Latest news with #BusterPosey
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants exec preaches patience amid Rafael Devers slump
Rafael Devers' start to his San Francisco Giants career has gotten off to a bit of a slow start. The designated hitter is batting .206 with two home runs and 10 RBI with 36 strikeouts in 27 games going into Sunday's finale against the Toronto Blue Jays. In the five games prior to the All-Star break, Devers was in an 0-for-14 slump. But Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey wants fans to be patient with their newest member. 'It's an adjustment period,' Posey said during a recent appearance on KNBR. 'This guy's been in one organization his entire life, and now to come over, everything's different. Not just the ballpark and teammates, but where you're living. So, it's an adjustment period. It's just a matter of time before he gets going.' Devers, who was stunningly traded to San Francisco by the Boston Red Sox in June, began the season in a historic slump, going 0-for-19 with 15 strikeouts to begin the 2025 MLB season. But he began to find a groove for Boston and had 15 home runs, 58 RBI and batted .272 before the trade. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Devers break out of another slump and begin to see the ball well as he continues to get adjusted to his new team. The three-time All-Star is dealing with a back injury that could be hindering him at the plate. It also doesn't help that Oracle Park has been known to be difficult to hit in. 'Raffy Devers has been in the big leagues for eight or nine years now,' Posey said. 'And a guy like that, you know it's just a matter of time before he gets going.' More Red Sox coverage How Red Sox star Alex Bregman's 'training day' ended in big pinch-hit homer Red Sox lose out on veteran free agent reliever Craig Breslow scouted over weekend (report) Failed bunt led to Boston Red Sox' first lead after 24 innings; 'Big moment' Red Sox CBO pulls back curtain on trade deadline plans Red Sox pitcher 'with nearly unhittable fastball' cracks MLB's Top 100 prospects Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants predicted to land struggling Sandy Alcántara at trade deadline
The San Francisco Giants have been aggressive under Buster Posey, and could continue being aggressive at the trade deadline. They could swing a trade for Sandy Alcántara. Alcántara is having a down year. However, at his peak, he is one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022, but struggled in 2023 and missed all of last season. This year, he has a 7.22 ERA. The Miami Marlins could hold on to him and just wait for him to reestablish some trade value, as he is under club control through 2027. However, CBS Sports' Mike Axisa predicted the Giants would trade for him. "I will say Posey continues to big-game hunt and lands Alcantara at the trade deadline," wrote Axisa. "The Marlins are going to move him, that is a near certainty and not at all bold. It's Posey and the Giants swinging big and beating out teams with deeper farm systems to get it done. How does a trade package headlined by slugging first base prospect Bryce Eldridge and lefty Carson Whisenhunt sound? The Devers trade makes Eldridge expendable (or more expendable, anyway) and Whisenhunt is the cost of doing business. Adding Alcantara, even this year's version, to Robbie Ray and Logan Webb makes for a formidable 1-2-3 punch." While loanDepot Park has favored hitters, Oracle Park could have a positive effect on Alcántara. The Giants would be taking a risk by trading for him, but Posey may think he could see a resurgence in a new Giants are a half-game out of a wild card spot, and trading for Alcántara could be the type of move that gets them into the postseason. Even if Alcántara doesn't pitch like a Cy Young Award winner, if the Giants get him to improve at all, he could be a solid piece. More MLB:
New York Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Buster Posey, Giants target pitching at the deadline, could seek a future slugger in Japan
SAN FRANCISCO — Giants president Buster Posey jumped the trade deadline by six weeks when he acquired left-handed slugger Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox. Now, as the frenzy of the actual deadline approaches, Posey said his priority will be to lean into the team's strength. 'Look, I don't think you can ever have enough pitching,' Posey said Tuesday afternoon. 'So we'll just keep our options open for what might present itself on the pitching side of things.' Advertisement The Giants offense hasn't taken off with Devers in the fold. The team averaged 4.3 runs in 71 games before the trade and 3.8 runs in 22 games after it. The Giants' season average of 4.17 runs per game is 0.2 below league average. They've often scored just enough to squeak by while winning an MLB-most 21 one-run games. But they're also fully assembled for the first time after activating third baseman Matt Chapman and second baseman Casey Schmitt over the past week. It appears that adding Devers, and more than $250 million owed to him through 2033, will be the extent of the major lineup improvements. And Posey sounded OK with that. 'Right now I really like our lineup,' Posey said. 'I feel it's as deep as it's been with having Chapman back, Devers in the lineup now, Schmitt playing second.' Left-handed relief has emerged as a need after Erik Miller was diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament and placed on the injured list. Miller said he got the best possible news from an MRI result that showed a Grade 1 sprain, meaning that he could avoid Tommy John surgery with rest and rehab. It's possible that Miller, who battled shoulder issues as a prospect in the Phillies system but never had an elbow injury until now, could return by mid-August. It's also possible that he could experience a setback. Posey said the Giants are monitoring the list of left-handed options. Minnesota Twins left-hander Danny Coulombe, an impending free agent, has an 0.71 ERA and is being scouted by several clubs. Pittsburgh Pirates lefty Caleb Ferguson is another rental option who is holding left-handed hitters to a .164 average. Boston Red Sox left-hander Justin Wilson could be available as well. He's holding lefties to a .130 average and will be a free agent after the season. Pirates right-hander Dennis Santana has one more year of arbitration and could be interesting because he's got a reverse split. Lefties are hitting .104 against him. Advertisement The Giants are listening on potential starting pitchers as well after dealing young left-hander Kyle Harrison