Giants Skipper Addresses Rafael Devers Tension After Red Sox Issues

BusinessSportsMoneyGiants Skipper Addresses Rafael Devers Tension After Red Sox IssuesByPeter Chawaga,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Peter Chawaga is a writer and editor covering Major League Baseball.Follow AuthorJun 17, 2026, 08:00am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryOne year after acquiring Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox, the San Francisco Giants are addressing concerns about his fit. The blockbuster trade brought a superstar bat but also a history of tension with his former team. Devers hasn't performed as hoped and has shown "off-field issues," including refusing media interviews during a slump. Giants manager Tony Vitello recently spoke out, acknowledging "occasional misunderstandings" and "moments" with Devers, attributing them to getting to know each other. Vitello downplayed the severity, stating it's "not much more" than that. This candor is seen as positive, aiming to avoid a repeat of Devers' Red Sox departure amid clubhouse issues, especially as the Giants underperform.Show More SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants looks on from the dugout against the New York Mets in the bottom of the six inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on April 03, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe San Francisco Giants knew they were taking on more than just a superstar bat when they acquired Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox one year ago.The blockbuster trade delivered one of baseball’s most accomplished hitters to San Francisco, but it also came after weeks of reports on growing tension between Devers and the organization that he had spent his entire career with. As a result, many wondered how the relationship would evolve with a new manager, a ne...