The Red Sox received left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, right-handed pitcher Jose Bello and right fielder James Tibbs III. Hicks, Harrison and Tibbs are no longer with the Red Sox, and Bello is in Single-A. Harrison was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Caleb Durbin deal and Tibbs was shipped to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Dustin May deal.
Hicks was traded to the Chicago White Sox and continues to struggle at times. However, Harrison and Tibbs are thriving in their new organizations. Meanwhile, Durbin is off to a slow start, and May is no longer even with the team.
Harrison earned a job in the Brewers’ rotation and has looked great so far. He has 14 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings of work through two starts. His walk numbers are down, and his strikeout rate is as high as it has ever been at the big league level. The Red Sox brought in three new starting pitchers this offseason, when they could have just held on to Harrison.
Harrison turning into a better pitcher with the Brewers may have been expected. The organization has a track record of getting the best out of pitchers. However, what Tibbs is doing for the Doegers has to sting the Red Sox.
In 30 games with the Red Sox in Double-A, Tibbs hit .207 with a .586 OPS. He has started this season in Triple-A for the Dodgers and has been dominating at the plate. He has seven home runs in 10 games and is slashing .439/.511/1.098. He has been playing some first base with the Dodgers as well, and is their No. 10 prospect.
Tibbs started producing as soon as he was traded. In 36 Double-A games with the Dodgers last season, he hit .269 with a .900 OPS. He has played better for the Dodgers than he did for both the Red Sox and the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers were clearly able to unlock something in his swing that the Red Sox could not.
The true winner of the Rafael Devers trade won’t be known for a few more years. However, right now, it looks like the Red Sox could have had two very good players that they traded away for little return. If Durbin turns into a star at third base, that could change.