Category: Sports News

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani to return to mound as starting pitcher Monday vs. Padres originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

For the first time in nearly two years, Shohei Ohtani is back where he belongs—on a major league mound.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Sunday night that their two-way superstar and reigning National League MVP will start Monday night’s series opener against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

It will be the first time Ohtani has pitched in a big league game since August 23, 2023, when he exited early against the Reds while still wearing the red and white of the Angels.

Twenty-two months and one elbow surgery later, Ohtani is finally ready to toe the rubber again—this time in Dodger blue.

“Shohei is getting antsy, which is a good thing for us,” said Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts after Sunday’s 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. “He’s ready. It’s time to go.”

The plan is for Ohtani to serve as an opener, likely throwing one or two innings before giving way to right-hander Ben Casparius, who will handle the bulk of the workload. The strategy is as cautious as it is electric. For the Dodgers, it’s less about stretching Ohtani out and more about finally letting the world witness something we’ve all been waiting for.

“He’s going to open for us,” said Roberts of the plan for Ohtani. “The live simulated games have run its course and he’s ready to make his debut on the mound. “It’s great for the game. I’m excited for Shohei”

Ohtani told reporters through a translator after his two-homer performance on Saturday night that he was ready to get back on the mound in a big league game.

A pitcher. A slugger. A $700 million miracle.

It’s not often a Monday night in June becomes appointment television—but when the unicorn returns to the hill, the sport pays attention.

Ohtani, 29, underwent surgery on his right elbow on September 19, 2023, after tearing his UCL for the second time in his career. He had previously undergone Tommy John surgery in 2018. Since signing a historic 10-year deal with the Dodgers last December, the Japanese sensation has focused solely on hitting—until now.

His ramp-up began quietly behind the scenes. He paused pitching activities after a mound session in February to focus on Opening Day as a hitter, then resumed bullpens on March 29. Just last Tuesday, in San Diego, he faced live hitters for the first time, throwing 44 pitches over three simulated innings.

It wasn’t long before he let the team know he was ready for more.

“He said doing the three innings live is taxing on his body,” said Roberts about why the team changed course from their original plan of letting Ohtani ramp up to five or more innings in simulated games with his debut expected to come sometime after the All-Star break. “He’s ready to pitch in a major league game, and he let us know that.” 

While Ohtani hasn’t pitched a single inning this season, he’s still been the Dodgers’ most valuable player—and arguably the face of baseball.

Through June 15, he leads the National League with a 1.035 OPS, while batting .297 with 25 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. He’s made the extraordinary look routine. Moonshot homers. Blistering line drives. Game-winning sprints around the bases. Every time he steps into the batter’s box, there’s a hum in the air.

And now, that hum is heading to the mound.

The timing of Ohtani’s return couldn’t be more crucial.

The Dodgers are scraping together bullpen games just to survive a brutal wave of injuries. Roki Sasaki, the heralded 23-year-old rookie from Japan, hasn’t pitched since May 9 due to a right shoulder impingement and is likely out long-term. Former Cy Young winner Blake Snell is battling shoulder inflammation. Tyler Glasnow, arguably L.A.’s ace this season, just landed on the IL with the same diagnosis.

Sasaki’s status, in particular, is murky. He began a throwing program earlier this month but felt discomfort again last week and has since been shut down.

“He’s just not feeling strong,” Roberts said. “We’re not going to push him.”

With innings at a premium and the postseason picture beginning to sharpen, Ohtani’s return—however brief—offers a glimmer of relief and a whole lot of hope.

This isn’t just about one inning, or even two.

This is about history in real time.

Ohtani’s presence on a big-league mound reminds us of what’s possible when perseverance meets transcendent talent. It’s a story that stretches from the Tokyo Dome to Chavez Ravine, one filled with setbacks, surgeries, speculation, and now—redemption.

“This is very exciting,” added Roberts of Ohtani making his Dodgers debut on the mound. “I’m a baseball fan first. The anticipation here for the game, man it’s going to be bananas.”

Come Monday night, when the No. 17 jersey jogs out from the Dodgers dugout and takes that slow, deliberate walk to the mound, the roar won’t just be for a pitch.

It’ll be for the moment.

A moment 659 days in the making.

