Major League Baseball is witnessing unexpected trade possibilities, with the San Francisco Giants considering moves involving Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers. Amid Devers’ underwhelming performance and salary concerns, the New York Yankees have surfaced in trade discussions linked to the slugger ahead of the deadline.
Devers’ Difficult Start with the Giants Raises Trade Questions
Since joining the San Francisco Giants, Rafael Devers has struggled to deliver offensively, contributing to growing uncertainty about his future with the team. The Giants remain responsible for over $250 million on Devers’ contract, complicating trade prospects and financial decisions. Reports have also emerged that Devers missed workout sessions with Giants legend Will Clark, a development likely to concern team management during a critical stretch.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post included the Yankees in recent speculation linking them to Devers, noting that the financial commitment attached to Devers’ contract could influence the Giants’ approach at the trade deadline. Despite the Yankees’ interest, the heavy salary and Devers’ current challenges at the plate make a deal complicated.
Trade Deadline Dynamics and Possible Alternatives for the Yankees
The prospect of the Giants moving on from Devers now is unexpected, potentially marking one of the most surprising moves of this trade period. While the Red Sox’s earlier decision to trade Devers caught many off guard, this adds another layer of intrigue to how teams are managing aging contracts amid performance concerns.
Heyman highlighted the difficulty of certain trades, explaining,
“Just about impossible to see the Red Sox trading Alex Bregman here, even if extension talks fail and they fall further back. Rafael Devers still has $250M to go, he’s not a 3B anymore and he isn’t exactly killing it by the Bay (23 K’s, 54 ABs). Alec Bohm reportedly was on the block in winter. The Mets are very unlikely to send Mark Vientos or Brett Baty crosstown,”
—Jon Heyman, Baseball Insider
Given the salary implications and Devers’ recent struggles, the Yankees might ultimately pursue another option to strengthen their third base position in the coming weeks.
Implications for the Giants and Yankees Moving Forward
The Giants face a challenging balancing act between Devers’ contract burden and his performance while navigating internal issues such as missed workouts and player morale. Meanwhile, the Yankees’ trade deadline decisions will reflect a need to bolster their roster cautiously, avoiding the pitfalls of costly contracts that don’t correspond with current form.
As the deadline nears, all eyes will remain on how teams like San Francisco and New York navigate complex payrolls and player dynamics, with Rafael Devers at the center of this tense, evolving narrative.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Rafael Devers a good hitter?
A. Rafael Devers ranks highly as a hitter among players who played many games before age 30. He’s up there with Hall of Famers like Al Kaline and Dave Winfield.