Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow acknowledged on the conference call that the deal leaves a hole in the lineup, but he hoped it would pay off this season. Although there is a newly created need for a power hitter, the team now has roster and payroll flexibility to add players at the trade deadline, he said.

Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow says there's "a real chance" that, looking back on the year, the Red Sox will have won more games than they would've had they kept Rafael Devers.