A moment worth every second of the wait.

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani to return to mound as starting pitcher Monday vs. Padres originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

For the first time in nearly two years, Shohei Ohtani is back where he belongs—on a major league mound.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Sunday night that their two-way superstar and reigning National League MVP will start Monday night’s series opener against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

It will be the first time Ohtani has pitched in a big league game since August 23, 2023, when he exited early against the Reds while still wearing the red and white of the Angels.

Twenty-two months and one elbow surgery later, Ohtani is finally ready to toe the rubber again—this time in Dodger blue.

“Shohei is getting antsy, which is a good thing for us,” said Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts after Sunday’s 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. “He’s ready. It’s time to go.”

The plan is for Ohtani to serve as an opener, likely throwing one or two innings before giving way to right-hander Ben Casparius, who will handle the bulk of the workload. The strategy is as cautious as it is electric. For the Dodgers, it’s less about stretching Ohtani out and more about finally letting the world witness something we’ve all been waiting for.

“He’s going to open for us,” said Roberts of the plan for Ohtani. “The live simulated games have run its course and he’s ready to make his debut on the mound. “It’s great for the game. I’m excited for Shohei”

Ohtani told reporters through a translator after his two-homer performance on Saturday night that he was ready to get back on the mound in a big league game.

A pitcher. A slugger. A $700 million miracle.

It’s not often a Monday night in June becomes appointment television—but when the unicorn returns to the hill, the sport pays attention.

Ohtani, 29, underwent surgery on his right elbow on September 19, 2023, after tearing his UCL for the second time in his career. He had previously undergone Tommy John surgery in 2018. Since signing a historic 10-year deal with the Dodgers last December, the Japanese sensation has focused solely on hitting—until now.

His ramp-up began quietly behind the scenes. He paused pitching activities after a mound session in February to focus on Opening Day as a hitter, then resumed bullpens on March 29. Just last Tuesday, in San Diego, he faced live hitters for the first time, throwing 44 pitches over three simulated innings.

It wasn’t long before he let the team know he was ready for more.

“He said doing the three innings live is taxing on his body,” said Roberts about why the team changed course from their original plan of letting Ohtani ramp up to five or more innings in simulated games with his debut expected to come sometime after the All-Star break. “He’s ready to pitch in a major league game, and he let us know that.” 

While Ohtani hasn’t pitched a single inning this season, he’s still been the Dodgers’ most valuable player—and arguably the face of baseball.

Through June 15, he leads the National League with a 1.035 OPS, while batting .297 with 25 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. He’s made the extraordinary look routine. Moonshot homers. Blistering line drives. Game-winning sprints around the bases. Every time he steps into the batter’s box, there’s a hum in the air.

And now, that hum is heading to the mound.

The timing of Ohtani’s return couldn’t be more crucial.

The Dodgers are scraping together bullpen games just to survive a brutal wave of injuries. Roki Sasaki, the heralded 23-year-old rookie from Japan, hasn’t pitched since May 9 due to a right shoulder impingement and is likely out long-term. Former Cy Young winner Blake Snell is battling shoulder inflammation. Tyler Glasnow, arguably L.A.’s ace this season, just landed on the IL with the same diagnosis.

Sasaki’s status, in particular, is murky. He began a throwing program earlier this month but felt discomfort again last week and has since been shut down.

“He’s just not feeling strong,” Roberts said. “We’re not going to push him.”

With innings at a premium and the postseason picture beginning to sharpen, Ohtani’s return—however brief—offers a glimmer of relief and a whole lot of hope.

This isn’t just about one inning, or even two.

This is about history in real time.

Ohtani’s presence on a big-league mound reminds us of what’s possible when perseverance meets transcendent talent. It’s a story that stretches from the Tokyo Dome to Chavez Ravine, one filled with setbacks, surgeries, speculation, and now—redemption.

“This is very exciting,” added Roberts of Ohtani making his Dodgers debut on the mound. “I’m a baseball fan first. The anticipation here for the game, man it’s going to be bananas.”

Come Monday night, when the No. 17 jersey jogs out from the Dodgers dugout and takes that slow, deliberate walk to the mound, the roar won’t just be for a pitch.

It’ll be for the moment.

A moment 659 days in the making.

