Rafael Devers and the Yankees are suddenly being linked, and that alone is enough to get Yankee fans daydreaming about balls sailing into the short porch.
ESPN’s Buster Olney recently floated Devers as a possible fit in New York, reportedly saying, " He would be perfect with the Yankees."
The bat? Nobody is arguing with that.
Devers can hit. That part is obvious.
The question is everything else.
The issue in Boston was never whether Devers could mash. It was what happened when the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman and wanted him to move off third base.
Devers pushed back publicly. Then, after Triston Casas went down and Boston asked whether he might handle first base, he wasn’t thrilled with that either.
That eventually led to Boston moving its $313.5 million star to San Francisco.
So now the conversation turns to the Yankees, and the fit is not nearly as simple as a home-run total. New York would be asking more than whether Devers can fit in the middle of the lineup. It would be asking what kind of presence he brings into the clubhouse, and whether that matters as much as the power does.
If Brian Cashman is serious about making that call, he has to know which version of Devers he’d be getting. Because New York is not Boston, and it sure isn’t San Francisco.
There’s also the pressure factor. If Devers bristled at position questions in Boston, the Bronx would be a different level entirely.
After an 0-for-4 night, he’d be facing 25 reporters. That’s part of the job in New York, and it’s why the fit has to be about more than just talent.
Could he DH, play some first base and rake in Yankee Stadium? Absolutely.
Would his bat look good in this lineup? No question.
But that doesn’t mean you give up major pieces and take on a huge contract just because the numbers on his Baseball Reference page look great.
The real question is what happens when Aaron Boone asks Devers to do something he doesn’t want to do. That’s where this gets interesting, and that’s where the Yankees would need answers before getting too excited.
Maybe he arrives, settles in, lets Judge lead and hits 40 home runs. Maybe it all works.
But before anyone starts Photoshopping him into pinstripes, the Yankees have to ask the harder question: do they need Rafael Devers, or do they just need Rafael Devers’ bat?
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That path hit a snag on Sept. 24, when Schmidt felt cramping in his right biceps during warmups and was unable to pitch in the game. The encouraging part for the Yankees is that tests showed no structural damage, but the moment still adds another layer of uncertainty to a postseason pitching picture that already has Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, and Max Fried lined up as starters, with Schmidt among the relief options alongside Carlos Rodn and Will Warren. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Suddenly Have A Playoff Infield Decision Fans Will Debate
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Yankees Could Catch A Huge Break Before Facing Boston
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For the Yankees, the ripple effect is obvious: anything that forces Boston into doubleheaders or travel complications can chip away at the kind of preparation a playoff opponent wants. The Cubs are tied with the Padres atop the Wild Card standings, so those make-up games carry real weight, but for New York, the bigger question is whether the Red Sox end up walking into the series with less time and less comfort than they expected. [Read more 🡒]