Dodgers should be infuriated with Red Sox for Giants' weak Rafael Devers trade return

In 2020, the Los Angeles Dodgers struck gold when they fleeced Mookie Betts from the Red Sox for an underwhelming trade package. 

Five years later, the San Francisco Giants stole his former teammate Rafael Devers from the Red Sox for a trade package that seems even more underwhelming. And it should infuriate the Dodgers.

While the Giants entered Sunday two games behind the Dodgers in the National League West standings, they gave off “little brother” vibes due to their incomplete roster and lack of recent success. 

But they threw their hat in the ring on Sunday by trading away Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, James Tibbs and Jose Bello to the Red sox in exchange for Devers. It was the worst possible outcome for LA.

And it’s even worse when you think about the context around the trade. The Giants and Red Sox were in trade talks for weeks, yet Boston’s return for Devers still ended up failing to be impactful at first glance.

SF Giants trade package for Rafael Devers should have Dodgers infuriated with Red Sox

In 2020, Los Angeles took advantage of Boston’s lack of desire to extend Betts and struck while the iron was hot by trading for him and signing him to an extension. At that point, at least LA was trading for one guaranteed year of Betts to justify the package being a bit weaker.

On the other hand, it seemed like Devers kind of fell into San Francisco’s lap. Devers has 8.5 years left on his deal, which will end up looking like a relative bargain in a couple years, and he's one of the best hitters in the league.

Not only did the Giants get better in the meantime, but they also didn’t have to give away any key parts of their future. While the Padres have been a thorn in the side of the Dodgers for plenty of years, they’ve had no trouble overpaying for talent in an attempt to keep up with LA.

On the other side, the Giants haven’t really made any moves since their flash-in-a-pan 2021 season where they recorded 107 wins but lost to the Dodgers in the National League Division Series. 

While the Diamondbacks could end up being sellers at the trade deadline, the Giants’ signing of Devers confirms that the National League West will be at least a three-team race all season. 

But it’s also worth considering how we got here. Devers had a roller coaster season that started by him saying that he was Boston’s third baseman … before promptly becoming its designated hitter. Then he said he wouldn’t move off designated hitter when the Red Sox approached him about playing first base. 

While he said Tuesday that he’ll play wherever the team wants him to, his reputation has been sullied after the Red Sox hung him out to dry.

One thing's for sure though — the Dodgers’ rivalry with the Giants has some juice again. Just don’t tell Farhan Zaidi.