A moment worth every second of the wait.

Sean Manaea got another rehab start under his belt as the Mets' left-hander looks to get ready for his 2025 season debut.

For the second time in his three starts with High-A Brooklyn, Manaea allowed a run in the first inning. His second pitch of the game was an infield single to short before getting a flyout to center. But after a steal put a runner on second, Manaea got the lefty swinging Alejandro Nunez to chase a ball that was closer to the right-handed batter's box than the strike zone.

Lucas Spence took a 2-1 pitch over the heart of the plate for an RBI single to center before Manaea ended the first with a groundout.

Manaea hit the leadoff man in the top of the second on a 1-2 pitch and allowed him to steal second before walking the next batter on a 3-2 pitch. But with two on, he got a three-pitch strikeout and a pair of grounders.

He got the leadoff man in the third to fly out, but Nunez singled to center and Spence cracked a two-run shot to center on a ball that was right over the plate.

Manaea lasted two more batters, allowing a single to right and a six-pitch walk.

The Cyclone's bullpen allowed one of the inherited runners to score to close the Mets' starter's line: 2.1 innings, four runs, five hits (one home run), two walks, a hit batter, two strikeouts on 56 pitches (36 strikes). He did tally 11 swings and misses.

He struck out four in 2.2 innings of work in his last start on Tuesday after giving up four runs (three earned) in his first rehab appearance with Brooklyn.

Red Sox trade Rafael Devers to Giants in shocking move originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox made a stunning, franchise-altering move on Sunday, just hours after completing a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees at Fenway Park.

Veteran slugger Rafael Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, left-hander Kyle Harrison, and minor-leaguers James Tibbs and Jose Bello.

The #RedSox today traded 3B/DH Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for LHP Kyle Harrison, RHP Jordan Hicks, minor league OF James Tibbs III, and minor league RHP Jose Bello.

Harrison has been optioned to Triple-A Worcester.

— Red Sox (@RedSox) June 16, 2025

The shocking move ends Devers’ eight-plus-year tenure with the Red Sox. Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension with Boston before the 2023 campaign.

Devers was in the midst of a stellar season as the Red Sox’ designated hitter. The 28-year-old has slashed .271/.400/.494 with 14 homers, 57 RBI, and an American League-leading 55 walks over 72 games.

Those impressive numbers, however, were overshadowed by off-the-field drama. After the Red Sox signed star third baseman Alex Bregman in the offseason, Devers scoffed at the idea of moving from third to DH. He eventually acquiesced, but tensions boiled over again when the team asked him to play first base in the wake of Triston Casas’ injury.

Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox “had enough” of Devers’ attitude.

“The team’s feeling was that a $313.5M contract comes with responsibilities to do what is right for the team and that Devers did not live up to those responsibilities,” Abraham wrote on BlueSky. “They had enough and they traded him.”

The Giants will pay the remainder of Devers’ contract — roughly $254 million — according to reports.

Devers, a three-time All-Star, initially signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, when he was only 16 years old. He helped Boston to a World Series title in 2018 and has since been one of the faces of the franchise.

As for the players headed to Boston, Hicks and Harrison are high-upside pitchers who underwhelmed in San Francisco. The hard-throwing Hicks has a 6.47 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 13 appearances (nine starts) this season. Harrison, a former top Giants prospect, has a 4.56 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in eight games (four starts).

The 22-year-old Tibbs, selected 13th overall in the 2024 draft, notched 12 homers and 32 RBI with a .857 OPS in 56 games with San Francisco’s High-A affiliate, the Eugene Emeralds.

Bello, a 20-year-old right-hander, posted a 2.00 ERA and 0.72 WHIP in eight appearances (18 innings) at the Arizona Complex League.

The Red Sox will visit the Seattle Mariners for a three-game series starting Monday night. They will then take on Devers and the Giants in a three-game series in San Francisco starting on Friday.

Red Sox trade Rafael Devers to Giants in shocking move originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Boston Red Sox made a stunning, franchise-altering move on Sunday, just hours after completing a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees at Fenway Park.

Veteran slugger Rafael Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, left-hander Kyle Harrison, and minor-leaguers James Tibbs and Jose Bello.

