The Boston Red Sox’s recent offensive surge isn’t even the most surprising headline of the week.
Over a week ago, the Red Sox stunned the baseball world by trading away top star, a franchise cornerstone and the last remaining player from their 2018 World Series-winning roster. The move caught nearly everyone off guard—especially given that Boston is still in the playoff hunt. Not only did they part with one of the league’s premier hitters, but the return from the San Francisco Giants left many unimpressed.
The trade has largely been seen as a salary dump, with San Francisco absorbing Devers’ massive 10-year, $313.5 million contract. In exchange, the Red Sox received:
- RHP Jordan Hicks
- LHP Kyle Harrison
- OF James Tibbs III (Giants’ No. 4 prospect)
- RHP Jose Bello
Ignoring the financial implications, the player package wasn’t overwhelming—many believe other teams could’ve offered a stronger haul. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Boston had explored deals with several teams, including the Seattle Mariners.
Mariners Missed Their Shot at Devers
Landing Devers—currently the third-most productive designated hitter in the league—could’ve given the Mariners a massive lineup upgrade, especially at DH, where they’ve struggled. Mariners designated hitters have combined for a .698 OPS, ranking 20th in MLB. Even that figure includes hot streaks from Jorge Polanco and Cal Raleigh, whose offensive surge has come more recently.
Ideally, Devers would’ve returned to third base in Seattle, the position he strongly preferred but lost to Alex Bregman in Boston—causing the initial friction with the Red Sox. While Ben Williamson has provided solid defense at third for Seattle, his 73 wRC+ is a liability at the plate.
Seattle also had a deep farm system that could’ve trumped the Giants’ offer. San Francisco’s farm system was ranked 28th before the season—meaning they had far less prospect capital than the Mariners.
But the deal never materialized. Seattle’s front office appeared unwilling to take on Devers’ hefty contract, especially knowing that he might eventually be used primarily as a designated hitter. A potential workaround could have involved trading off a high-salary player like Luis Castillo—a name linked to Boston in offseason rumors—but the financial puzzle still likely proved too complex.
In the end, Seattle might not need Devers to make a postseason push. Over the last 30 days, the Mariners own a .764 team OPS, fifth-best in the majors, and they currently hold the third AL Wild Card spot. Sure, it would’ve been exciting to add a player who’s posted a .938 career OPS at T-Mobile Park—but given his contract, acquiring Devers was always a long shot.
