I agree with Bear and Phil that ESPN spent way too much time on the Rafael Devers trade on Sunday night, while one of the great rivalries was being ignored right in front of them. Would this have happened if it was NYY and Boston?  I doubt it.

I agree that the trade was hugely newsworthy, especially the timing of the trade.  But as Phil said, mention it, and then let SportsCenter handle the commentary.  MLB is going to miss the $$$$, but I am glad that ESPN will not be broadcasting anymore after this year.

I understand what Boston was doing.  They were getting rid of a clubhouse cancer (in their minds) with $254MM remaining on his contract.  It was clear that the situation was bad, and going downhill from there.  Boston needed to move Devers, and they got a pretty good deal from San Francisco considering.

This all started when Boston signed free agent 3B Alex Bregman.  Devers was asked to move off 3B and become the DH, which he was not happy about.  In his point of view, he was signed to be the 3B, and says he was promised he would stay there.  However, while his bat was outstanding, his glove was horrible.  Arguably the worst defensive 3B in all of MLB.

Devers initially refused to DH, but reluctantly agreed to.  When 1B Triston Casas had season ending knee surgery, Devers was asked to take pregame reps at 1B.  Devers refused, and went public with his displeasure with Boston’s chief baseball officer Craig Breslow after the team approached him about considering it.  Devers flat out said he was not going to do it.  At this point, Boston had no choice.

The dissension was wide spread.  Per the MLBTR article on the Devers/Boston breakup:

Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe posted Sunday night that the team felt that Devers’ franchise-record $313.5MM contract came “with responsibilities to do what is right for the team” which the infielder had not met. They had enough and they traded him.

More specifically, Sean McAdam of MassLive writes that the Sox feared that Devers’ frustrations with the position changes would send a poor message to their younger players — especially their talented rookie trio of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell.

Kevin Millar also chimed in:

Kevin Millar on Rafael Devers: “you have to have guys who will do anything for the W.” pic.twitter.com/yi6drRGZ2P

— Kendra Middleton (@KenniMiddleton) June 16, 2025

San Francisco now has a $254 MM DH for the next 8.5 years.  For 2026, they have only 6 players under contract, with a CBT threshold already at $160MM.  It is nowhere close to be a problem for the cash rich Giants, but it might take them to some uncomfortable payroll levels.

Boston no longer has a $254MM albatross contract due to a malcontent who only cares about himself.  At least when it comes to the Red Sox. San Francisco figures to do things differently.

According to Mike Rodriguez, Buster Posey made it clear that no decision about Devers’ defensive position will be made without first speaking directly with him. The idea is simple: listen to the Dominican star and work together to bring out the best of his talent.

What is also clear is that SF wants to avoid mistakes Boston made.  Devers didn’t arrive by chance : he’s a long-term investment, and the organization doesn’t plan go waste it with unilateral decisions.  Posey is moving smartly, knowing that leadership is not only measured in numbers but in how you treat the figures who must bear the pressure of the locker room and the field.

Of course Devers is going to say the right things with the Giants.

REPORT: Rafael Devers has told the Giants he’s “willing to play anywhere – including first base – if it helps the team win.”

Big shift in mindset after the fallout in Boston. pic.twitter.com/QSfdzFrNfk

— Talkin’ Basabell (@TalkinBasabell_) June 16, 2025

I do not have to trust him.  Buster Posey and Bob Melvin do.  It did not work for Craig Breslow and Alex Cora.

What now becomes of Wilmer Flores?  Bryce Eldridge is the future 1B, Chapman the 3B, and Devers the DH.  Flores has generally been in pain in the behind to the Dodgers.  He is a FA so I expect to see him traded at the deadline.

For now, Rafael Devers has a new team and number.

Not only are they assuming a huge contract (with risk), but the Giants lost a potentially top of the rotation SP in Kyle Harrison.  They have others, but their depth is not anything close to the Dodgers.  Their rotation is now – Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Landen Roupp, Hayden Birdsong, and Sean Hjelle or Carson Whisenhunt.  Whisenhunt is the Giants #2 prospect, but not a top 100 prospect. He is also not yet on the 40 man roster. FWIW, Jackson Ferris and River Ryan are considered better prospects.  They do have 5 other pitchers on the 40 man, but none are at the Landon Knack, Justin Wrobleski, or Ben Casparius level.  And I doubt that they are better than Bobby Miller.  Their 2^nd best pitching prospect, Joe Whitman, is in AA and not at the same level as the Dodgers Jackson Ferris.

At the deadline in 2011, the Giants traded Zack Wheeler to NYM for Carlos Beltran.  Different in the sense that Beltran was a rental, and Devers is expensive, but could Harrison turn into a Zack Wheeler?