The #RedSox today traded 3B/DH Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for LHP Kyle Harrison, RHP Jordan Hicks, minor league OF James Tibbs III, and minor league RHP Jose Bello.

Harrison has been optioned to Triple-A Worcester.

— Red Sox (@RedSox) June 16, 2025

The shocking move ends Devers’ eight-plus-year tenure with the Red Sox. Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension with Boston before the 2023 campaign.

Devers was in the midst of a stellar season as the Red Sox’ designated hitter. The 28-year-old has slashed .271/.400/.494 with 14 homers, 57 RBI, and an American League-leading 55 walks over 72 games.

Those impressive numbers, however, were overshadowed by off-the-field drama. After the Red Sox signed star third baseman Alex Bregman in the offseason, Devers scoffed at the idea of moving from third to DH. He eventually acquiesced, but tensions boiled over again when the team asked him to play first base in the wake of Triston Casas’ injury.

Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox “had enough” of Devers’ attitude.

“The team’s feeling was that a $313.5M contract comes with responsibilities to do what is right for the team and that Devers did not live up to those responsibilities,” Abraham wrote on BlueSky. “They had enough and they traded him.”

The Giants will pay the remainder of Devers’ contract — roughly $254 million — according to reports.

Devers, a three-time All-Star, initially signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, when he was only 16 years old. He helped Boston to a World Series title in 2018 and has since been one of the faces of the franchise.

As for the players headed to Boston, Hicks and Harrison are high-upside pitchers who underwhelmed in San Francisco. The hard-throwing Hicks has a 6.47 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 13 appearances (nine starts) this season. Harrison, a former top Giants prospect, has a 4.56 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in eight games (four starts).

The 22-year-old Tibbs, selected 13th overall in the 2024 draft, notched 12 homers and 32 RBI with a .857 OPS in 56 games with San Francisco’s High-A affiliate, the Eugene Emeralds.

Bello, a 20-year-old right-hander, posted a 2.00 ERA and 0.72 WHIP in eight appearances (18 innings) at the Arizona Complex League.

The Red Sox will visit the Seattle Mariners for a three-game series starting Monday night. They will then take on Devers and the Giants in a three-game series in San Francisco starting on Friday.

Dodgers star Kershaw has hilarious reaction to Giants' Devers trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The MLB world was turned upside down upon hearing of the Giants’ blockbuster trade for All-Star slugger Rafael Devers.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Clayton Kershaw was among those left stunned by Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey’s massive gamble to acquire Devers coming out of nowhere.

“How about that trade? That’s wild! Buster’s really doing it,” Kershaw told ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball crew during an interview in the fifth inning of Sunday’s game between the Giants and Dodgers. “Not [Buster] Olney, Buster’s really doing it over there. Good for Buster, man. He’s going for it. I’d consider [Rafael Devers] probably one of the probably top-10 hitters in the game at worst.”

Clayton Kershaw: "How about that trade? That's wild! Buster's really doing it! Not Olney; Buster Posey's really doing it over there. Good for Buster, man. He's going for it. I'd consider [Rafael Devers] one of probably the top 10 hitters in the game at worst." ⚾️🎙️ #MLBhttps://t.co/VtlTFADepApic.twitter.com/gqPKFdZYdr

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 16, 2025

Kershaw seemingly wondered what everyone else was, which is where Devers would slot into San Francisco’s plans given Matt Chapman being firmly entrenched as the Giants’ third baseman.

“He’s definitely a game-changer. It will be interesting to see what position he plays over there. I know they have a big prospect at first base coming, so it will be interesting to see if he plays first. Obviously you have Matt Chapman who’s one of the best in the game at third. Even if he’s just DH for however long that contract is … that makes them better right now, for sure.”

Devers hit .272 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI in 73 games for the Boston Red Sox this season. That includes a solo home run against the New York Yankees on Sunday afternoon in his final game for the Red Sox.

The 28-year old slugger is in the second year of a 10-year, $315.5 million contract, which figures to tie Devers to the Giants as a foundational piece for years to come.

Despite dropping the last two games against the Dodgers, it’s clear San Francisco’s new addition has sent a clear message to its biggest rival — the Giants are going for it, now and and for years to come.

