Latest news with #Devers'
Newsweek
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Red Sox Could Acquire $25 Million Infielder to Replace Rafael Devers
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Boston Red Sox know they need to replace Rafael Devers' bat in the lineup sooner rather than later. Doing so will be easier said than done, but the team has the resources now with Devers' contract off of its books. It's why R.J. Anderson of CBS Sportsbelieves Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez is a good fit for the Red Sox. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 29: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks makes a throwing error on a ground ball hit by Eric Wagaman #33 of the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Chase... PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 29: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks makes a throwing error on a ground ball hit by Eric Wagaman #33 of the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Chase Field on June 29, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. More"Suárez has authored some mighty good offensive seasons throughout his career, making it all the more notable that he's on pace for a career-high OPS+," wrote Anderson. "That statistic is fueled by the fact he's already recorded multiple 10-homer months, including as part of a blistering June." Suárez has put on a show for Diamondbacks this season, already hitting 25 home runs and driving in 68 runs as of Monday. He's already produced 2.6 bWAR, and the All-Star break hasn't even started yet. "What makes Suárez so effective? He has both strength (more than half his batted balls have cleared 95 mph) and an attack plan that focuses on lifting and pulling the ball (as of this writing, his ground-ball percentage is less than 30%)," wrote Anderson. "Add in how he's playable at third base, and the Diamondbacks employ one of the summer's most desirable rental bats if they decide to sell. Potential landing spots: Reds, Red Sox, Angels." The 33-year-old infielder would provide the Red Sox with a powerful bat, and Suárez could even see time at third base. Alex Bregman's injury status is up in the air at this point, and his tenure in Boston could be short lived. Suárez would be a great fit for the Red Sox as they need a slugger to replace Devers' pop in the lineup after being dealt to San Francisco. Even if Bregman were to return and not be traded himself, Boston could elect to move Suarez to designated hitter in place of Masataka Yoshida. More MLB: Cubs-Marlins Hypothetical Megatrade Admittedly 'Outrageous' -- But Enticing
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rafael Devers hits first home run with Giants ... against Red Sox
The San Francisco Giants shocked the MLB world last week by trading for Boston Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers. Devers' discontent with the Red Sox had been well-documented all season. While shocking to see him get moved, it wasn't shocking that the Giants, a team in desperate need of help at first base, were the team to make the trade. Through Devers' first four games with the Giants, he'd yet to find his swing. He had gone just 3-for-16 with one extra-base hit in those games, including an 0-for-5 performance against the Red Sox on Friday night. However, Devers finally broke out the big wood on Saturday, blasting his first home run as a Giant, against his former team. MLB News: Padres' Robert Suarez suspended three games for hitting Shohei Ohtani with pitch WATCH: Rafael Devers' first home run with Giants Devers' home run was an opposite-field shot, giving the Giants a three-run lead. Devers' home run wound up being the decisive hit. The Red Sox would score two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, pushing the Giants to the brink before ultimately falling 3-2. Rafael Devers explains why he will play first for Giants Devers was making headlines before the series, as well. While speaking with media ahead of Friday's tilt against the Red Sox, Devers told reporters that he felt disrespected by the Red Sox asking him to move to first so close to the start of the regular season. Devers, through a translator, said that his outstanding numbers in Boston "earned (him) some respect." He continued, "If they would have asked me (to play first) at the beginning of spring training, yes, I would have played." Had Rafael Devers ever played first prior to 2025? Devers had never played first base in the major leagues prior to the 2025 season. Even throughout the minor leagues, Devers never once swapped corners. He did play shortstop and second base in the minors, though, and even had some time at shortstop with the Red Sox. Devers has operated as the Giants' designated hitter in all five games he's played with San Francisco, but has been seen taking grounders at first base prior to Giants games. Since the start of 2025, Giants first basemen have averaged -1.2 wins above replacement, per Baseball Reference, the 10th-worst mark in MLB. Devers should play a large role in turning that figure around, but it is unclear how long the Giants will give Devers to acclimate to the new position before throwing him out there for an actual game. MLB News: Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski begins MLB career with 11 no-hit innings
San Francisco Chronicle
21-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rafael Devers smacks 1st HR for Giants, a two-run shot against Red Sox
Rafael Devers has the kind of lefty power to spray baseballs into McCovey Cove, much like his idol, Barry Bonds, did for years at Oracle Park. Devers has a tendency to flex his power the other way, too. Devers' first home run as a San Francisco Giant was an opposite-field two-run blast in the third inning of Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox, his former team that traded him to San Francisco last week. The home run gave the Giants a 3-0 lead and came off Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello, a close friend of Devers while the pair were teammates in Boston. Devers smacked an 0-1 four-seam fastball 370 feet into left field with a 105.5 mph exit velocity. The home run was also Devers' first hit against his former team as he went 0-for-5 in Friday's Giants loss and grounded out in his first at-bat on Saturday. All 16 of Devers' home runs this year have come with him batting in the second spot, which he did Saturday for the first time in five games with San Francisco. June 21, 2025 Shayna Rubin Giants Beat Reporter Shayna Rubin comes to the San Francisco Chronicle from the Bay Area News Group, where she covered the Oakland A's dysfunctional pursuit of a stadium in Oakland, the Golden State Warriors' 2022 championship run and a little bit of everything else over her five years there. Shayna was born and raised in San Francisco. She grew up reading the Sporting Green and trekking the dirt parking lots at Candlestick Park for Giants and 49ers home games, so the teams' history is embedded in her memories. She got her start in journalism writing freelance articles about the San Francisco Giants during the dynasty's last-hurrah 2014 World Series season. She's a graduate of San Francisco State University where she graduated with a bachelor of arts in Journalism and a master of arts in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts.