Boston also got RHP Jordan Hicks.  He is probably best suited for relief, and he will help Boston in the pen.  James Tibbs III is a promising young OF.  He is 22 in High A, but is not near the level of De Paula, Sirota, or Hope. Jose Bello is a lottery pick pitcher, but according to reports he has promise.  How much?

It seems clear the Red Sox accepted a significant downgrade in the short term, though Breslow tried to make the case that:

“there is a real chance that at the end of the season, we’re looking back and we’ve won more games than we otherwise would have.” 

That certainly is an unprovable rhetorical statement, and one that most baseball people outside of Boston would not agree with.

Perhaps a more objective viewpoint comes from MLB’s Steve Phillips on trade.

"I certainly understand why Craig Breslow made this deal. I would've done the same thing."@StevePhillipsGM on the reported deal sending Rafael Devers to the #SFGiants:#Giants | #DirtyWater
🔗 https://t.co/iXax8hx4iO pic.twitter.com/SqCZErX2bv

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) June 16, 2025

Breslow continued:

“We needed to create a more functional roster and give certain guys more playing time, be able to rotate through the DH spot and potentially match up there. This is a roster that certainly has some needs — starting pitching, bullpen help — and we think that we addressed some of those in the return. Additionally, I do think that it gives us some resources as we head toward the deadline.”

And from a couple of new players to the Red Sox:

Garrett Crochet called it a tough blow and a shock to lose Devers but said that he has had a day to process it and it is now time to move forward. Multiple players, including Crochet and Buehler, don't think that the front office owes the clubhouse an explanation of the trade.

— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) June 16, 2025

The loss of the Devers contract probably makes Jarren Duran more likely to stay in Boston.

Devers mishandled the situation, but so did Craig Breslow.  Breslow should have gone to his franchise player before the Bregman deal was made and explain why it is best for the team.  This trade is going to go along way to determine the fate of Breslow.

Now for the most important question with respect to this deal…What should the Dodgers do in response?  IMO, absolutely nothing.  Devers is an outstanding hitter, but he is nothing more than a DH.  The Dodgers face a better pure DH in the Phillies Kyle Schwarber.  The Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki has turned into a very good DH with a better SLG than Devers.  Suzuki was not thrilled with being a DH when the Cubs traded for Kyle Tucker, but he did not fight it.  Suzuki will play RF, LF, and 1B if asked.  He has played multiple games in both LF and RF this.

Does Devers make the Giants better?  Of course he does.  But IMO, not good enough to be at the same level as LAD when both have all their players healthy. The Dodgers will see the Giants again on the weekend before the All Star break.  Matt Chapman could still be out.

The Dodgers should never make a trade in response to what another team does.  Whatever the Dodgers were planning on doing at the deadline, they will still be doing.  Now, if Sandy Alcantara, who is having a good June, is being pushed by Miami, I think AF/BG would listen.  You know he is going to eat innings.  His contract is not onerous.  His salary for 2026 is $17.3MM with a 2027 club option of $21MM with a $2MM buyout.

Alcantara is the only player I can think of who is considered a June trade candidate as much as a deadline trade candidate.

The Dodgers will continue to trot out Michael Conforto until the deadline, even though he is not playing at the same level as a replacement player (-.07 bWAR).  He has another 6 weeks to show he should stay in the LAD lineup. After that?

MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS

OKC Comets 8 – Round Rock Express (Texas) 7

Nick Senzel lined a game-winning RBI single into center field in the 10th inning to send the Oklahoma City Comets to an 8-7 walk-off win in 10 innings against the Round Rock Express. The Comets built an early 6-1 lead before the Express came back twice later in the game to tie the score and force extra innings.

The Express scored in the first inning before the Comets answered with a solo home run by Alex Freeland. Then in the second inning, the Comets loaded the bases before bringing in a run on a walk by Freeland. With the bases loaded again, Ryan Ward belted a grand slam out to left field to push OKC’s lead to 6-1.

The Express then scored five straight runs, including four in the sixth inning to tie OKC, 6-6. All runs were scored off starting pitcher Landon Knack.  Oklahoma City regained the lead in the sixth inning on a solo home run by Austin Gauthier.

A solo game tying home run by Round Rock’s Cody Freeman in the eighth inning off Noah Davis knotted the score at 7-7. Then in the 10^th, Senzel connected on the first pitch to bring in placed runner Esteury Ruiz from second base for the win.

Jack Little continues to impress as the Comets closer, and he shut down the Express the last two innings.  Her did not allow a hit, he walked one and struck out one.  In the 10^th, with the placed runner, Little induced a pop out, struck out the next batter swinging, issued an IBB, and got an F9 to end the inning.

Ther Comets have a pair of relievers who look to be just about ready for their MLB debut: Ryan Sublette and Jack Little.