to Boston in the Devers deal. Acquiring another depth starter would make them less reliant on 23-year-old right-hander Hayden Birdsong, who zoomed through the upper minors and has experienced some growing pains in his last handful of starts, and Triple-A left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, who will represent the Giants at the Futures Game and is likely to make his major league debut at some point in the second half. The Giants also have to be cognizant that right-hander Landen Roupp has pitched 90 innings and is just 17 away from matching his high in a professional season. At present, Whisenhunt is not being considered to shift to left-handed relief, Giants manager Bob Melvin said on Tuesday. Although the Giants are not prioritizing slug at the deadline, they're already exploring avenues to bolster the lineup in the offseason. Posey said he made his first trip to Japan in April to scout Nippon Professional Baseball and meet executives. Kazuma Okamoto, a right-handed hitting outfielder for Yomiuri, is expected to be made available to clubs in the offseason. Okamoto is most notable to an American baseball audience for the home run he hit in the 2023 gold medal game of the World Baseball Classic that provided the margin of victory over Team USA. The most significant potential prize from Japan was expected to be Minetaka Muratani, a stocky, left-handed hitting corner infielder who hit 56 home runs — an NPB record for a Japanese-born player — for the Yakult Swallows in 2022. Muratani will be 26 in February and it was expected he would be made available to major league clubs after the 2025 season, but he underwent elbow surgery and then strained an oblique in his first game upon returning. So his situation is a bit murky at the moment. The Giants have failed to court top talent from Japan in recent years, coming up short in efforts to sign Seiya Suzuki, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto under former president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. Current GM Zack Minasian had been a big part of the Giants' efforts to evaluate Japanese players while serving under Zaidi as the club's pro scouting director. When Posey interviewed Minasian before elevating him to the GM role, he asked whether the Giants should continue to invest in a talent space that had resulted in little more than frustration. Minasian recommended to Posey that the Giants should remain active. If Posey's travel schedule is any indication, they certainly will be.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rafael Devers blew off first base meetings with Giants legend
The San Francisco Giants shocked the world when they traded for Boston Red Sox disgruntled star third baseman Rafael Devers on Father's Day. Devers was asked to move from third base to designated hitter in the offseason, and though he was upset about it, he made the transition. Advertisement Fast forward to May, Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas went down with a ruptured left patellar tendon and the team asked Devers to play first base. Devers refused and was eventually traded to the Giants. After the trade, Devers said he would do anything to help the team according to president of baseball operations Buster Posey. San Francisco decided to bring in legendary six-time All-Star first baseman Will Clark to mentor Devers and discuss playing the position. Well, Devers didn't show up. According to Clark on No Filter Network, Devers didn't show up early for three straight days for these meetings. Advertisement Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp 'Friday, Saturday, Sunday, he did not come out early, at all. Period, not all. In fact, he didn't even hit on the field,' Clark said. 'Everybody's like, 'Oh my God, I'm so sorry, Will. I'm so sorry.'' These meetings were supposed to take place when Boston visited San Francisco, so Clark says he understands why he didn't want to arrive early. However, Clark had some choice words for Devers if he no-shows on him again. 'But Rafael Devers, the next time I'm in San Francisco, your ass will be on the field at first base, just letting you know that,' said Clark. 'Even if I gotta go grab you by the back of the neck and drag your ass out there, you will be at first base.' Advertisement Devers has continued to DH even when third baseman Matt Chapman was hurt. He has since returned, so it will be interesting to see where Devers ends up playing by the end of the year. More MLB: Brewers-Braves blockbuster trade proposal sends 2023 NL MVP to Milwaukee
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Giants Announce Manager Move Amid Losing Streak
Giants Announce Manager Move Amid Losing Streak originally appeared on Athlon Sports. If any concerns about his job security kept San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin up at night, we imagine he'll sleep peacefully in the coming days. Advertisement The Giants announced on Tuesday that they've picked up Melvin's club option for 2026. The three-time Manager of the Year was in the final guaranteed year of his contract. Melvin is 125-122 in two seasons leading the Giants. San Francisco enters Tuesday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 45-40, eight games out of first place in the NL West. 'His leadership, preparation, and connection with our players have been invaluable, and we believe he's the right person to continue to guide this team forward,' Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey said. Melvin's extension comes as the Giants ride a three-game losing streak after a 13-14 June. San Francisco is only 26-28 since May 1. San Francisco Giants manager Bob MelvinEakin Howard-Imagn Images It's an interesting decision to pick up Melvin's option now, considering both the Giants' inconsistency and the fact that he turns 64 in October. However, Melvin remains among the last decade's most successful regular-season managers; he's led his clubs to six winning campaigns since 2018. Advertisement Melvin even guided the A's to three straight playoff berths from 2018-20, albeit they lost in the 2018 and 2019 AL Wild Card Games. Then again, even registering a winning season with the A's is nothing short of a miracle, and Melvin did it seven times in his 10 full years. Melvin is 1,642-1,547 in 22 seasons and owns a 16-23 playoff record. He's managed five teams: the Giants, Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Diego Padres. Related: Red Sox Trade Idea Suggests Sending Another All-Star to Giants After Rafael Devers Blockbuster This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
