Red Sox Reflect on Devers Departure as Spring Training Opens
FORT MYERS, Fla. - As the Red Sox kicked off their first full-squad workout of spring training, the focus wasn’t just on the fresh start-it was also on the fallout from one of the most dramatic roster shakeups in recent team history.
A year removed from signing Alex Bregman and the ensuing tension that followed with Rafael Devers, the organization is still unpacking the ripple effects. That move, which ultimately led to both star infielders leaving the club, remains a source of reflection for Boston’s front office.
Team president and CEO Sam Kennedy didn’t shy away from that Sunday.
“Would we have done things differently leading into it? Absolutely,” Kennedy said.
“You question yourself: Where did we make mistakes? What could we have done better?”
It’s a rare moment of transparency from the top. And it speaks volumes about how complicated the situation became once Bregman entered the fold.
Devers, a cornerstone of the franchise and a fan favorite, didn’t take kindly to the shift in dynamics. Initially resistant to moving to designated hitter, Devers eventually accepted the role-but drew the line at learning first base. That refusal, combined with the front office's commitment to reshaping the roster, led to the decision to trade him to the San Francisco Giants.
From the outside, it looked like a clash of egos. But inside the organization, it was a tough call that no one took lightly.
“At the end of the day, we were faced with a decision that was a hard one,” Kennedy said. “And we made it.
We’re really proud of everybody who worked together on that. Time will tell.
We’ll see how the results are.”
Now, with Bregman also gone and Devers in San Francisco, the Red Sox are entering a new chapter-one shaped by the decisions of the past year and the lessons learned from them. The front office may be proud of how they navigated the turbulence, but there’s also a clear sense of introspection. This wasn’t just a roster move-it was a turning point in the team’s identity.
As spring training begins, Boston isn’t just evaluating talent on the field. They’re also evaluating how they handle the human side of the game-something that, in this case, proved just as important as any stat line or scouting report.
The next few months will start to reveal whether the Red Sox made the right call. But for now, the message is clear: this team is moving forward, and they’re doing it with eyes wide open.