• Freeland has hit safely in five straight games, going 9-for-17 with five extra-base hits and has at least one RBI in five straight games (seven total).
• Lax Vegas’ (A’s) magic number for the first half is 3 with 5 games to play.
• Alex Freeland – 2-3, 2BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR (9)
• Ryan Ward – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 4 RBI, HR (18) – grand slam
• Austin Gauthier – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (3)

Box Score

Tulsa Drillers 6 – Midland RockHounds (A’s) 0

Chris Campos pitched an absolute gem.  7.1 scoreless IP allowing just one 6^th inning single, 0 walks, and 8 Ks.  Campos threw 92 pitches before he was pulled with one out in the 8^th, and nobody on base.  Ronan Kopp and Lucas Wepf finished the final 1.2 innings to complete the shutout.

The Drillers got on the board in the 1^st when Taylor Young led off the 1^st with a single, stole 2^nd,  and scored on a Ezequiel Pagan double.

In the 3^rd, Taylor Young led off with a single, and Noah Miller followed with a single.  Ezequiel Pagan followed with a 3-run HR.  Damon Keith hit a 2 out HR to give the Drillers a 5-0 lead.

Damon Keith hit his 2^nd HR of the game in the 6^th to finish the scoring.

• Damon Keith – 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR (9)
• Ezequiel Pagan – 2-4, 1 run 4 RBI, double (9), HR (6)
• Taylor Young – 2-4, 1 run

Box Score

Great Lakes Loons 8 – Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis) 7

The series opener between the Great Lakes Loons and Peoria Chiefs saw four lead changes.  The Loons completed their comeback with a three-run bottom of the eighth, for an 8-7 win.

Joe Vetrano drove in two of the final four runs for Great Lakes. The 23-year-old led off the sixth inning with a game-tying home run. With a 106 mph exit velocity and launched 408 feet, it tied the game at 5-5. In the eighth, Vetrano with two on, went first pitch hunting roping a RBI double smashed 111 mph to right field. That narrowed the lead to 7-6 at the time.

With runners on 2^nd and 3^rd, Carlos Rojas’ two-run single up the middle grabbed the lead for the Loons. The groundball that skipped to centerfield plated Vetrano and Kyle Nevin, who walked.

Cam Day struck out two to down Peoria’s 5-6-7 hitters in order in the ninth. The right-hander, who walked three and allowed two runs in the seventh, retired six of the last seven he faced, to earn the win.

Nine of the 15 combined runs in the contest came across through the first three innings. Great Lakes scored the first three, with a three-run four-hit first. Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota, and Kyle Nevin each hit doubles, Sirota and Nevin drove in runs. Sirota appeared caught in a rundown after a Zyhir Hope single. A throw went to third base, and Sirota sprinted home.

Eriq Swan was on the hook for five runs through the first three innings but faced the minimum in the fourth and fifth. Evan Shaw shut down a two-on with two-out scenario in the sixth, inducing a flyout to left field.

• Joe Vetrano – 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (13), HR (7)
• Carlos Rojas – 2-3, 1 BB, 2 RBI
• Doubles – Josue De Paula (11), Mike Sirota (7), Kyle Nevin (2), Kendall George (4)

Box Score

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 9 – Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego) 1

The Quakes ran their winning streak to six straight on Tuesday night, as they rolled the Lake Elsinore Storm by a final of 9-1.

Starting pitcher Logan Tabeling and three relief pitchers completed a 4 hit 1 run game.  Tabeling was sharp through four scoreless innings, but was replaced by Domingo Geronimo (3-0) in the fifth.  Geronimo allowed a run in the 5^th narrowing the Quakes lead to 3-1.  Ryan Brown and Cody Morse finished the final three innings without allowing a run.

Eduardo Quintero went 4-for-4 including 3 doubles, and reached all five times, as the Quakes improved to 4-0 this year against their division rival.

Rancho took the lead in the third.  Eduardo Quintero singled, and Jaron Elkins tripled him home to make it 1-0. Samuel Munoz followed with his seventh homer of the year, making it 3-0.

In the 6^th the Quakes scored, giving the Quakes some cushion at 7-1. Jose Meza opened the inning with a BB and on Niko Perez double.  Jackson Nicklaus followed with a run-scoring single for a 4-1 lead.  Victor Rodrigues doubled Nicklaus to 3^rd.  Both runners scored on a Jaron Elkins single.

Rancho put the game away with two more in the eighth for a commanding 9-1 lead.

The Quakes will send Christian Zazueta to the mound on Wednesday morning at 11am. The Storm will counter with lefty Kash Mayfield, who was reportedly on the Dodgers short list for 1^st round draft pick last year.  The Dodgers picked Kellon Lindsey 2 slots before the Padres selected Mayfield.

• Eduardo Quintero – 4-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 3 doubles (16)
• Jaron Elkins – 3-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, triple (4)
• Samuel Munoz – 1-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (7)

Box Score