Red Sox Trade Devers, Seek Alonso Replacement Amid Injuries

The Boston Red Sox faced a significant shift after trading star hitter Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, which cost Devers a likely All-Star Game selection. Devers, who was a leading candidate for the American League's starting designated hitter spot, struggled to establish himself with the Giants and was surpassed by Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber for All-Star honors. The Red Sox are now looking to fill the offensive void left by Devers through multiple avenues, including the anticipated return of Masataka Yoshida, who is expected to boost their lineup after recovering from a shoulder injury. Additionally, Boston is considering free agent options such as Pete Alonso, a New York Mets slugger with offensive stats closely matching Devers, to strengthen their middle of the order. Team leaders, including manager Alex Cora and legend David Ortiz, emphasize the importance of being aggressive at the trade deadline to improve playoff chances, especially with key players like Alex Bregman nearing return. Despite setbacks, the Red Sox remain optimistic about their playoff prospects due to a strong pitching rotation and emerging offensive contributions.