Following what was widely considered a highly successful offseason, the Boston Red Sox entered 2025 spring training with renewed optimism. However, that positive energy quickly took a hit when star third baseman Rafael Devers—who is in the second year of his 10-year, $313.5 million contract—refused to switch positions to accommodate newly signed free agent Alex Bregman.
The situation escalated when first baseman Triston Casas publicly backed Devers, not only siding against Bregman but also stating that top Red Sox prospects Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell shouldn’t be promoted to the majors, insisting, “We’ve got some grown men up there right now.”
Amid the growing controversy, veteran sports journalist Gethin Coolbaugh proposed a bold solution in a Boston Sports Journal column: trading Devers for Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a four-time All-Star who is set to enter free agency after the 2025 season. While the idea might seem drastic, it gained credibility when longtime MLB insider Jon Heyman recently identified the Red Sox as a likely destination for Guerrero in free agency.
“Instead of imagining Devers and Guerrero as teammates, why not consider swapping one for the other?” Coolbaugh suggested. “From a baseball perspective, it could be an ideal, mutually beneficial deal. The Red Sox would replace their potentially unhappy 28-year-old, $313 million star with a younger superstar—one who, for now, doesn’t come with a $300 million price tag.”
Statistically, Devers and Guerrero Jr. have comparable production. Guerrero, 25, holds a slight edge in career OPS (.863 vs. .856) and has a higher per-162-game WAR (4.25 vs. 3.72). Guerrero is set to earn $28.5 million in 2025 but is reportedly seeking a $500 million deal in free agency. Meanwhile, Devers will make $29.3 million this season, with eight more years remaining on his contract.
