The whirlwind started about 1 p.m. Sunday.
Travis Shaw had been riding out his release from the Brewers in Ohio, simply waiting for what he felt was the inevitable, clearing waivers and becoming a free agent.
Then the phone rang.
The Red Sox had thrown the 31-year-old a curveball.
"It actually was a surprise," Shaw told WEEI.com. "I didn't think anybody was going to claim me. I thought I was just going to clear. We had a few teams that had called when I got put on waivers. But I was under the impression it was going to be more of a free-agent deal. But then I got a call from David Stearns, the Brewers GM. He called me right after 1 p.m. I just assumed he called me to tell me I cleared, but then told me I got claimed by the Red Sox. It was just kind of a whirlwind of a 24 hours.
"I knew (the Red Sox) were interested. They had called a few times, so I knew they were there. I just was not expecting to get claimed. I thought I would clear yesterday and hopefully sign a free-agent deal over the next day or two. I was a little shocked to get claimed, but I'm excited and ready to go."
What didn't surprise the infielder was the team which actually made the move.
Sure, Shaw had a history with the Red Sox, having been taken by the organization in the ninth round of the 2011 MLB Draft before ultimately playing 210 games for the Sox over two big-league seasons. But this was more about how the current regime valued the lefty hitter's skill-set, which had led to conversations throughout the past two offseasons.
"I don't think it was super close," Shaw said. "They kept in contact all offseason, but I don't think it was on the brink of it possibly happening. They did mention that they were interested in a couple of guys who had a little bit more versatility than I do. So I think they were looking in a different direction, which was fine because we still had the Brewers interested. But even the offseason before, they've been interested in me for year-and-a-half. It's nice to be back."
The shock of it all didn't stop with news of the transaction.
Once the plans were made -- with Shaw hopping on a plane for New York Monday afternoon -- the reality of where he was headed started to set in. The Red Sox he had originally known had been left with just three players (Xander Bogaerts, Christian Vazquez, Matt Barnes) Shaw called teammates before being dealt to Milwaukee prior to the 2017 season.
"It doesn't seem that long ago, but this is Year 7 for me in the big leagues and that part is crazy when I think about it," he said.
Then came the tidal wave of reaction from a Red Sox fan base he had evidently left quite an impression on.
"It was a little surprising," said Shaw of the outpouring of social media support. "I didn't feel like I was there that long to get that positive of a reaction. I'm grateful. Great fan base. Loved my time there for the year-and-a-half in the big leagues I was there and hopefully, we can make some better memories here in September and October."
So, what now?
it has been three seasons since Shaw was the player who had hit a combined 63 home runs between 2017 and '18. It had led him down a path where his only options this past offseason were to sign a minor-league deal, agreeing to a reunion with the Brewers.
Not only did he make the team coming of spring training, but Shaw ultimately began the year as Milwaukee's starting third baseman. For the first two weeks he hit .297 with a .933 OPS
Then the wheels fell off a bit.
By the time Shaw separated his shoulder while diving for a ball down the third base line on June 9, he was hitting just .197 with a .616 OPS and six homers.
"Spring training was a different experience for me," he said. "I was on a minor-league deal so I had to make the team so there was a little bit more of a sense of urgency in spring training. I ended up making the team out of camp. Got off to a really good start in April. The first couple of weeks were really good. I was pleased how April went, had some big hits in some big spots. May was not so good. I went into the year not thinking I was going to play every single day, righties, lefties, everything. More of a platoon situation. But we had some injuries, guys weren't hitting and I got thrust into an everyday role. I was grateful for that opportunity. But for some reason in May the swing was not lining up where I wanted it to be. Slumped a little bit, so the overall numbers took a hit there. And then I got hurt the first week of June so I haven't had a chance to get back out there ...
"I tell you what, I am excited to get back out there for the time since they banned that sticky stuff for the pitchers. I don't know if there will be a difference or not, but I'm ready to see it."
While Shaw could have continued his minor-league rehab assignment, the Red Sox had seen enough progress throughout the infielder's 11 games with Triple-A Nashville (.273 batting average, .900 OPS). So integrating him into this current pennant race seemed like the right thing to do.
For Shaw, it's a whole new world in a very familiar place.
"I feel pretty good. Healthy. That's the main part," he said. "The shoulder feels really good. It has responded a lot better than I thought it would at the outset of the injury.
"The first week of the rehab was just OK. Kind of feeling it out. It kind of felt like spring training. It had been 7 1/2 weeks since I had seen a live at-bat. But after that, the last week to 10 days I was down there, really good, driving the ball. Pretty pleased at how that rehab assignment went. ... I'm just excited. I'm excited they picked me up. Gave me an opportunity. They're obviously in the playoff chase right now, which is all you can ask for right now. Whatever that role is, I'm welcoming it with open arms and I'll be ready to go."