Rafael Devers has done more than heat up for the Giants. He’s turned the whole trade conversation on its head.
A few months ago, plenty of SF Giants fans could have entertained the idea of moving him. That no longer feels remotely realistic. Devers has been the hottest hitter in baseball lately, and he added to that run Friday night with a grand slam against old friend Robbie Ray, now with the San Diego Padres.
That kind of production is exactly why Buster Olney of ESPN floated the idea that Devers might make sense for the New York Yankees if San Francisco were willing to deal him. It was the kind of speculation that belongs on a podcast, not a real transaction sheet. There are no actual talks between the Giants and Yankees here, and the Giants are not trading Devers this offseason.
Once the Giants got a look at the Devers-Bryce Eldridge one-two punch, breaking it up stopped making sense. That pairing could give opposing pitchers problems for a long time.
It’s easy to see why Olney went there, though. The Giants have been bad, they moved a lot of players at the deadline, and there were reports earlier this year that the club was open to shedding its big contracts. And yes, the image of Devers landing in New York and punishing the Boston Red Sox for years is the kind of storyline that naturally grabs attention.
But the Giants still believe they can be in the mix next season and beyond. This year has gone off the rails, but the lineup doesn’t look hopeless if everyone is healthy, and if the pitching staff gets real help, San Francisco could at least be in the Wild Card conversation in 2027 or 2028.
Trading Devers would blow a hole in that idea unless the Giants landed a major pitcher in return, like Cam Schittler. Even with his streakiness, Devers has shown over the past month that he can take over games and drag a team along with him.
So for now, the Giants are holding. They’re not ready to give up on him, and Buster Posey is likely to keep the core of Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, and Devers together to see whether this group can actually win over a full season. That said, Adames and Chapman are hardly obvious trade chips given how this year went and how much money is still left on their deals.
The chatter around Devers will keep coming. That much is obvious. But unless something dramatic changes, the Giants are not about to tear this thing down, and No. 16 isn’t going anywhere soon.
In Other News...
Giants Just Took A Brutal Rafael Devers Hit They Can't Ignore
The Giants lineup took a tough turn this week when Rafael Devers landed on the 60-day injured list with a core muscle injury, leaving a major hole at first base for a club that had already been leaning on his presence. San Francisco moved quickly to fill the roster spot, selecting outfielder Scott Bandura from Triple-A and adding him to both the 28-man and 40-man rosters.
Bandura is now set to make his Major League debut, a notable moment for him but one that comes with awkward timing for the Giants as they wait to learn more about Devers next step. Devers is scheduled to see a doctor for possible surgery, and until that process plays out, the organization is left dealing with a significant absence at a spot it can ill afford to lose. [Read more 🡒]
Giants May Have To Sacrifice A Young Core Bat For Rotation Help
The Giants search for rotation help could end up forcing a difficult choice about the kind of player they want to move in order to get it. Mark Feinsand of MLB recently pointed to Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert as a potential offseason trade candidate, and San Francisco is said to have interest. Gilberts contract runs through the 2027 season, which gives any acquiring team some control, but it also gives the Mariners reason to set a steep asking price.
For the Giants, that price could land in uncomfortable territory, because landing a starter of Gilberts caliber might mean parting with a young bat they would rather keep. Casey Schmitt is one of the names believed to be in that mix, a reminder that pitching upgrades often come with a cost beyond prospects and picks. If Gilbert is open to changing teams, and especially if an extension with Seattle does not look likely, the market could move quickly enough to force San Francisco into a decision it may not love. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Prospect Gets A Bigger Test As His Rise Speeds Up
Henry Lalanes climb through the Giants system is speeding up again, with the left-hander headed to Double-A Richmond for the next step in what has been a steady rise. Acquired from the Yankees in a trade, Lalane has worked his way through the minors with a power mix that includes a mid-90s fastball, changeup and sweeper, and now he gets a tougher assignment against more advanced hitters.
The timing adds another layer to the move, since Richmond is in the middle of a push toward the postseason and will need every arm it can trust. For Lalane, the assignment is as much about adapting to the level as it is about proving he can fit into a winning environment, and the Giants will get a better read soon enough on how his stuff plays when the margin for error gets even smaller. [Read more 🡒]