Boston Red Sox supporters have speculated that the decision to trade Rafael Devers was influenced by Liverpool's chase for German midfielder Florian Wirtz, given both clubs are under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group (FSG).
Liverpool has already had a busy offseason, with Trent Alexander-Arnold opting to depart the club as a free agent and sign with Real Madrid. Jeremie Frimpong has already been brought in as a defensive replacement and Milos Kerkez is set to join Liverpool from fellow Premier League side Bournemouth for a reported $52 million.
The blockbuster deal this summer involves a record-breaking fee for Wirtz, with Liverpool set to pay $139.5 million in guaranteed fees, plus an additional $21.75 million in potential add-ons. The announcement of the proposed Wirtz deal and the Devers trade has seen some Red Sox fans voicing their discontent with FSG, particularly towards principal owner John W. Henry.
On Sunday, the Red Sox confirmed the major trade, dispatching Devers to the San Francisco Giants in return for right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs and pitching prospect Jose Bello. The Giants will also take on his 10-year, $313.5 million extension that kicked off in 2024, with $250 million still due.
Devers declined to switch his position following several significant injuries to teammates, and Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow sidestepped questions about the incident earlier this month. Devers has since left the organization, sparking outrage among fans, some of whom accuse FSG of prioritizing Liverpool over the Red Sox.
"Fans weren't lying when they said all John Henry cares about is Liverpool," a fan commented on social media. "Oh my god, how could John Henry care about the thing that makes him more money, is more successful in their sport and is a brand known in every single country," another fan added with evident sarcasm.
Rafael Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, ending his stint with the Boston Red Sox
Rafael Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, ending his stint with the Boston Red Sox (Image: 2025 Getty Images)
"John Henry sell the team," demanded one disgruntled supporter. "God, if I was a fan of a team and it was being short-changed because of f------ soccer, I'd lose my mind," said a neutral sports enthusiast.
"Obviously, I don't know if there is any connection here, but Devers being traded with $250M left on his contract and news of the Penguins potentially being back up for sale have both occurred in the same week that Liverpool signed a player," speculated another fan.
Regardless of speculation, there's no direct linkage, as FSG's ownership of multiple professional sports teams doesn't imply shared finances—each team's accounts are independent. Moreover, Liverpool boasted an impressive prize money haul from last season, thanks to their Premier League victory and strong Champions League group stage performance.
Liverpool is set to sign Florian Wirtz for an initial $139.5 million
Liverpool is set to sign Florian Wirtz for an initial $139.5 million (Image: 2025 Getty Images)
By the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Liverpool generated an estimated $885 million, whereas the Red Sox's revenue for the 2024 MLB season was a reported $574 million. It's also worth noting in the world of football, transfer fees tend to be paid in instalments, allowing clubs to allocate financial responsibilities over time and evade hefty fines associated with overspending in a three-year period.
Devers might have been seen as a key player for the Red Sox, but his strained ties with the team were also a pivotal factor in his move. The discord had been simmering since the offseason, and the Giants were in dire need of someone of Devers' calibre.
"Yeah, it was a lot, and it was late. But you know what? This is something we really needed," expressed Giants manager Bob Melvin regarding the acquisition of Devers.
"To get a guy like Devers ... there's a lot you have to give up for him, but this fits us perfectly. It's a power left-handed bat, a guy that can go the other way and hit for power in our ballpark. I mean, it's tailor-made for us, so kudos to the front office to swing this."