Rafael Devers has been involved in many trade rumors, but the Boston Red Sox shouldn’t trade the young third baseman at the trade deadline.
Dave Dombrowski has shown that he has no fear in trading any of his young pieces throughout his career. Since becoming the President of Baseball Operations for the Boston Red Sox, Dombrowski has traded several young players with high potential such as Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, Manuel Margot, Anderson Espinoza, and many others for players who would contribute to the big league roster immediately.
With the season almost halfway finished and the trade deadline approaching, trade rumors have begun to swirl around baseball. With a 49-24 record, the Red Sox are certainly in contending position. Teams who appear to be in World Series contention at the trade deadline usually look to trade their top prospects for players who could help contribute to the club this year.
Last year, the Red Sox traded for Eduardo Nunez and Addison Reed, giving up prospects for both players.
A depleted farm system
This year, the Boston Red Sox do not have very good prospects. The only two players from the Red Sox who appear on the MLB.com Top 100 Prospect List are Michael Chavis (No.70) and Jay Groome (No. 80).
Both players are not currently playing as Chavis is currently suspended for alleged PED use while Groome is recovering from Tommy John Surgery that he underwent in May.
Because of this, Rafael Devers has been seen around many trade rumors involving the Red Sox. On Tuesday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that the Red Sox are interested in upgrading their bullpen, but would have to trade a young everyday player such as Devers to land Brad Hand from the Padres.
There have also been rumors going around that the Red Sox have considered trading Devers to land Manny Machado. Those rumors appear to have been simply speculation and it does not appear that there have actually been discussions of this deal happening.
Give Devers time
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
Devers hasn’t had a great season so far. The 21-year-old has been unable to duplicate the success he had last year, batting just .239 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs in 70 games. His plate discipline has been brutal, as Devers has struck out 76 times with just 19 walks. Last year, Devers hit .284 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in 58 games. Devers’ fielding has improved this year but is still shaky, to say the least.
However, the Red Sox should not have expected Devers’ bat to be at the level it was last season. Teams do not know what to expect from rookies when they are first called up and only have minor-league film. With a half-season under his belt, teams have noticed that Devers is an aggressive hitter who swings at a lot of pitches out of the strike zone.
It must be frustrating for the Red Sox that Devers has continued to struggle, but they should stay patient. He is just 21 years old and is playing in his first full major-league season.
Slumps aren’t unusual
A lot of young players go through slumps like this in their first full season. Boston saw it first hand when Xander Bogaerts had a brutal 2014 season. Bogaerts, who was 21 years old at the time, hit just .240 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs. He struck out 138 times and walked just 39 times.
The next season, the shortstop won his first Silver Slugger Award, batting .320 with 7 homers and 81 RBIs and struck out 37 fewer times. The Red Sox stayed patient with Xander, and it has paid off, as he has been the everyday shortstop for the Red Sox since 2014 and has two Silver Sluggers.
It is rare to find a young player produce great numbers in their first full season in the big leagues. Devers might not put up great stats this year, but the Red Sox shouldn’t be too worried. His potential is off the charts. If he lives up to his hype as a prospect, Devers should be the Red Sox third baseman for a long time.
No need for big trade
Manny Machado is a terrific baseball player. Whenever a player with as much talent as Machado becomes available on the trade market, it is tempting to try to make a move for him.
However, the Boston Red Sox should not be tempted to trade for Machado. The 25-year-old will be a free agent this winter, and the Red Sox already have a lot of players on their roster who are due for a big contract soon.
Craig Kimbrel will be a free agent this winter and the Red Sox will certainly want to lock him up. Chris Sale, Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley Jr. will all be free agents after the 2019 season. Mookie Betts will be a free agent after 2020.
Because of this, the Red Sox will have to start choosing which players they would like to resign and which players they will either want to trade or let sign with another team. With Bogaerts and Devers already on the team, the Red Sox are fine at the positions Machado can play. Being just 25 years old, Machado will certainly want an enormous contract that will likely surpass $35 million per year for a long period of time.
The Red Sox shouldn’t pay Manny Machado this kind of deal with all the expiring contracts they have coming up. Their focus should be on locking up their current core. Dombrowski would have to give up a lot for just a half season guaranteed of Machado. This season, Machado is hitting .310 with 18 homers and 53 RBIs on the Baltimore Orioles, the worst team in baseball.
The Boston Red Sox are all set
The Boston Red Sox don’t really need upgrades anywhere. Eduardo Nunez hasn’t been great and Dustin Pedroia has struggled to stay healthy, but there are no real needs to trade for another second baseman unless Nunez gets hurt and Pedroia’s injury continues to linger. The offense for the Red Sox has a lot of depth across the board as it stands.
The bullpen could use some help but it is not a huge problem. The bullpen has the third-best ERA in the American League. However, the only left-hander in the Boston Red Sox bullpen right now is Brian Johnson, so Boston could use another lefty out there. Brad Hand comes to mind, but as mentioned, trading for him would cost a lot. Hand has a 2.25 ERA and 21 saves on the year. The Red Sox should settle for a cheaper option and should not want to go after Hand. Possible names include Will Smith, Richard Bleier, and Robbie Erlin.
Next: Christian Vazquez waking up at the plate at right time
Dave Dombrowski has found success trading young players for players who are ready to contribute now, but he should not give up on Devers, at least not yet.