While the decision to trade Rafael Devers may have been rooted in seeing him as a long-term issue, the Boston Red Sox are now grappling with an even more immediate concern: a lineup that’s struggling to put runs on the board. Ever since moving on from Devers, the Red Sox’s offensive woes have only been accentuated, leaving many to wonder if this was a symptom of a deeper issue within the team.
The Red Sox, now sitting at 40-41, experienced yet another frustrating setback, falling 3-2 in extra innings to the Los Angeles Angels, who are at 39-40. Despite remarkable efforts from Garrett Crochet, whose tenacity on the mound earned him 10 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings, the Sox couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities he laid out for them.
In a game where bright spots were hard to come by, prospect Marcelo Mayer provided a glimmer of hope. He showcased his potential with an impressive triple in the third inning, which set him up to score Boston’s opening run. Mayer’s performance was one of the few positives, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while the rest of the lineup faltered.
The Sox had their moments of promise in the seventh, ninth, and 10th innings. Starts like Jarren Duran’s double, Romy Gonzalez reaching on an error, and Mayer’s single that brought home ghost runner Ceddanne Rafaela were crucial flashes of potential. However, these moments ultimately fizzled out without delivering the much-needed victory.
With Devers gone, his absence is felt at the plate, perhaps more than the organization anticipated. Trevor Story, struggling through an 0-for-4 day, acknowledged the loss while remaining optimistic about the current roster. “You miss Devers’ bat for sure,” he said. “You miss his presence. But it’s not like we’re constantly thinking, ‘Oh man, where’s Raffy?’ We have a lot of confidence in the players we have here.”
Yet, as Story’s comments make clear, confidence is one thing; turning that into results is another. Unless there are roster upgrades coming via the trade deadline on July 31, manager Alex Cora will need to coax more out of his existing squad. The young talent is there, as is potential, but injuries, particularly Alex Bregman’s, and lapses in execution have stymied Boston’s efforts in 2025.
Interestingly, it’s not like Devers is thriving with his new team either. He’s had his share of struggles with the San Francisco Giants, which suggests Boston’s current issues might persist even if he were still in uniform. But facts remain: the Red Sox need to address their offensive gap, and swiftly. With a four-game skid hanging over them, Wednesday’s game becomes a pivotal moment to regain momentum and start climbing back up the standings. If Story and his teammates can convert their confidence into tangible results, this chapter of the season might yet shift in the Sox’s favor.
