Rafael Devers’ pinch-run meltdown proves Red Sox were right to trade him last summer

Rafael Devers’ latest controversy won’t settle the debate over the blockbuster trade that sent him to San Francisco, but it does provide fresh ammunition for those who believed the Red Sox made the right decision.

In the ninth inning of the Giants’ 2-1 loss to the Marlins, Devers drew a walk representing the tying run. Looking to add speed on the bases, manager Tony Vitello called on Jonah Cox to pinch-run.

As Cox made his way to first base, Devers appeared to wave toward the dugout in an apparent attempt to stay in the game rather than come off for the pinch-runner.

After ultimately leaving the field, Devers bypassed an interaction with one of the coaches, slammed his helmet in the dugout, and immediately headed to the clubhouse, visibly frustrated by the decision.

"He was signaling over to us that he's good to run," Vitello said after the game. "We DHed him the first game (of the series on Friday) after the day off just because -- from running, from baserunning -- some soreness in his leg. He's good to go. Part of it, too, is that you know how competitive he is. He wanted to stay in the game."

After the game, Vitello downplayed the incident, explaining that Devers had been dealing with some leg discomfort and that using Cox as a pinch-runner gave the Giants their best chance to manufacture the tying run, even while acknowledging that Marlins reliever Lake Bachar is difficult to run against.

In the end, the move never paid off. Cox did not attempt to steal second base, and the game ended moments later when Willy Adames grounded into a game-ending 5-4-3 double play.

"You know how competitive he is. He wanted to stay in the game," Vitello said. "Once we announce the move, the move is made. Just going with our best effort to win the game. (Devers) was signaling over to us he was good to run. Obviously, would like Jonah to get a bag. He’s relatively quick to the plate. But on a double, going on our best chance to win the game.

"In a perfect world, you’d like to see Cox get a bag at second, if he can. At the very least, if you go down, you go down swinging with your fastest guy."

Devers finished Sunday’s loss 0-for-3 with a walk. After a sluggish start to the season, he has rounded into form, batting .264/.338/.540 with nine home runs over 45 games since May 1.

Despite Sunday’s visible frustration, Vitello maintained after the game that he and Devers remain on good terms. The Giants don't seem willing to make the relationship work, reportedly have been looking to trade Devers, not because of this incident, but because of the club's poor performance this season. The Giants would like to move the slugging first baseman's $225 million through the 2033 season.

"We talk every day. We’re good. I’d rather have guys you have to rip off the field," Vitello said, maintaining he and his slugger are on good terms.

"I don’t have any problem with Raffy. We talk every day; he’s one of the most entertaining guys to be around. He wants to stay in the game."

Devers declined to speak with reporters after the game, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

For Red Sox fans, Devers' temper tantrum looked similar to his end in Boston. The visible frustration and emotional reaction echoed moments that strained Devers’ relationship with Boston before the two sides ultimately parted ways in the blockbuster Father’s Day trade last June.

The relationship between Devers and the Red Sox had already become complicated after the club signed Alex Bregman and shifted Devers from third base to designated hitter. Tensions only escalated when Boston later asked him to begin playing first base following Triston Casas’ season-ending injury.

One of the attributes that comes with Devers’ bat is managing his emotions and ultimately getting him to buy into being more of a clubhouse leader.

Ironically, the situation gained even more attention when former Red Sox manager Alex Cora appeared to react to the incident on social media. 

According to MLB.com’s Ian Browne, Devers was involved in a similar pinch-running situation with Cora last season, though it was handled privately and never became a public issue.

If he is traded for a second time in his career, San Francisco will undoubtedly hope for a stronger return than Boston ultimately received and, just as importantly, that it hangs onto any prospects it acquires long enough to let them develop.

That’s where the criticism of Craig Breslow continues to grow.

The Red Sox have already been burned by trading left-hander Kyle Harrison before the season as part of the deal that brought Caleb Durbin to Boston. 

Durbin has played outstanding defense and has swung the bat better of late, but he hasn’t provided the right-handed impact bat the club was seeking after Bregman’s departure. Meanwhile, Harrison has blossomed in Milwaukee after the Brewers appeared to unlock another level in his game, something Boston never managed to do.

Harrison has emerged as one of the National League’s best starters, posting a 2.50 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while piling up strikeouts and limiting walks. His breakout only adds to the frustration surrounding Boston’s decision to move on from him.

The same scrutiny applies to the James Tibbs III trade. Acquired from San Francisco in the Devers deal, Tibbs spent barely six weeks in the Red Sox organization before Breslow packaged him and outfielder Zach Ehrhard in a deadline trade for veteran right-hander Dustin May.

A year after the blockbuster, it’s difficult to declare either side a clear winner. Devers has been productive at times but has also generated headlines for the wrong reasons, and the Giants appear willing to explore moving him despite the massive financial commitment.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, may be relieved to have Devers’ contract off their books, but a series of subsequent personnel decisions has muddied the picture. Harrison’s emergence has already made that trade look costly, and there’s still a chance the Tibbs-Ehrhard package develops into another move Boston regrets.

At the moment, the Devers saga serves as a reminder that the success of a blockbuster trade often hinges not only on the centerpiece, but also on what teams do with the opportunities it creates afterward.

The Giants need to send a message to Devers, whether that means a one-game benching or another form of internal discipline is up to the organization, but Sunday’s actions can’t simply be brushed aside. Every player is expected to put the team first, and visible frustration over being removed for a pinch-runner only highlights the dysfunction of the Giants under Vitello.

The Red Sox have endured a miserable season of their own, but the Giants now find themselves dealing with a different kind of problem. On a national stage, they’re getting a firsthand look at the challenges that occasionally accompanied Devers during his time in Boston. His talent has never been in question, but moments like Sunday’s can become a headache for any clubhouse trying to keep its focus on winning.