The Boston Red Sox have made their fair share of questionable moves over the last decade—and the Mookie Betts trade remains the one that stings the most. But here's the twist: their decision to trade Rafael Devers might actually be looking like a stroke of genius.

At the time of the deal, Devers was widely considered one of the best hitters in baseball and, at worst, the second-best third baseman in the league behind José Ramírez. Letting a player of that caliber go seemed like yet another misstep in a long line of front-office blunders. But fast-forward nearly a year, and the narrative has shifted.

According to a recent report from ESPN's Jeff Passan, Devers currently holds the lowest in-zone contact rate in all of Major League Baseball at just 68.7%. While he's historically been able to thrive despite a high swing-and-miss rate on strikes, the numbers this season tell a different story. He's striking out more than ever, walking less than ever, and desperately needs a hot streak to quiet the growing concerns over a contract that runs through 2033 with the San Francisco Giants.

Now, let's be clear—Devers is still an immensely talented player. His track record suggests he's one of the elite talents in the game, and it's tough to write him off based on a year-long slump. But for the Red Sox, these early returns are looking like a win. They avoided committing long-term money to a player whose game might be showing early signs of decline, and they've freed up resources to build around younger talent.

Sometimes, the best trades are the ones that look bad at first but age like fine wine. For Boston, the Devers deal might just be that kind of move—and this one stat is all the proof you need.