\u201cGuys were just shocked,\u201d Story said. \u201cEverybody was trying to wrap their minds around it. That was my first question: What does this mean for our season?\u201d<\/p>\n
It was no secret in the organization that Devers was at odds with Breslow. But he also was the most productive designated hitter in the American League and on pace to drive in 130 runs.<\/p>\n
Going back to Ted Williams through to David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, the Sox have tolerated headstrong players who produced at the plate.<\/p>\n
Get Starting Point<\/p>\n
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n
But Devers was traded away the same day he homered off Yankees ace Max Fried.<\/p>\n
Once the team got to Seattle, the players started to get some answers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe game continues. The message was they believe in us,\u201d Story said. \u201cWe\u2019re not punting on this year. This is a team that we believe in.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously it\u2019s hard to see how it makes us better right now in the moment, sure. But those are decisions that we don\u2019t make.\u201d<\/p>\n
Story is waiting to see what form that spoken commitment takes. It\u2019s easy for Breslow to say he\u2019s not giving up on the season. But will he back that up with actions?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a tough time,\u201d Story said. \u201cIt hard to lose a guy like Raffy. I enjoyed playing with him. He was a teammate.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut those [front office] guys are smart and they have their way of doing things. I\u2019m curious to see what they do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Devers hit a two-run homer off Brayan Bello on Saturday as the Giants beat the Red Sox, 3-2<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Sox are 3-2 since trading Devers, scoring only 14 runs over those five games. Giants pitchers had a three-hit shutout through eight innings on Saturday before the Sox scored twice in the ninth.<\/p>\n The lineup needs help.<\/p>\n Some of the improvements will come internally. Alex Bregman has advanced to running as he returns from a strained right quad<\/a>. He\u2019ll have to run the bases before the Sox consider a rehab assignment.<\/p>\n Masataka Yoshida \u2014 remember him? \u2014 also is a viable option. The Sox have warehoused him all season, saying Yoshida\u2019s arm strength had to improve before he could come off the injured list.<\/p>\n Now he\u2019s likely a few days away from a rehab assignment.<\/a> Yoshida has a .775 OPS over 248 major league games. At worst, he\u2019s a good choice to DH against righthanders.<\/p>\n But a real commitment has to be more than activating players off the injured list and hoping David Hamilton can handle second base.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like we\u2019ve cleaned up some things defensively and are playing at a pretty decent level in all aspects of the game,\u201d Story said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been winning series even when we haven\u2019t scored a lot of runs.\u201d<\/p>\n The Sox scored eight runs against the Yankees over three games and swept that series. They scored five runs in Seattle and took two of three. That can work in the short term but not over time.<\/p>\n Abraham Toro has hit second in place of Devers in four of the five games since the trade and is 1 for 14 in that slot.<\/p>\n Toro is a 28-year-old utility player now in his sixth organization who is a career .226 hitter. He has given the Sox a lift this season, but he\u2019s not a No. 2 hitter on a contending team.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of young guys playing now,\u201d Story said. \u201cThey bring a lot of energy and it\u2019s fun. But we have to find ways to score and it\u2019s not easy.\u201d<\/p>\n Story said the players are over the Devers drama. They\u2019ve moved on.<\/p>\n \u201cDecisions were made and we moved forward,\u201d he said. \u201cThe game goes on. I can see how it could be a big distraction but we\u2019re not letting that narrative come in our clubhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe feel like we have a good team. We know we do. We\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @PeteAbe<\/a>.<\/p>\n