David Ortiz gets knew Red Sox-Rafael Devers relationship ‘wasn’t going to end well’

David Ortiz has chimed in on the stunning Rafael Devers trade. 

The Red Sox legend spoke to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on Monday, saying the Devers-Red Sox relationship “wasn’t going to end well.”

“I played for the Red Sox a long time,” Ortiz said. “You think everything with me and the Red Sox was roses and flowers? I went through some tough times also. But I was mature enough to understand and keep things internal. Even in the best families, between the best brothers, s–t happens. You need to have the maturity to resolve the problems and move on.”

The Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the Giants on Sunday. Getty Images

After Devers pushed back against becoming a designated hitter earlier in the season and then refused to play first base, Ortiz said, “I knew it wasn’t going to end well. There was too much going on, you know?”

Sunday’s surprising trade between Boston and the Giants came after months of drama between the Red Sox and Devers, who had been a third baseman in the past. 

The tensions began when Boston moved the three-time All-Star to DH after signing third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency, and they flared up again when the Red Sox asked Devers to learn to play first base when Triston Casas went down with an injury.

Still, MassLive reported that Devers did not formally ask for a trade.

David Ortiz said the Red Sox-Rafael Devers relationship “wasn’t going to end well.” AP

In return for Devers, the Red Sox received right-hander Jordan Hicks, left-hander Kyle Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs III and right-handed pitching prospect Jose Bello.

“The organization is always going to be there. Players come and go. As a player, sometimes you’ve got to put your ego aside and understand that once you get paid, you’ve got to find a way to do what you’re told,” Ortiz said.

“That’s a message for all young players who think they turn out to be bigger than the game. I’m not saying that Devers was like that. He’s humble. He’s a good kid. But sometimes when you’re young and immature, you (don’t realize that).

“I’m not saying the Red Sox did everything right. But you have to give the club the benefit of the doubt. They’re not trying to make the organization look bad. They’re trying to make good moves that sometimes they don’t have the opportunity to explain.”

Ortiz, a Hall of Famer and three-time World Series champion, played 14 seasons in Boston after spending the first six with the Twins.