Boston Red Sox star pitcher Garrett Crochet had a no-nonsense reply when asked about the team’s latest eye-popping transaction, sending third baseman and designated hitter Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants via trade.
The Red Sox received pitchers Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, Jose Bello and outfielder James Tibbs III in return. Moreover, the club also cleared the remainder of Devers’ $250 million salary from their books.
On Monday, Red Sox reporter Christopher Smith caught up with Crochet to discuss Devers’ controversial trade. The starting pitcher said:
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“I think that the front office doesn’t owe us an explanation. Quite frankly, what they’re doing is what’s best for the team and we have to respect that. I think as players it’s on us to just continue to do our job.”
Earlier, Crochet was signed to a six-year, $170 million contract extension.
Giants president Buster Posey hits home run with Rafael Devers’ acquisition
In his first year as front office president, former Giants catcher Buster Posey is leaving marks by making head-turning trades. While he initially didn’t believe that the Red Sox would agree to trade Rafael Devers, as conversations panned out, the Red Sox put one of their biggest franchise star on the table.
After the trade was announced Monday, Posey made his feelings known about the transaction (via SI.com):
“The bat is so special. It’s just really hard to acquire this type of talent at this point in his career. We’re obviously taking on a lot of money. We’re giving up some pitching, we’re giving up our first-round pick last year, so it didn’t come without a cost. It felt like this was a chance to take a shot.”
However, Posey lamented that he had to part ways with a “promising young starter” in Kyle Harrison, another big arm in Jordan Hicks, last year’s first-round pick and another arm in Bello.
He also said with such a good deal on the table, it was in the franchise’s best interest to initiate the trade rather than wait till the trade deadline:
“We didn’t need to wait around. Craig and I talked a lot about trying to make a good baseball deal. At that point, there was no need to wait for another six weeks.”
Devers will certainly make the Giants a better team as he is hitting .272 with 15 home runs.