Key Takeaways
- David Ortiz isn't panicking after the Red Sox traded franchise cornerstone Rafael Devers to the Giants.
- However, he'd like to see Boston get aggressive at the trade deadline to fuel a playoff push.
- The legend explained to RG why he believes the Red Sox still have a chance in the AL East.
David Ortiz in action for Red Sox in 2016 (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The Boston Red Sox are in a transitional period when it comes to the future of their franchise.
They are just a couple of weeks removed from the Rafael Devers trade, surprisingly dealing their All-Star third baseman to the San Francisco Giants. The move came shortly after Boston swept the New York Yankees in June. The team has posted mixed results since, going 6–9 following the trade.
However, David Ortiz isn’t too worried. The Red Sox legend acknowledges that sometimes teams and players need to move on from one another.
"Just focus on what we have right now," Ortiz said in a one-on-one interview with RG when asked about the direction of the franchise. "Hopefully some of the players step up, because we have talent. We have talent. It's all about what has historically happened in the organization. Who is going to take over? Who is going to continue carrying the torch?"
The 49-year-old helped lead the Red Sox to three World Series titles, including ending their 86-year championship drought in 2004. A cast of veteran players, including Johnny Damon and Kevin Millar, also helped lift the team to that historic win.
Devers and the Red Sox reportedly disagreed over his role, with the three-time All-Star wanting to stay at third base. However, Boston acquired Alex Bregman during the offseason and shifted Devers to designated hitter.
"The Red Sox are an organization that invests a lot of money in everything to make sure the fans are comfortable," Ortiz said. "Players—we have to be a little more aggressive going after some of those free agents out there. Because that changes the direction at some point when it comes down to winning championships. But you have to do it right. You have to go for the player who wants to bring leadership to your organization."
Devers had signed a 10-year contract extension worth $313.5 million that began in 2024. With his departure, the Red Sox now have financial flexibility to pursue a new franchise player.
Ortiz emphasized that acquiring the right piece is key if Boston wants to become a World Series contender again. The Red Sox haven’t made the playoffs since 2021 and have just one postseason appearance in the past six years.
"They have to bring in good chemistry. That's very important," Ortiz said.
"They are in a good situation now where they have extra money and can bring in something they feel comfortable with. That one piece sometimes has the capacity to change the whole thing — that one masterpiece you can go out there and get."
Eyes on The Deadline
Though the Red Sox have struggled to win and score since the Devers trade, Ortiz remains optimistic. Boston is currently six games behind the Yankees and 2.5 games back in the wild card race.
With the trade deadline approaching, Ortiz says the team must be aggressive if they want to make a postseason run.
The AL East has been underwhelming this season, with the Yankees slumping and the Blue Jays, Rays, and Orioles also underperforming. Ortiz's Fox Sports co-worker Alex Rodriguez said to RG earlier this year that he believes the Bronx Bombers have what it takes to go all the way, but Ortiz insists the Sox can still be competitive in the division.
"Let’s see what’s available, let’s see what people want, let’s see if they can get what they need," Ortiz said. "Because if you look at the division, everybody is three, four, five games apart and there's a lot of games left. The Yankees are struggling. The Blue Jays are struggling. I thought Baltimore was going to do something special, but it seems like they’re falling apart again. Tampa is the one team that is always stepping in and out. But they don’t want to be aggressive spending money to complete the mission. We are not too far away from where we need to be."
"It’s not critical yet," Ortiz said of the Red Sox making a move. "I think they're trying to survive into the trade deadline, which is at the end of this month, and go and pick something special that can give them some guidance. I think we’ll be all right. I think we can go for the player one."
Ortiz isn't certain what exactly the Red Sox need, but he believes being a buyer is always a positive move. He also suggests adding a pitcher. Boston currently ranks 18th in the Majors with a 4.01 ERA.
"I don’t have something special in my mind right now," Ortiz said. "A good buyer is always good. I think another pitcher, but who knows."
