Since 2020, the Boston Red Sox have traded away three of the most dynamic, iconic players in Major League Baseball.

The Red Sox have traded All Stars Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, and most recently, Rafael Devers.

Frankly, the returns on each of those blockbuster trades has had baseball fans and analysts scratching their heads.

Without a doubt, Red Sox fans must feel betrayed.

Here are the three deals that may have set the Red Sox franchise back for years to come:

Mookie Betts was traded February 10, 2020

The Red Sox traded All Star outfielder/infielder Mookie Betts, and pitcher David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Jeter Downs, outfielder Alex Verdugo, and catcher Connor Wong.

Selected in the 5th round of the 2020 MLB draft, Betts made his major league debut June 29, 2014. He was 21-years-old at the time.

Betts played all three outfield positions with Boston, as well as spending time at second base in the 2018 season.

Betts was the American League Most Valuable Player in 2018.

Betts was an All Star four times with Boston, in each season from 2016-2019.

Betts won four Gold Gloves, and three Silver Slugger Awards with the Red Sox.

With the Dodgers, Betts has been an All Star every year since the trade, and is likely on his way to his fifth All Star Game as a Dodger this July.

Betts has won one Gold Glove with the Dodgers, with that coming in 2022..

Betts has been a Dodgers Silver Slugger three times.

So far this year, Betts is hitting .262/.347/.404/.751, with nine homers, 36 RBIs, and six stolen bases.

Infielder Jeter Downs is playing baseball in Japan

Alex Verdugo went from Boston, to the New York Yankees, and is now with the Atlanta Braves, where he is a .258 hitter.

Connor Wong remains a catcher for the Red Sox.

On December 30, 2023,

Chris Sale was traded, along with cash, to the Atlanta Braves, for infielder Vaughn Grissom.

Sale spent parts of six seasons with Boston. He was injured, and did not pitch in the pandemic shortened 2020 season.

With Boston, Sale was an All Star in 2017, and 2018. He had been an All Star with the Chicago White Sox five times prior to arriving in Boston via trade.

With the Braves, Sale was named the National League Cy Young Award winner in 2024. He also made the All Star team last year.

Sale won a Gold Glove with the Braves in 2024.

So far this year, Sale has made 14 starts, and has a 4-4 record. He has pitched to a 2.79 ERA, and 1.21 WHIP in 80.2 innings.

It seems likely Sale will make his second National League All Star team this year.

Vaughn Grissom is playing at Triple-A Worcester in the Red Sox minor league system.

Rafael Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants on June 15, 2025 for left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, right-handed pitcher, Jordan Hicks, minor league prospect pitcher Jose Bello, and minor league first baseman/outfielder James Tibbs.

Devers played parts of nine years with the Red Sox, his entire big league career, before being traded to the Giants.

Devers rejected the Red Sox attempts to move him off of third base when the team signed free agent third baseman, Alex Bregman. Devers also balked at playing first base, after the Red Sox regular first baseman, Triston Casas went down with an injury,

With the Red Sox, Devers made three All Star teams.

Devers also won two silver slugger awards.

Ironically, the Giants regular third baseman, Matt Chapman, is out with an injury.

The Giants have asked Devers to begin preparing to play first base, and he has agreed.

Devers is a tremendous gap hitter, and the alleys in San Francisco should play well to his offensive strengths.

In his first game with the Giants, Devers smoked an RBI double, and a single.

Boston has assigned Harrison to their minor league Triple-A team.

Hicks is on the Red Sox injured list with toe inflammation.

Bello has been assigned to the Red Sox Rookie Complex team.

Tibbs has been assigned to Double-A Portland.

After giving up Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, and Rafael Devers, the only players retuned in trade to the Red Sox currently on the Red Sox roster are:

Connor Wong-Catcher

Jordan Hicks-Pitcher (currently disabled)

Red Sox fans have every reason to wonder if their team will return to being competitive.

Trading All Stars Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, and now, Rafael Devers doesn’t seem to be working out too well.

Red Sox fans have to be livid.

For good reason.