 occasions. He also helped lead the Red Sox to three World Series wins during his career.
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