Rafael Devers’ first months with the Giants looked like the kind of expensive mistake that can haunt a front office for years. But the story in San Francisco has started to bend in a different direction.
Since the start of May, Devers has put together the kind of stretch the Giants were banking on when they made him the centerpiece of the offense. He’s hit 17 home runs and posted a .926 OPS over that span, a sharp turnaround from the sluggish start that had him looking out of sync early in the year. If he keeps trending this way, he’s on track to finish with 25 or more homers.
That’s a far cry from the way his season has been viewed from the outside. For much of 2026, the production has lagged behind the size of the contract, and Devers has had a year that’s felt uneven at best. Even so, the numbers since May suggest the deal may not be nearly as damaging as it first appeared.
Devers addressed the Giants’ early struggles recently through team translator Erwin Higueros, saying, “I know the first half wasn’t good for us,” Devers said, recently through team translator Erwin Higueros, interpreting, “but I think that we should be able to make adjustments. I think that we should be able to win games. I think we’re going to be very positive and things will turn around for us.”
There’s still no mystery about what Devers has been over the course of his career. He came into this season with a .273 batting average, 255 home runs and 800 RBI in 4,788 career at-bats across 1,291 regular-season games. He also had 1,306 hits, 303 doubles, 33 stolen bases and an .850 OPS, along with three All-Star nods and a World Series title.
For the Giants, the hope is that the slow start was just that - a slow start. If Devers keeps building from here, his stay in San Francisco could still be salvaged, and Buster Posey’s rebuild would have a star worth building around.
In Other News...
Phillies Zeroing In On Two Giants Bats Before The Deadline
With the trade deadline approaching, the Giants are drawing attention from clubs looking for help on both sides of the ball, and a recent game in San Francisco gave evaluators a closer look at two players who fit different needs. Heliot Ramos has flashed enough offense to make him an intriguing bat, while Casey Schmitt keeps showing why teams value a utility infielder who can move around the diamond and still bring some pop.
The interest matters because these are the kinds of players contenders often circle when they start sorting out what they can add without overpaying for a bigger name. Ramos brings upside, but his profile comes with some defensive questions, while Schmitts appeal is rooted in versatility and power, the sort of combination that can quietly swing a deadline conversation if a team decides the fit is right. [Read more 🡒]
Buster Posey Just Sparked A Giants Debate Fans Never Expected
Buster Posey is back in the Hall of Fame conversation, this time as a first-time ballot candidate with the kind of playing rsum that usually travels well in Cooperstown. Seven All-Star nods, five Silver Sluggers, three World Series rings and an NL MVP from 2012 make the case on the field pretty straightforward, which is why the bigger debate around Posey in San Francisco has shifted to what comes next and how his current role colors the way fans view him now.
As president of baseball operations, Posey has had a more uneven run, with the Giants sitting at 42-57 and several offseason moves not quite landing the way the club hoped. One of those moves was bringing in Justin Verlander on a one-year, $15 million deal, and after a 3.85 ERA in 29 starts, the veteran right-hander announced he will retire at seasons end, leaving Poseys front-office evaluation very much open as the organization tries to sort out where it stands. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Broadcaster Just Put Tony Vitellos Biggest Problem In Focus
Tony Vitellos first season managing the Giants has already come with the kind of transition pains that tend to follow a jump from the college game to the majors. The learning curve is not just about lineup cards and bullpen calls. It is also about authority, and broadcaster Dave Flemming recently zeroed in on the part of Vitellos adjustment that may matter most: whether he is being too deferential to veteran players when the job calls for a firmer hand.
For a club trying to establish its own standards, that question lingers around every clubhouse miscue and every moment when a manager chooses not to make a public example of it. Vitello has shown a willingness to avoid open conflict, which can be understandable for a first-year skipper trying to earn trust, but it also leaves a bigger issue hanging over the Giants. The organization is not treating this as a one-and-done experiment, so the real pressure now is on Vitello to show he can balance respect with command before the seasons growing pains harden into a pattern. [Read more 🡒]