This story was excerpted from Ian Browne’s Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
SAN FRANCISCO – It is only fitting that the final chapter in a chaotic week for the Red Sox will be a reunion with Rafael Devers, who will be in his fourth game as a San Francisco Giant when the series begins on Friday night at Oracle Park.
Sometimes, reunions between a departed superstar and his former team bring out a lot of emotions.
In this case, the sides haven’t even been apart long enough to miss each other.
But there will be drama, to say the least.
“It will be a little weird for sure, seeing him in those colors, just because he’s been here for such a long time, such a big part of this franchise,” said shortstop Trevor Story. “Once the game starts, I'm sure he'll tell you the same -- it's about winning. He wants to win for his team and we want to win for ours. Once the first pitch is thrown, it's all about competition at that point.”
For nine seasons in Boston, Devers competed at a high level, achieving things at a young age matched by only a select few in the club’s history.
Signed by the Red Sox as a prized international free agent out of the Dominican Republic on Aug. 9, 2013, Devers emerged in Boston in the middle of a pennant race in July ‘17.
His big bat was an important part of the Red Sox's postseason teams in ‘17, ‘18 and ‘21. Devers was still establishing himself when Boston won it all in ‘18, but his three-run homer against Justin Verlander was the big blow in the clinching Game 5 of the American League Championship Series in Houston.
Unknowingly playing his final game with the Red Sox on Sunday, Devers roped a home run over the Green Monster -- his 215th homer for Boston.
For this series featuring two of MLB’s most historic franchises, there figures to be a larger than normal media presence given the subplot of Devers going against the Red Sox.
Manager Alex Cora is most concerned with his team staying on its current roll, which includes four straight series victories and nine wins in the past 11 games.
“Like he said, and us too, the sooner the better,” said Cora. “He’s playing with the Giants, and he has a job to do, and we’ve got a job to do.”
But it is still going to be unique, right?
“Obviously different. And it’s so recent, right? He’s gonna do everything possible to kick our ass, and we're gonna do everything possible to do the same,” Cora said. “So that's the business of it. The only thing is it’s so recent that it's gonna feel awkward. But I think both teams have a job to do. Let's play the game and try to win.”
Perhaps the most interesting batter-pitcher matchup of the weekend will be on Saturday, when Devers faces his close friend Brayan Bello.
Might Devers try to get in Bello’s head by talking some trash ahead of time?
“Even if we get together beforehand, I don't think baseball is going to be a topic at all,” said Bello. “I don't think we would even touch that.”
Bello also hopes that Devers doesn’t touch his pitches.
“Obviously, I didn't expect to face him at all, but I’ll just be really happy to see him,” Bello said. “But the plan is to attack him and try to get him out.”
The union between Devers and the Red Sox was just about always a good one until things took a sour turn starting in Spring Training. That was when third baseman Alex Bregman signed with Boston and Devers – while thrilled to add Bregman as a teammate – was displeased when the team asked him to DH.
Devers ultimately did make the DH switch and hit like he has his entire career, but he became frustrated again when the Red Sox asked him in early May to play first base after Triston Casas went down for season with a left knee injury. Boston’s brass was just as frustrated at the reluctance of Devers to do so.
Though nobody in Boston’s camp said anything publicly, eyebrows were raised when Devers expressed an openness to play anywhere the Giants need at his introductory press conference.
“He's with the Giants now, and like I said, we have to turn the page, and I'm turning the page too,” said Cora.