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Rafael Devers fields against the Baltimore Orioles on April 25, 2023.
On Sunday June 15, 2025, a blockbuster MLB trade shook fans across the world. Robert Murray reported that the San Francisco Giants had acquired superstar DH/IF Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox for P Kyle Harrison, P Jordan Hicks, minor league OF James Tibbs III, and minor league P Jose Bello.
Giants fans couldn’t contain their excitement when they found out, but their excitement was immediately and naturally followed up with a bunch of anxious questions.
What number would Devers wear? Would he be in the lineup on Tuesday June 17, 2025 for the Giants’ next game, at home against the Cleveland Guardians?
Perhaps the most pressing question was about what position Devers would play. Throughout the 2025 season, Devers has had well-documented drama with the Red Sox organization. He was first irritated with the team for replacing him at third base with superstar Alex Bregman, then refused to play first base after a season-ending injury to Triston Casas.
Giants fans, and Red Sox fans for that matter, wondered whether Devers would fill in at third base for an injured Matt Chapman, be willing to slot in at first base now that he was in San Francisco, or just stick with designated hitter.
That was the pressing question on Monday June 16, 2025, the day after the trade. While none of the Giants’ brass seemed willing to commit to a plan before they discussed it with Devers in person after his arrival in San Francisco on Tuesday, one answer from a San Francisco executive seemed particularly telling.
Minasian Indicates Conversation About Playing the Field is On the Table
San Francisco Giants general manager Zack Minasian was a key player in the Giants’ acquisition of Devers. He joined MLB Network Monday June 16, 2025 to discuss the trade when the hosts asked the key question.
“What makes you think he’s going to play first base for you when he said no thanks to the Red Sox, if in fact that’s the ask?” host Matt Vasgersian inquired of Minasian.
Minasian didn’t commit to Devers playing one position, but he did say that Devers has seemed open to discussions about playing the field in his initial conversations with the Giants.
“Some of the feedback we have gotten so far is just a willingness to have the conversation,” Minasian said.
“Some of the feedback we’ve gotten so far is just a willingness to have the conversation.”
@SFGiants GM Zack Minasian discusses the shocking move for Rafael Devers and where he’ll fit on the field.
#MLBTonight | @SageUSAmerica
Minasian reiterated however that the Giants just want Devers to be happy, and they acquired him solely for his bat regardless of if he was willing to play the field or not.
“We’re a players-first organization, we wanna make sure we take care of our players,” Minasian said.
Buster Posey Could See Devers at First or Third
Earlier on Monday June 16, 2025, Buster Posey made an appearance on radio station KNBR to talk about the Devers trade and he was optimistic that the Giants have options for where to slot Devers defensively.
“There’s the possibility to play third some with Chapman out, to get some in at first, and DH,” Posey said.
Posey on where Devers potentially fits in defensively:
“There’s the possibility to play third some with Chapman out, to get some in at first, and DH… By all accounts… He’s a winner. He wants to do what he can to help the team. Obviously there was some back and forth with
Posey also reiterated like Minasian that he wants to discuss things with Devers before making an official decision on where he plays, and that acquiring Devers was about the bat more than anything.
Later in the day, Giants insider Alex Pavlovich joined KNBR to share insight on Devers’ situation in Boston. Pavlovich’s comments should make Giants fans even more confident that Posey will be able to work with Devers on playing the field.
“[Willy Adames] said he has talked to Devers about some of the stuff that went on earlier this year, and he thought it was just a lack of communication,” Pavlovich said, “That’s Buster’s strong suit. He said that’s not gonna happen here.”
“(Adames) said he has talked to Devers about some of the stuff that went on earlier this year, and he thought it was just a lack of communication… That’s Buster’s strongsuit. He said that’s not gonna happen here.”
@PavlovicNBCS told Papa & @greg0silver the Giants are
Much to Giants’ fans delight, and Red Sox fans’ exasperation, all signs point to Devers being willing to play the field for the Giants in 2025.
Ethan Inman is a sports journalist covering the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and Las Vegas Raiders for Heavy sports. He also co-hosts a college football podcast for The Voice of College Football, and writes about the NBA and MLB. He has previously covered the USC Trojans, the NHL, college baseball, and the intersection of sports and popular culture for other publications. He is based in the greater Los Angeles area. More about Ethan Inman
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