One year after acquiring Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox, the San Francisco Giants reportedly wouldn’t mind a redo.
The Giants would “love to unload” Devers and other expensive veterans to “start over,” per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. They also reportedly have interest in trading shortstop Willy Adames, third baseman Matt Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee.
San Francisco shocked the world by sending four players to Boston for Devers last June. Only one (Jose Bello) remains with the Red Sox organization, but the polarizing move may now look like a heist if they had not flipped Kyle Harrison and outfield prospect James Tibbs III.
Devers is struggling mightily with his new club, batting .232/.276/.364 with four strikeouts in 40 games this season. His minus-0.5 fWAR ties Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar for the National League’s worst mark.
That can’t be the production San Francisco expected from the three-time All-Star, and the franchise could face a perilous long-term dilemma if Devers doesn’t rebound. He’ll make $28.5 million in each of the next seven seasons.
Although Devers is starting to look more like himself with a 1.049 OPS in May, the Giants may still struggle to find any eager takers this summer. Adames, Chapman and Lee may similarly not fetch much trade value as slumping veterans with hefty long-term contracts.
Nightengale suggested that the Giants could instead devote their energy to shopping Robbie Ray, who’s a free agent this offseason. The 34-year-old pitcher has recorded a 2.76 ERA in eight starts this season.
More MLB: Rising Red Sox Pitcher Enters MLB’s Top-100 Prospect Rankings
