




LOS ANGELES >> Buster Posey has taken his first major trade swing as the Giants’ president of baseball operations by acquiring three-time All-Star third baseman and designated hitter Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox in a stunning deal Sunday.
The return for Devers includes left-hander Kyle Harrison and right-hander Jordan Hicks, as well as minor-league prospects James Tibbs III and right-hander Jose Bello.
The Red Sox will not send any money to help pay for the remaining sum of Devers’ 10-year, $313.5 million extension that ends in 2033, according to multiple reports.
A three-time All-Star who signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract with the Red Sox in 2023, Devers is batting .272 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs in 73 games, including a solo shot in Boston’s 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday that completed a three-game sweep.
News of the deal broke from FanSided’s Robert Murray just before Sunday’s game against the Dodgers, and the Giants announced the trade during the fifth inning.
“Everybody’s so excited,” Giants shortstop Willy Adames told ESPN during Sunday’s game, adding that the team found out shortly before first pitch. “Me, personally, I’m like thrilled to have him on the team. He’s one of the best hitters in the game, and to have him on the team, I think is going to help us do a lot of damage in the division.
“Obviously we need a bat like him in this lineup.”
Harrison, a 23-year-old East Bay native, was scheduled to start on Sunday against the Dodgers but was scratched and replaced by right-hander Sean Hjelle.
Devers, a two-time Silver Slugger, is one of baseball’s best third basemen. Over nine seasons in the majors, Devers has a career slash line of .279/.349/.509 with 214 home runs and 695 RBIs. This season, Devers has an .894 OPS with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs.
The 28-year-old joins a lineup in much need of power. Entering Sunday, the Giants rank 19th in runs (163) and 21st in OPS (.691) since the beginning of May. On June 4, Posey designated first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. for assignment and signed Dominic Smith as part of a seismic roster shakeup.
The trade comes at a time when starting third baseman Matt Chapman is currently on the 10-day injured list due to right hand inflammation and is set to miss the next three to four weeks. Casey Schmitt has done an excellent job of filling in for Chapman, going 5 for 19 with three homers and 11 RBIs over five games and becoming the first Giant in franchise history to hit grand slams in back-to-back games. That said, Devers will obviously take precedence.
Devers has been used exclusively as a designated hitter this season, but Devers will likely fill in for Chapman at third base for the time being. Once Chapman returns, the Giants will have to figure out where Devers will play.
Boston’s relationship with Devers became strained this season when the Red Sox signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman and asked Devers to give up the position and become their primary designated hitter. Devers publicly expressed his discontent, but eventually agreed to the move, only to be asked to play a new field position when first baseman Triston Casas ruptured his patellar tendon in May. The Dominican star criticized Red Sox management and the team ultimately backed down from the request, leaving him to DH.
Devers has far better career numbers than Wilmer Flores, the Giants’ current everyday designated hitter, but Flores has been an integral part of the lineup and leads the team with 51 RBIs entering Sunday.
Flores could slide over to first base and split time with the left-handed-hitting Smith, but the Giants have talked repeatedly about using Flores as the designated hitter.