The Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants are two teams headed in opposite directions right now. The Rangers are just a half-game back of the third American League wild card spot while the Giants are 16-24 and have the third-worst record in the National League.
As such, both teams will likely be doing things a little bit differently at the trade deadline. San Francisco appears to already be buried, so their best course of action might be to sell if they cannot turn their season around.
The Rangers, meanwhile, are benefitting from a weak American League and should be in position to add some pieces. Their offense could use some work, as they have scored the fewest runs in the American League and third-fewest in Major League Baseball.
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report listed a few landing spots for Rafael Devers, who has struggled with the Giants, and among the top five were the Rangers.
“The Rangers are one of few teams that might actually consider playing him at first base instead of DH. Joc Pederson is at least playable as a regular DH, whereas Jake Burger is a replacement-level first baseman,” Rymer wrote.
“Plus, it just feels like the Rangers should take a big swing, doesn’t it? They’re now three years removed from winning the World Series, and they’re running out of chances to prove it wasn’t a total fluke.”
Devers’ Fit With Rangers
Devers joined the Giants last season after some drama with the Boston Red Sox. Once he got to San Francisco, he took some reps at first base. However, the Rangers would have a good opportunity waiting for him there.
That would allow them to move Jake Burger somewhere else, perhaps into a full-time designated hitter role with Josh Jung already at third base.
The Rangers could also significantly bolster their offense, as Devers brings power from the left side of the plate when he is right. The three-time All-Star is currently hitting just .241/.291/.386 with five home runs, 18 RBI and a .677 OPS. However, a change of scenery could benefit him, especially given that the Rangers are a contending ballclub, while the Giants are quickly falling out of the race.
Perhaps that could change the trajectory of his season and allow him to get back to his old form, especially in a ballpark that is hitter friendly such as Globe Life Field. He doesn’t exactly have that advantage at Oracle Park.
What Can Giants Get For Him?
Because the Giants had to eat all of his remaining salary when he was acquired from the Red Sox, moving him will be no easy task. To get anything of value for him, they’ll likely have to eat the majority of the contract again.
If they don’t, it may not be anything more than just a salary dump. But because of his struggles, the potential return package might already end up being less than what it could have been previously.
Devers has not fared well in San Francisco, so that it something that is working against the Giants in this scenario.
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