Rafael Devers Trade: Craig Breslow Emphatically Disputes One Rumor In Aftermath Of Deal

The Boston Red Sox dealt Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, and Craig Breslow indicated that was the only time a trade really came close to materializing.

Disputes between the Red Sox and Devers dated back to his public reluctance in spring training to shift from third base to designated hitter. He would eventually reject a move to first base during the season before getting traded.

In some ways, the trade came out of nowhere. Breslow admitted the timing — with the Sox in the midst of a five-game winning streak at the time and having just swept the Yankees — was not ideal.

Then came a report Monday from Baseball America’s Geoff Pontes on Foul Territory that there had been a previous deal in place that was vetoed because it would have entailed the Red Sox retaining money.

Breslow, appearing Tuesday on The Greg Hill Show, said in no uncertain terms that the report wasn’t true.

“No (that is not accurate). When I read that I was as surprised as anybody else would have been who had no idea this was a thing or had happened. Absolutely not true,” Breslow said.

Ultimately, the Giants did end up taking on all of Devers’ contract, which does give the Red Sox considerable flexibility moving forward. In exchange, Boston landed pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, plus prospects James Tibbs III and Jose Bello.