While the Red Sox front office kept reiterating that it was a pure baseball trade, the honest truth is that it was a culture trade. They didn’t believe they could win another championship with Devers. They believed he was the wrong guy to be the centerpiece of the franchise. They didn’t think he would become a leader. So, he is gone.

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said he believes there is a "real chance" his team is better after trading Rafael Devers.