Slugging Red Sox Legend Analyzes Rafael Devers-Giants Trade

Another Boston Red Sox legend has shared his two cents on the blockbuster trade sending slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants.

We already heard from Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who reminded everyone of the obvious: “Nobody is indispensable.”

Now Ortiz’s former tag-team partner is chiming in with an interesting hot take.

Manny Ramirez talked to MLB reporter Hector Gomez, who is an insider for Z101 Radio in the Dominican Republic. Ramirez made it quite clear where he stands on the Devers trade.

“Devers was humiliated (by the Red Sox),” Gomez reported on social media. “It’s not about pride or ego. I think the team didn’t respect him or communicate with him properly. I’m sure they didn’t do that to (Roger) Clemens. I can’t imagine the Yankees telling (Aaron) Judge, ‘Now we’re moving you to catcher.'”

Devers, as you may remember, initially balked at moving from third base to designated hitter after the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman. Following the season-ending knee injury to Triston Casas, Devers flat-out refused to move from DH to first base.

To put Ramirez’s quote in perspective, remember that like Devers, the slugger’s time in Boston didn’t end well. By 2008, a clearly disgruntled Ramirez was done in Boston. The lowlight came when he shoved Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick after an argument about tickets for a game in Houston.

“The Red Sox don’t deserve a player like me,” Ramirez told ESPNdeportes.com after the trade. “During my years here, I’ve seen how they [the Red Sox] have mistreated other great players when they didn’t want them to try to turn the fans against them.

“The Red Sox did the same with guys like Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez, and now they do the same with me. Their goal is to paint me as the bad guy. I love Boston fans, but the Red Sox don’t deserve me. I’m not talking about money. Mental peace has no price, and I don’t have peace here.”

Devers, for his part, went out of his way before making his Giants debut Tuesday to thank Red Sox fans for their support during his nine seasons in Boston.

Devers, batting third and playing designated hitter, went 2-for-5 with an RBI double and two strikeouts in San Francisco’s 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.