The Rafael Devers trade was weak for the Red Sox, but this one? It makes it look even worse.
In June of 2025, the Boston Red Sox shocked the baseball community by trading superstar infielder/DH Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. The Sox dealt Devers, and the remainder of his $250-million-ish salary, to the Giants for pitcher Jordan Hicks, pitcher Kyle Harrison and highly-touted prospect James Tibbs III, as well as prospect Jose Bello.
The Red Sox then dealt Tibbs to the Los Angeles Dodgers for less than a half season of Dustin May, who struggled and then left in free agency. Earlier this offseason they traded Hicks and $8 million of his contract to the Chicago White Sox. Then they moved Harrison to the Milwaukee Brewers in the deal that netted them Caleb Durbin.
While Durbin is an interesting piece who should help this team, the truth remains: The Red Sox salary dumped their best player and have almost nothing to show for it.
And the decision to trade Tibbs is looking worse by the minute.
The outfielder, who was drafted in the first round in the 2024 draft out of Florida State, hit three home runs on Saturday night for the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. Meanwhile, May went 1-4 with a 5.40 ERA for the Red Sox in six appearances last year. He's now a member of the St. Louis Cardinals and he owns a 15.95 ERA through two starts.
Sure, with Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Masataka Yoshida, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu in the fold, it's true that Tibbs didn't have an easy fit with the Red Sox. But still, talent like this doesn't grow on trees and the Red Sox surely could have flipped him for a better fit than May, couldn't they? Tibbs also has some first base ability in him. Could the Red Sox have further developed that, giving him a better chance to stick in the majors?
While not in the Top 100 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, Tibbs is ranked as the No. 10 prospect in a perpetually loaded Dodgers system.
Oklahoma City's James Tibbs III is introduced before a minor league baseball game between the Oklahoma City Comets and the Albuquerque Isotopes at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 27, 2026. BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesAlso in Red Sox news
The Red Sox enter play on Sunday at 2-6 overall. Still, they have a chance to win the series against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m. ET as left-hander Ranger Suarez makes his second start of the season.
He'll be opposed by former Phillies teammate and former Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler, who signed with the Padres in the offseason.
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