The San Francisco Giants may not have a clean escape hatch from Rafael Devers’ contract.
Devers arrived in San Francisco after being traded before the 2025 deadline, and what once looked like a bold swing now carries a very different feel in 2026. The left-handed hitter was one of the best players in baseball before the deal, and the Red Sox at least had the comfort of knowing he was attached to a 10-year, $313.5 million contract.
Now, though, that same deal has become a major burden for the Giants.
Devers owns a 121 OPS+, which is still solid, but it’s not the version of the hitter Boston had. And according to one report, San Francisco doesn’t have an easy path to moving on.
“The Devers trade made sense at the time, giving the Giants the big-name slugger they kept missing in free agency. But in retrospect, the timing looks off. There is no easy way out for Posey, who told local media after the Aug. 3 trade deadline - when he drew largely favorable reviews - he “was glad” to have Devers, Adames and Chapman still on the team,” Grant Brisbee of The Athletic wrote.
It may not be wrong to say the Giants shouldn’t trade him, or even want to. But the bigger issue is that they don’t appear to be in position to win right now, and carrying a player making more than $30 million a year doesn’t look like a luxury they need.
That could eventually push them toward a deal if another club is willing to absorb the money.
In Other News...
Red Sox May Be Tipping Their Hand With Franklin Arias
Franklin Arias has become one of the more interesting names in the Red Sox conversation as the club sorts out its next move with the young infielder. He is getting work at both second base and shortstop, a detail that suggests Boston is keeping its options open as it looks at how he might fit into the roster picture if the team needs help later this season.
The timing remains unclear, with reports leaving open everything from a debut this year to a longer runway that stretches into 2027. For now, the Red Sox are still evaluating where he could make the most sense down the stretch and, if the club gets there, in October. No official decision has been made on a promotion, which leaves Arias as both a possible answer and a question Boston has not quite settled yet. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Bullpen Shuffle Leaves Seth Martinez In A Strange Spot
Seth Martinezs time on the Boston roster took another turn this week when the Red Sox designated the right-hander for assignment and then moved quickly to bring up Alec Gamboa. The shuffle came as Boston tried to keep its bullpen moving, with the club also dealing with a separate roster hit in the form of Garrett Whitlock landing on the injured list.
Martinez did not get claimed after going on waivers, leaving him in an unusual holding pattern within the organization. He now has the option to elect free agency, but for the moment he remains in the system, a reminder of how quickly a relievers path can change when a team is forced to juggle depth and health at the big-league level. [Read more 🡒]