Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow acknowledged on a conference call Sunday night that the deal leaves a hole in the lineup, but he hoped it would pay off this season. Although there is a newly created need for a power hitter, the team now has roster and payroll flexibility to add players at the trade deadline, he said.

The Sox authorized chief Devers antagonist/chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to send him packing in a seismic trade with the Giants on Sunday because he was setting a bad example for the prized prospects,

Craig Breslow and Sam Kennedy discussed the Red Sox's decision to trade Rafael Devers on Monday. Here are eight takeaways.

The Sunday shockwaves were natural for the Red Sox as they watched star slugger Rafael Devers get pulled off the team flight before takeoff after being traded to the Giants. What was more important to manager Alex Cora was the Monday reaction.

The Red Sox starter said, “At that point, for me, I’ve just gotta turn my brain off and rip it as hard as I can."

Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers hits a two run RBI double during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Atlanta. Credit: AP/Butch Dill

The anecdote serves to illustrate the reputation the pitcher-turned-executive has cultivated in Boston, which traded its best hitter to San Francisco on Sunday.

Rafael Devers balked at becoming the Red Sox' DH, and later refused to try out first base. The team worried that would be a dangerous precedent for a roster filled with rookies.