The New York Yankees may have found a blockbuster answer to a third base crisis that could define their 2025 season.
With Oswaldo Cabrera out after ankle surgery, DJ LeMahieu on the decline, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. recovering from an oblique strain, the Yankees are staring down a gaping hole at third base during a championship-caliber campaign. A bold, buzzworthy solution is emerging—one that would send shockwaves through baseball’s fiercest rivalry: a trade for Boston Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers.
Initially, this proposal appears far-fetched. The storied rivalry between these AL East titans has historically limited meaningful player exchanges. However, recent developments in Boston have cracked open a window of possibility—one that the Yankees should monitor attentively if their 2025 title ambitions are genuine.
Why Devers? Why now?
Devers, 28, remains one of the sport’s most dangerous left-handed bats. He owns a .287 average, 12 home runs, 50 RBIs, and a 145 wRC+ through late May. But despite the offensive firepower, the All-Star third baseman is embroiled in a deepening rift with Boston’s front office.
This past offseason, the Red Sox inked Alex Bregman to a hefty deal to play third base. Devers, then reassigned to designated hitter, was recently asked to switch to first base following Triston Casas’ season-ending injury. He refused, citing mixed signals from team leadership during spring training.
“I was told to put the glove away, and now they want me to switch?” Devers told reporters. “That’s not how this works.”
Devers explained that management had instructed him to put away his glove during spring training, and now they were asking him to change positions once again. He expressed that he didn’t consider this approach appropriate.
The refusal has opened up debate among insiders. David Cone, now a broadcaster, warned, “This will not end well for him.” ESPN’s Eduardo Perez said the optics showed “a lack of leadership.”
Despite no formal trade request, tension between Devers and Boston’s brass has become impossible to ignore. Behind closed doors, Boston’s frustration reportedly continues mounting. Publicly, Devers remains in the DH role, but tension has reached a boiling point. Despite multiple meetings between front office personnel and Devers’ representatives, no formal trade request has materialized—yet the situation appears increasingly untenable.
Yankees’ fit and championship urgency
With Aaron Judge putting up MVP numbers (.391 AVG, 18 HR, 1.227 OPS), and Gerrit Cole out for the year, the Yankees are in win-now mode. And while the offense has surged in recent weeks, the lack of a reliable third baseman could become a fatal flaw in October.
Enter Devers—a lefty power bat who’d bring lineup balance, protection for Judge, and a long-term answer at the hot corner. Though his defense remains suspect, the Yankees could give him the opportunity to earn his spot back at third base.
The catch? Money. And a mountain of it.
Devers’ deal: A contract and a conundrum
Devers is in year two of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract. He’s owed over $250 million through 2033. Pair that with Alex Bregman’s $160 million deal and Boston is paying nearly $500 million to two corner infielders—one of whom doesn’t want to switch positions.
The Red Sox have also shown signs of payroll discomfort and are eyeing the rise of top infield prospect Kristian Campbell. A deal that removes financial pressure and adds long-term upside could be enticing.
If the Yankees are willing to absorb a chunk of Devers’ deal (est. $6–8 million in upfront cash relief) and part with elite talent, a conversation could begin—even across enemy lines.
Proposed Yankees-Red Sox blockbuster deal
New York Yankees receive: 3B Rafael Devers, 28
- Career: .281 AVG, 138 HR
- 2025: .286/.365/.526, 10 HR, 31 RBI, .891 OPS
- Contract: 10 yrs, $313.5M (through 2033)
- Role: Cornerstone third baseman and Judge’s lefty counterpart
Boston Red Sox receive:
OF Spencer Jones
- Age: 23 | Yankees No. 2 prospect | Top-40 MLB
- AAA 2025: .298 AVG, .506 SLG, 10 HR
- Projection: 70-grade power, Aaron Judge-lite profile
RHP Chase Hampton
- Age: 22 | Yankees No. 3 pitching prospect | Top 100 MLB
- AA 2025: 3.12 ERA, 11.8 K/9, 2.4 BB/9
- Ceiling: No. 2/3 MLB starter
INF Oswald Peraza
- MLB-ready infielder, age 24
- Strengths: elite glove, positional versatility
- Weaknesses: inconsistent bat (.233 AVG, .375 SLG)
1B Paul Goldschmidt
- Age: 37 | Expiring contract
- 2025: .281 AVG, 6 HR, .819 OPS
- Role: temporary bat, possible deadline trade chip
Cash consideration: $3–5 million toward Devers’ deal
How will the trade impact the Yankees
At 28, Devers is producing elite offensive numbers with a .287/.409/.523 slash line. His AL-leading walk total and impressive .932 OPS place him among baseball’s premier hitters. His bat would immediately strengthen a Yankees lineup currently over-reliant on Aaron Judge’s production.
