Stunning Rafael Devers trade could unintentionally clear a playoff path for the Reds

The baseball world was left stunned on Sunday evening with news of a blockbuster trade between the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants that sent All-Star slugger Rafael Devers to the Bay Area in exchange for Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and a pair of prospects.

The Red Sox have effectively jumpstarted trade talks for the rest of Major League Baseball with more than month remaining until the July 31 deadline. Boston's shocking trade, however, could have some intended consequences.

This was a bold play on the part of Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. Boston had just swept the New York Yankees and currently sit at 37-36; only a half-game back in the AL Wild Card chase. Trading arguably their best player while still in the playoff hunt is a bold strategy. Will other clubs follow suit, and if so, how could it help the Cincinnati Reds?

Stunning Rafael Devers trade could unintentionally clear a playoff path for the Reds

The Reds have enjoyed an uptick in success over the last week-plus. Cincinnati has won seven of their last 10 games and are just three games back of the final Wild Card spot in the National League. The Reds proved — despite having their ace (Hunter Greene) and cleanup hitter (Austin Hays) on the IL — that they can compete against some of the best teams in the league.

Will the Red Sox's bold strategy to effectively become sellers rub off on other middling ball clubs? While the Reds could actually be considered to be in that category, so are some other teams currently battling for a playoff spot.

The St. Louis Cardinals, who were expected to be cellar-dwellers in 2025, have played well this season. But after seeing Boston part ways with Devers in order to usher in a new crop of young talent, it'll be interesting to see if St. Louis becomes sellers at the trade deadline while looking to maximize their return for such players as Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbar, Sonny Gray, and Erick Fedde.

The same could hold true for the Milwaukee Brewers. Though the Brew Crew is in much better shape than the Cardinals, Milwaukee could look to sell high on a player like Rhys Hoskins, Freddy Peralta, and Jose Quintana. The Brewers already traded Aaron Civale this season, and while Matt Arnold and the Milwaukee front office won't consider a full-blown fire sale, trading off assets ahead of the deadline could make Cincinnati's path to the NL Central division crown much easier.

Obviously the Devers trade could have the exact opposite impact on the Chicago Cubs. The North Siders could see the Giants' upgrade and decide to pull off a blockbuster deal of their own ahead of July 31. Such a move on the part of Jed Hoyer and the Cubs' front office would certainly put a damper on the Reds' playoff aspirations this season.

Other NL Wild Card contenders like the Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Washington Nationals could become sellers this summer too, which would also bolster Cincinnati's chances at a postseason run.

The Devers trade appeared to blindside everyone, though other clubs were reportedly in the mix to acquire the slugger's services. While the trade didn't directly affect the Reds, the ripple effect from such a move could change the entire complexion of the NL playoff race.

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