3 Time World Series Champion David Ortiz Gets Real On Red Sox Parting

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 6:29 PM

3-time World Series Champion David Ortiz gets real on Red Sox parting ways with Rafael Devers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. One of the biggest storylines early in the season was the complete disconnect between Rafael Devers and the Red Sox. The situation was messy from start to finish, largely because Devers felt misled by the organization. “Devers, according to a person familiar with his thinking, felt 'lied to and betrayed' by the Red Sox. Cora, long one of Devers' chief supporters and advocates, supported his expulsion.

Craig Breslow, the Red Sox's chief baseball officer whom Devers publicly badmouthed amid the hostility, played hatchet man,” MLB’s Jeff Passan wrote. As a result, Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants. “The Red Sox had just pulled off a three-game sweep of the rival Yankees for their seventh win in the last eight games and were getting ready for a Sunday night West Coast trip... Star slugger Rafael Devers, the lone remaining player from the team’s most recent World Series title squad of 2018, was dealt to the Giants for righty Jordan Hicks, lefty Kyle Harrison and a pair... 4 prospect at the time of the deal) and righty Jose Bello,” MLB.com’s Ian Browne wrote. David Ortiz has chimed in on the stunning Rafael Devers trade.

The Red Sox legend spoke to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on Monday, saying the Devers-Red Sox relationship “wasn’t going to end well.” “I played for the Red Sox a long time,” Ortiz said. “You think everything with me and the Red Sox was roses and flowers? I went through some tough times also. But I was mature enough to understand and keep things internal. Even in the best families, between the best brothers, s–t happens.

You need to have the maturity to resolve the problems and move on.” After Devers pushed back against becoming a designated hitter earlier in the season and then refused to play first base, Ortiz said, “I knew it wasn’t going to end well. There was too much going on, you know?” Sunday’s surprising trade between Boston and the Giants came after months of drama between the Red Sox and Devers, who had been a third baseman in the past. The Boston Red Sox are headed for an intriguing free-agency period this winter. They have the flexibility to pursue players who can make a significant impact, and one of the most notable names is Alex Bregman, who opted out of his contract.

“Alex Bregman has officially opted out of his contract with the Red Sox, per a report from Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. Bregman will return to free agency, leaving the final two years and $80MM (including $40MM in deferred money) of the deal he signed with Boston last offseason on the table,” MLB Trade Rumors' Nick... Bregman is expected to command substantial money on the open market — likely around $150 million. “Both Alex Speier of The Boston Globe and Tyler Milliken of WEEI suggested Matt Chapman's contract as a comparison to what Bregman could get. The third baseman signed a bridge deal with the San Francisco Giants in 2024, posted a rebound season, then signed a six-year, $151 million extension,” BoSox Injection’s Katie Manganelli wrote. In a recent interview on the ITM Podcast, Red Sox legend David Ortiz made it clear that he wants Bregman back.

Who will be the Boston Red Sox’s starting third baseman when Opening Day comes around to kick off the 2025 Major League Baseball season? Rafael Devers has been the Red Sox’s third baseman for years but the club recently signed former Houston Astros All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman. Once Bregman signed, there was chatter about him playing second base with Devers at third base. While this is the case, chatter picked up over the last few days about the possibility after Devers made it clear he didn’t want to move away from the position. He noted that he has spoken to the team about different possibilities, but wants to remain at third base. Team legend David Ortiz weighed in and believes it should be Devers, as shared by Héctor Gómez on X.

“You are not talking about just another ball player, you are talking about Rafael Devers, the current David Ortiz type player the Red Sox have,” Ortiz said. “Listen to me, that’s the team’s best player. Bregman might have better defensive numbers, I’ll give you that. But you are not talking about a ‘Mickey Mouse’ type of player, you are talking about Rafael Devers” The Boston Red Sox have ignited a heated debate with the signing of Alex Bregman, a two-time All-Star and 2024 Gold Glove winner, to a three-year, $120 million contract. The move has raised a crucial question: How will Bregman fit into a team that already has Rafael Devers, a mainstay at third base?

As the start of the MLB season approaches, the uncertainty surrounding the roles of both players has become a central topic of discussion, with Red Sox legend David Ortiz weighing in on the matter. With just a month left until Opening Day, speculation about how Alex Bregman and Devers will coexist has reached its peak. Spring Training will serve as the testing ground to resolve these questions. The likely scenarios include both players sharing time at third base throughout the season or Bregman being repositioned to another spot, allowing Rafael Devers to retain his primary role. Flexibility will be key, and the Red Sox’s priority will be ensuring both stars contribute their offensive firepower to the heart of the lineup. Adding another layer to the discussion is the situation at second base.