San Francisco Chronicle
20-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rafael Devers explains why he is willing to play first base for the Giants but not the Red Sox
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Rafael Devers had a consistent mantra when he addressed the Boston media for the first time since his surprising trade from the Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants five days ago. 'The past is in the past,' Devers said repeatedly Friday when asked about his time with the Red Sox and why the relationship deteriorated so much this season that the team traded him less than two years into a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed in 2023. Devers did give one piece of insight when asked what he would tell Red Sox fans about why he is willing to play first base in San Francisco if he is asked after refusing to do so with the Red Sox when asked last month. 'I would say that I have put some good numbers up over in Boston,' he said through an interpreter. 'I think that I do feel that I have earned some respect. If they would have asked me at the beginning of spring training, yes, I would have played (first).' Devers' relationship with the Red Sox began to deteriorate when the team signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman during spring training and asked Devers to move to DH; he balked before agreeing to the switch. When first baseman Triston Casas sustained a season-ending knee injury, the Red Sox approached Devers about playing the field and he declined, saying the front office 'should do their jobs' and look for another player. A day after Devers' comments to the media about playing first, Red Sox owner John Henry, team president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers and manager Alex Cora. Devers' stance didn't change and he was eventually traded to San Francisco. He said he wouldn't have done anything differently in his time in Boston. 'I put up good numbers over there,' he said. 'I always gave my 100 percent.' The Giants were happy to acquire Devers after striking out in their bid to sign a big bat for the middle of the lineup in free agency. Devers went 3 for 11 with two walks and an RBI in his first three games with San Francisco as a designated hitter. He has started working out at first base and said he would be happy to play there as soon as he feels comfortable. 'Like I said in the past, that is not a position that you're going to learn how to play overnight,' he said. 'I just have to continue that practice there.' Devers said he is as happy as he has been in years in his first few days with the Giants and enjoyed the opportunity to see some of his friends on the Red Sox on Thursday night when the team arrived in town. 'It's been a few hectic days,' he said. 'A long week it feels like. But I saw my friends yesterday, so, I was happy to be able to see them. I'm very happy.' Devers said he didn't have 'anything good or bad to say" about Cora but said he would talk to him on the field this weekend when he had the chance. Devers was 20 when he made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2017. He helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series and led the team in RBIs for five consecutive seasons from 2020-24. He has finished in the top 20 in voting for AL MVP five times. The Giants have lacked slugging since Barry Bonds hit 45 homers in 2004; they are the only team in the majors who have not had a batter hit 30 homers since then. Devers has hit at least 30 homers three times. Devers is not the first Red Sox All-Star to be traded away: The team sent Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2020 season in a salary dump -- just a year after he won the AL MVP award and led Boston to a franchise-record 108 wins and its fourth World Series title since 2004. ___
Fox Sports
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Rafael Devers Explains Why He's Willing to Play 1B With the Giants
Rafael Devers had a consistent mantra when he addressed the Boston media for the first time since his surprising trade from the Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants five days ago. "The past is in the past," Devers said repeatedly Friday when asked about his time with the Red Sox and why the relationship deteriorated so much this season that the team traded him less than two years into a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed in 2023. Devers did give one piece of insight when asked what he would tell Red Sox fans about why he is willing to play first base in San Francisco if he is asked after refusing to do so with the Red Sox when asked last month. "I would say that I have put some good numbers up over in Boston," he said through an interpreter. "I think that I do feel that I have earned some respect. If they would have asked me at the beginning of spring training, yes, I would have played (first)." Devers' relationship with the Red Sox began to deteriorate when the team signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman during spring training and asked Devers to move to DH; he balked before agreeing to the switch. When first baseman Triston Casas sustained a season-ending knee injury, the Red Sox approached Devers about playing the field and he declined, saying the front office "should do their jobs" and look for another player. A day after Devers' comments to the media about playing first, Red Sox owner John Henry, team president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers and manager Alex Cora. Devers' stance didn't change and he was eventually traded to San Francisco. He said he wouldn't have done anything differently in his time in Boston. "I put up good numbers over there," he said. "I always gave my 100 percent." The Giants were happy to acquire Devers after striking out in their bid to sign a big bat for the middle of the lineup in free agency. Devers went 3 for 11 with two walks and an RBI in his first three games with San Francisco as a designated hitter. He has started working out at first base and said he would be happy to play there as soon as he feels comfortable. "Like I said in the past, that is not a position that you're going to learn how to play overnight," he said. "I just have to continue that practice there." Devers said he is as happy as he has been in years in his first few days with the Giants and enjoyed the opportunity to see some of his friends on the Red Sox on Thursday night when the team arrived in town. "It's been a few hectic days," he said. "A long week it feels like. But I saw my friends yesterday, so, I was happy to be able to see them. I'm very happy." Devers said he didn't have "anything good or bad to say" about Cora but said he would talk to him on the field this weekend when he had the chance. Devers was 20 when he made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2017. He helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series and led the team in RBIs for five consecutive seasons from 2020-24. He has finished in the top 20 in voting for AL MVP five times. The Giants have lacked slugging since Barry Bonds hit 45 homers in 2004; they are the only team in the majors who have not had a batter hit 30 homers since then. Devers has hit at least 30 homers three times. Devers is not the first Red Sox All-Star to be traded away: The team sent Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2020 season in a salary dump -- just a year after he won the AL MVP award and led Boston to a franchise-record 108 wins and its fourth World Series title since 2004. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
