It’s one thing to make a controversial trade. It’s another to alienate your franchise icon and the legends who built your brand.
According to a team legend, that’s precisely what the Boston Red Sox have done. Martinez didn’t hold back when weighing in on the team’s stunning decision to trade Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez believes the Red Sox mishandled the situation from the start. He stated that he could have changed the outcome if they had let him get involved.
“I Was Never Asked”
This week, Martinez expressed frustration with the team. He stated that the Red Sox didn’t consult him during the escalating tensions between Devers and the front office.
“I actually had conversations with Alex [Cora], and I said, ‘Alex, I’m open to always being around, and in these kinds of situations, mediate,’” Martinez said. “I’m pretty sure Devers would have [listened] if you sent the right people to talk to him.”
In Martinez’s view, that’s the central failure. Boston leaned too heavily on front-office messaging and ignored the human element. This issue is something baseball veterans like himself, Dustin Pedroia, or Jason Varitek could have helped bridge.
Disagreeing With Big Papi
Martinez didn’t just question the front office. He also took issue with his former teammate, David Ortiz. The Hall of Fame slugger publicly criticized Devers for not responding to messages and letting his ego get in the way.
“Big Papi also made a mistake in spring training by speaking in front of the cameras about some of the things that he needed to tell Devers,” Martinez said. “That should’ve been handled in-house… not really openly speaking in the field, because the cameras are able to pick up everything.”
Martinez emphasized that a private gesture — a conversation over dinner, a phone call, a barbecue — would’ve gone much further. “That’s how I would’ve done it,” he added. “But I was never asked.”
A Cultural Shift in Boston
Martinez sees the fallout as a personal disappointment and a warning sign for what the Red Sox have become.
“We went from being one of the most popular teams in the last 25 years to probably being one of the most hated teams in all of baseball,” he said. “And I don’t want to see that.”
According to Martinez, the damage goes beyond Devers. How Boston handled previous stars like Jon Lester and Chris Sale now contributes to a concerning trend that could deter future free agents.
“If they treated Devers that way, if they disrespected Lester that way, free agents are going to be looking at Boston in a different way,” he said.
Martinez Doesn’t Buy the Red Sox Spin
When asked about chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s statement that the Red Sox would “win more games than we would’ve otherwise” after the Devers trade, Martinez laughed.
“No, I don’t [agree],” he said. “In baseball, there’s always one thing that’s going to keep you humble. If you don’t show me the numbers that say the team is going to be better without Devers, then I don’t have a reason to believe that.”
Martinez emphasized that he still roots for Boston but feels deeply disappointed in how the team managed the situation. In his eyes, this wasn’t a matter of dollars or roster fit. It was a failure to understand the person behind the player. The Red Sox could have avoided the situation if they had allowed the right voices into the room.
“I was shocked like everybody else,” he said. “But it didn’t have to end this way.”
Red Sox Legend Calls Out Organization Over Trading Debacle