The Boston Red Sox have already traded away one key player in Rafael Devers. They could cut ties with an elite pitcher if they fall out of contention.

Rafael Devers era ended the same way as the last five days of the Devers era: with a win. The Red Sox shut out out the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Monday night (BOS 2, SEA 0), one day after the stunner of a trade that sent Devers to the San Francisco Giants for four players and salary relief.

Some of the rationale for trading Rafael Devers is understandable. Most of it falls somewhere between lousy and loathsome.