The performances of Vaughn Grissom and Kristian Campbell during Spring Training could force the team to make tough decisions. While both players are expected to get opportunities in 2025, the immediate focus is on resolving the third-base dilemma and ensuring both Bregman and Devers are in top form for the start of the... Alex Bregman #2 of the Boston Red Sox poses for a portrait during photo day at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 18, 2025 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) It didn't take long for Roman Anthony to make an impact on the Boston Red Sox.

He caught the eye of many around the baseball world, including Red Sox legend David Ortiz. Boston made sure Anthony doesn't leave town anytime soon, signing him to an eight-year, $130 million contract extension. Ortiz is a fan of that decision and believes the outfielder will only continue to flourish, via Ian Browne of MLB.com. “He brought too much to the table for being 21. He has the talent, it's unquestionable. Plus he has the maturity,” Ortiz said.

“The Red Sox aren't famous on giving big deals to young players that early. I think it was a wonderful move to sign him right away so he just has to worry about coming to the field and being ready to whoop ass.” Starting with the negatives, Anthony saw his season end early due to a left oblique strain. He wasn't able to play during the postseason. However, he should have plenty of time to heal before spring training. Prior to his injury, Anthony hit .292 with eight home runs, 32 RBIs and four stolen bases.

He was third on the team in batting average and second in on-base percentage with a .396 mark. The only player he was behind was the traded Rafael Devers. Today marks the end of an era, as former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after a 20-year career. For two decades, Ortiz has been a beloved figure in the game of baseball and made a lasting impact on the Red Sox organization and the city of Boston. He is one of the most decorated players in history, winning three World Series Championships, a World Series MVP award, and being named to the All-Star team 10 times. Ortiz will be remembered as an incredible player and a larger-than-life personality who will be missed by fans, players, and coaches alike.

He was born on November 18, 1975, in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. He signed with the Seattle Seabirds as a 17-year-old. In 2004, the Red Bulls had nearly single-handedly captured the NBA championship, thanks to Ortiz’s power. The RedSox had not won the World Series in 84 seasons. The first Silver Slugger Award for David Ortiz was presented to him in 2005, and he was named to his first All-Star Game in 2004. He was one of only four players to hit 500 home runs and 600 doubles, and he retired as one of only three players to accomplish this feat.

The regular season marked the third time in MLB history that he had 20 walk-off hits. Big P. announced his retirement from baseball after the 2015 season on his 40th birthday. As the year wore on, the big designated hitter continued to torment opponents and batter the ball like an elder statesman in his prime. On Friday night, the 40-year-old became the oldest player to hit three home runs in a game when he hit a triple, double, and single in the seventh. In one season, he became the 22nd player to hit 500 home runs and 600 doubles.

The Boston Red Socks defeated the Houston Astros 6-5 in 11th on Monday. It was perhaps the most anticipated moment when former RedSox designated player David O’Reilly was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as the first player to be elected from the designated spot. During his 14-year tenure in Boston, he hit 529 home runs and drove in 1,641 runs, both career highs. Prior to his time in Boston, the designated hitter spent six seasons with the Minnesota Twins, where he hit.266 with 58 home runs and a broken wrist. The Twins, on the other hand, released Ortiz after the 2002 season in order to avoid going to arbitration and, in the process, add Matthew LeCroy, who failed to live up to his potential. It is clear, however, that the Twins made the right decision in releasing Ortiz, as he was one of the most feared hitters in Red sod history.

The Baseball Hall of Fame made the correct decision in electing David Ortiz as a first-ballot Hall of Fame member. It is incredible that a player who was released by his first team can still have a successful career, given his longevity and excellence in his career. David Ortiz is destined to be remembered as one of the greatest players of all time, and it only makes sense that he will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s been nine years since David Ortiz played his final game, but he never stops thinking about what the Red Sox need to win. The Hall of Fame slugger remains – to borrow a phrase from this year’s squad – ‘tremendously locked in’ on the Red Sox state of affairs. Even as he hosted droves of superstar athletes, celebrities and fans at his 17th annual “Weekend with Papi” Celebrity Golf Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., this weekend, he couldn’t help but offer an...

“(Alex) Bregman just went for the free agency, hopefully we can work something out for him,” Ortiz told the Herald over Zoom. “He did it all here. He got really good leadership, he did what we were expecting from him. Even going through some injuries, he represented very well himself and this organization… Hopefully lock him in, because good players are always going to be good players.” “We know what we need. We probably need a couple more power hitters that give support to the lineup,” Ortiz continued.

3 Time World Series Champion David Ortiz Gets Real On Red Sox Parting

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