BREAKING: RAFAEL DEVERS TO THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
The San Francisco Giants have been that team that continues to miss on all star players. Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa are 2 of just many, and they finally hit on one sort of star player in Willy Adames this offseason.
This, though, is on another level.
The San Francisco Giants are going to acquire Rafael Devers, the 28-year-old 3rd basemen from the Red Sox, for Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, and 2 minor-league prospects in James Tibbs and Jose Bello.
The Red Sox signed this guy to be the face of the franchise in 2023, on a 10 year contract worth 313.5 million dollars, but after a lot of public tension between Devers and the Red Sox, they finally had it with him trading him to the San Francisco Giants.
Now the tension was really around his defensive position. He had a lot of interest in playing 3rd base longterm, but the Red Sox wanted to add a big right handed bat in the lineup and they signed Alex Bregman. He didn’t want to become a designated hitter, but latter took that back and played the position. Once early May rolled around, the Red Sox wanted Devers to play first base because Triston Casas injured himself. He told the club that he would not be playing first base.
Devers hit 214 home runs in his nine years with the Red Sox, beginning his career with them as a 20-year-old. He is a three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and won a World Series ring with the team in 2018. He has a career OPS+ of 128 with a .279/.349/.510 slash line.
It’s not all to lose for Boston though, because Devers was not happy playing for Boston, and they continue to strengthen their pitching behind Crochet. The Giants will be taking up the remaining of Devers’ deal.
Unfortunately for Devers, he won’t be playing 3rd base for the Giants either, because they have Matt Chapman at the position. But, he will be serving as the designated hitter. This trade doesn’t just impact the DH spot, though. It’s going to impact 1st base and the designated hitter position. Bob Melvin literally mentioned that he would be keeping the spot wide open in terms of options, because both Flores and Encarnacion were performing well. Dominic Smith is playing first base. This will most likely be his last game as a Giant.
Regardless, this Giants team is in the thick of the race, and it’s pleasing to see a refresh for this team. Buster Posey is doing an awesome job as the President of Baseball Operations for the Giants, and I can’t say enough about Zack Minasian as well.