From the Yankees’ standpoint, acquiring Rafael Devers would immediately solidify their lineup with an elite bat at third base—one of the few remaining weak spots on an otherwise potent roster. Pairing Devers with Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, and Cody Bellinger would create one of the most dangerous middle orders in baseball. This move would also help offset the offensive losses of Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres, and Anthony Rizzo, all of whom played key roles in the 2024 World Series run but are no longer part of the club’s long-term plans.
However, the cost would be steep. Trading away two top-100 prospects in Spencer Jones and Chase Hampton would deplete the farm system’s upper tier. Financially, absorbing the bulk of Devers’ 10-year, $313.5 million deal is a significant long-term burden. Moreover, by handing Boston a potential franchise cornerstone and high-upside pitcher, the Yankees risk fueling a future Red Sox resurgence in exchange for present-day gains.
How will the trade impact the Red Sox
For Boston, the proposed deal offers a rare opportunity to reset both financially and structurally. Spencer Jones gives them a high-upside outfielder or first baseman who could anchor the lineup for years. Chase Hampton offers frontline rotation potential, while Oswald Peraza brings MLB-ready versatility to an infield in flux. Adding Paul Goldschmidt as a short-term veteran presence or potential trade chip further cushions the blow. Importantly, the Red Sox also relieve themselves of a contract that has become increasingly complicated amid clubhouse tension.
Devers currently occupies the second year of his mammoth 10-year, $313 million contract. Boston has allocated over $70 million this season to Devers and Bregman alone, and ownership has reportedly expressed concerns about long-term payroll flexibility. With top prospect Kristian Campbell advancing through their system and Devers resisting positional adaptability, Boston might consider a dramatic pivot, particularly if it includes substantial salary relief.
The downside, however, is immense from a public relations standpoint. Trading a homegrown star like Devers—particularly to the Yankees—could provoke widespread backlash from fans and media alike. The Red Sox would also forfeit Devers’ offensive prime, a risk that could backfire if the return talent doesn’t develop as hoped. Additionally, it remains unclear if Goldschmidt would be anything more than a temporary stopgap in a longer-term rebuild.
Historical precedent: Can bitter rivals deal?
While uncommon, transactions between these franchises have occurred. Their most recent notable exchange came in 2014, when Stephen Drew and Kelly Johnson swapped uniforms. However, Devers represents an entirely different caliber of talent and financial commitment.
Boston might discover superior value elsewhere, yet relatively few organizations possess both the financial resources and prospect capital necessary to absorb Devers’ contract, while simultaneously offering him third base playing time.
If Boston genuinely seeks resolution, the Yankees represent one of a handful of viable destinations.
Trade improbable but not impossible
Would the Red Sox trade their $300 million bat to the Bronx? Almost certainly not unless forced into a corner.
Boston’s payroll strain, Devers’ growing discontent, and New York’s urgency to capitalize on their contention window make for a combustible recipe.
If Devers’ situation truly reaches a boiling point—and Boston prioritizes long-term flexibility over clubhouse drama—this deal could force consideration.
The Yankees, meanwhile, have never shied away from bold swings. With championship aspirations rising and third base depth collapsing, the Bronx Bombers may find no better solution than their rival’s own disgruntled star.
Devers wouldn’t merely address a roster deficiency—he’d deliver a statement: that even within baseball’s most legendary rivalry, the Yankees remain willing to pursue any avenue toward championship glory.
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