Giants Reveal Regret Level On Rafael Devers Trade With Red Sox Amid Hitting Woes

Giants Reveal Regret Level On Rafael Devers Trade With Red Sox Amid Hitting Woes originally appeared on NESN.
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The San Francisco Giants made a blockbuster trade to acquire Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox last season, but Devers has not been an elite hitter for them.

Devers is hitting .234 with a .758 OPS in 115 games with the Giants. Trading for Devers and his contract was a major move for the president of baseball operations, Buster Posey. The Giants missed the postseason last year, and are 11-14 through play on Thursday. However, Posey does not regret the move.

“It’s hard not to feel that way just based on what he’s done in the past,” Posey told The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly. “I mean, this guy’s been doing it what, eight or nine years now? He’s been one of the best hitters in the game. So he’ll get there. All those years, it’s not like we’re dealing with a small sample size. So yeah, I do feel good about it.”

The Giants not only absorbed a massive contract, but they also traded away James Tibbs III, who has since been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers and leads all minor league players in home runs, and Kyle Harrison, who has since been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers and has become a member of their rotation.

Devers was a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger with the Red Sox. The Giants have not seen that version of him yet, but Posey is confident that by the end of the season, his numbers will reflect that player.

Devers did post an OPS+ of 130 in 90 games with the Giants last season. His average has taken a dip, but he is still capable of hammering the baseball. He hit 35 home runs last season, and Posey thinks he is just in a slump right now.

“I think he’s just a little in between right now,” Posey said. “Maybe a tick late on some heaters, and then a little bit out in front on off-speed. But there’s such a track record that you’re just waiting each day to be like, `Ooh, there it is.’ Put together three or four or five at-bats in a game that looks more like what you’re used to seeing.”