NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
Back with another look around the diamond of Major League Baseball. We have the trade deadline coming July 31st, which always provides us with fun talking points, and can also propel teams from contenders to championship-ready. So, teams can’t even wait until the deadline and have to get rid of players as soon as possible, as was the case with the Red Sox. Three topics to touch on, so let’s step up to the plate and get into it.
Rafael Devers’ Hits The Bay
I did not see this one coming as the Boston Red Sox traded all-star Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for picthers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison. Does this mean that Boston is throwing in the towel on the season as they hover around .500? They just swept the Yankees, but I guess that didn’t mean much to them? For the Giants, they get a legitimate home run threat, though the team will take on the remainder of his massive 10-year, $313.5 million contract that he signed in January of 2023. Devers was a key to the 2018 World Series title, but things turned left and showed no signs of coming back.
Off to a strong start this season, President of baseball ops Buster Posey and the Giants are in it to win it, and this is another sign of that. A strong DH with power will help with those battles with the Dodgers. The trade sent shock waves across MLB and continues to keep the sport top of mind for fans, new and old. Will the change of teams spark Devers and get his bat popping off?
.@45PedroMartinez gives his thoughts on the Devers trade ? pic.twitter.com/lfhBV6R4O6
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) June 18, 2025
Act II Shohei Ohtani The Pitcher
The scenes were ELECTRIC in L.A. as Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound for the first time after his SECOND major elbow surgery. Humble flex as he started on the mound and batted leadoff, we are watching history with this guy. He hit the 100mph mark a few times and added more stress to teams as he could be a nightmare as the Dodgers push to repeat as champs.
I have some concerns/questions Is this worth the risk of another injury? I know the Dodgers have been slapped around with pitching injuries, but if this backfires, the result would be awful. The wear and tear on his body from doing both is something to keep in mind. Maybe he moves to the bullpen and becomes a setup man for the closer? Or do you start him in some games knowing you will only get 1-3 innings? With so much invested in his bat and arm, we all watch together.
Hey Kid
Call-ups of top prospects are happening left and right as teams drop those BTS videos and have some of us wiping our tears off our cell phone screens, maybe that’s just me? Names such as Jacob Wilson of the Athletics, Roman Anthony Red Sox, Jac Caglianone Royals. As the numbers show, the game of baseball has a ton of eyes on it, and these young bloods only help that number to keep growing. Looking forward to talking again next week to discuss the latest around the league.
Viewership for @MLB is up double digits in the U.S., Japan and streaming with @espn having its best start in eight years, @TBSNetwork having its best-ever start on Tuesdays, and NHK in Japan and @MLBTV on pace for its best seasons ever. pic.twitter.com/7BPxEYmfuJ
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) June 3, 2025
