The Boston Red Sox face a bit of a dilemma this offseason. They have two third basemen, Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman, while only one can play the hot corner.
Boston reportedly wanted to move Devers to the designated hitter spot, but the $313 million star expressed his reluctance to accept that move.
While this situation is likely to end with a clean resolution, there is a world in which Devers flatly refuses to be the designated hitter and ends up demanding a trade out of Boston.
If Devers ends up on the trade block, Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer predicted that the Philadelphia Phillies could emerge as a possible destination and it makes a lot of sense. Rymer even pitched a hypothetical trade that would send Devers to Philadelphia.
The full deal offered by Rymer
- Philadelphia Phillies receive: 3B Rafael Devers
- The Boston Red Sox receive: RF Nick Castellanos, 3B Alec Bohm, SS Aidan Miller (Phillies’ No. 3 prospect)
“Castellanos is a frustrating hitter, but the Red Sox could at least get some good power out of him as a primary designated hitter and occasional right fielder,” Rymer wrote. “As for Bohm, the Red Sox could turn him into a super-utility player to use primarily against lefties. He has an .870 OPS against them in his career, compared to a .693 OPS against righties.”
“If they’re going to have Devers and Trea Turner next to each other in the long term, there wouldn’t be much reason for the Phillies to keep Miller. In Boston’s system, he would profile as a shortstop who stands out for his hitting or as a complete third baseman.”
Of all the hypothetical trade packages I’ve seen, this one makes the most sense. While it still seems a bit over the top, it’s closer to being an acceptable deal for both parties.
The Red Sox would not be taking a big step backwards by losing Devers. If Miller works out, this is the kind of trade that Boston fans might not see as a big loss, especially if the Red Sox are tied to trade Devers if he demands his departure.
Boston would get a win-now hitter in Castellanos, as well as an All-Star infielder to fill Devers’ role in the lineup.
The Phillies would obviously agree to this trade. They are rumored to be offering both Bohm and Castellanos, so trading the pair along with Miller for Devers is a no-brainer.
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