Craig Breslow Offers Intel On Red Sox Acquired In Rafael Devers Trade
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow admitted trading Rafael Devers was not the outcome the ballclub expected or wanted. But Boston wouldn’t have dealt the franchise cornerstone if it wasn’t offered the package it received from the San Francisco Giants, he said.
“Obviously, the quality of the return we’re going to see how that plays out over the next several years,” Breslow told reporters during a video conference Monday night, some 24 hours after Devers was dealt to the Bay Area for four players, as seen on NESN. “But we’re absolutely excited.”
Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy credited Breslow and his group for upgrading the pitching throughout the organization.
The Red Sox acquired left-handed starter Kyle Harrison, right-handed reliever Jordan Hicks, outfield prospect James Tibbs III and right-handed prospect Jose Bello in exchange for Devers.
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Breslow and the Red Sox believe Harrison can pitch in the front half of a rotation. The 23-year-old was optioned to Triple-A Worcester following the trade as Boston identified development opportunities for Harrison, a third-round pick in 2020, who has a 4.48 ERA in 39 games (35 starts) the last three seasons.
Hicks is a “dominant, late-inning reliever,” according to Breslow. The 28-year-old is a veteran of seven MLB seasons with a 4.23 career ERA in 254 games (37 starts).
Selected 13th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, Tibbs was the No. 4 prospect in the Giants organization at the time of the trade. He is credited for having an “athletic profile” and someone who “makes great swing decisions,” Breslow said. The 22-year-old will continue his smooth left-handed swing in High-A ball with MLB.com’s Brent Maguire predicting a 2026 arrival to Boston.
Breslow called the 20-year-old Bello an “exciting young arm.” Prior to the deal, Bello represented the Giants in the Arizona Complex League with a 2.00 ERA in eight games. It’ll be a while before the Dominican Republic native lands in Boston, however.
It might take some time to fully gauge the return, as Breslow shared. But given how much Devers meant to the Red Sox, those aforementioned players will face some added pressure as they begin their tenures within the franchise.