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What we learned as Giants trade for slugger Rafael Devers during loss to Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• BOX SCORE

LOS ANGELES — The scene that unfolded Sunday at Dodger Stadium was one of the strangest in the long history of the Giants. 

Sean Hjelle started warming up during the national anthem, as scheduled starter Kyle Harrison was being told he was headed to the Boston Red Sox in a blockbuster deal that will make Rafael Devers a Giant for the rest of the decade. Hjelle was relieved in the fourth by Joey Lucchesi, who had not been officially announced as part of the roster. 

When the trade finally was announced, Andy Pages homered seconds later to put the Dodgers on top. It was chaotic, and in the end, the Giants fell short 5-4 in a game that they kinda punted by trading their starter minutes before first pitch. 

The Giants (41-31) dropped the series and will head back home two games back in the NL West, but the next time they take the field, they’ll have Devers.

Here are three takeaways from a strange night at Dodger Stadium:

Stepping In Admirably

Harrison was hoping to pitch well enough that the Giants would keep him in the rotation next week when Justin Verlander returns. Instead, he was sent back to the clubhouse after heading out to the bullpen early in the afternoon. By the end of the day, he had been optioned to Triple-A Worcester by the Red Sox.

Hjelle stretched as the anthem was performed and then made his first big league start under unusual circumstances. Just about everyone at Dodger Stadium was surprised when he was the one to take the mound, and the Giants desperately needed length after Spencer Bivens and Tristan Beck soaked up most of Saturday’s blowout. 

Hjelle gave them exactly what was required, throwing 54 pitches in 3 2/3 innings and leaving with a 3-2 lead. He was rushed into duty and might have kept Bob Melvin from having to use his entire tired bullpen on the final day of a six-game trip. 

Hello, Joey

The Devers deal came together so quickly that the Giants did not have time to announce Lucchesi as a member of their roster before the game. In the third inning, the scoreboard at Dodger Stadium did it, with a graphic showing that he was warming up.

Lucchesi was in camp with the Giants but has spent all year at Triple-A. He made it down from Tacoma, Washington to provide an extra arm for the bullpen, taking Harrison’s roster spot. Lucchesi was charged with two earned runs after he put a couple on in the fifth and Ryan Walker gave up a three-run blast.

So, About Third Base

Matt Chapman is out another three to four weeks, but the Giants had been in good hands there even before dealing for Devers, a long-time third baseman. Casey Schmitt has three homers on the trip, but he was removed early in Sunday’s game after fouling a ball off his left foot for the second time during this series. 

Schmitt was already wearing a wrap on his left foot and he was in considerable pain as he went down in the box. The Giants announced that he has a left ankle contusion.

Devers, who will join the team Tuesday, hasn’t played third base all year. The Red Sox signed Alex Bregman in the offseason, angering their incumbent, who has been a DH in every appearance this season.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

‘Thrilled' Willy Adames reacts live to Giants' blockbuster Rafael Devers trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Willy Adames was the first Giants player to react to San Francisco’s stunning blockbuster trade to acquire three-time AL All-Star Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.

Adames was mic’d up during the bottom of the second inning of ESPN’s broadcast of the Giants’ “Sunday Night Baseball” game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Everybody is so excited, man,” Adames told Karl Ravech and Eduardo Perez. “Me, personally, I’m thrilled to have him on the team. Obviously, he’s one of the best hitters in the game and to have him on the team, I think it’s going to help us to do a lot of damage in this division. And, obviously, we need a bat like him in this lineup, so when we get [Matt Chapman] back in the lineup, it’s going to be exciting.”

Willy Adames is on the mic and is excited about the reported trade that will bring Rafael Devers to the Giants. pic.twitter.com/uenh4IzKlS

— MLB (@MLB) June 15, 2025

Adames revealed that he and his Giants teammates found out about the trade 15 or 20 minutes before the game began at 4 p.m. PT.

The Giants announced the trade — which sends right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, 2024 first-round draft pick James Tibbs III and low-level pitching prospect Jose Bello to the Red Sox — at 5:49 p.m. PT, in the middle of Sunday’s game.

Adames spoke about what the Devers move says about first-year president of baseball operations Buster Posey.

“Just to build this chemistry and this energy here in San Francisco that they had when he was playing,” Adames told Ravech and Perez. “Just to build a team that can compete and is going to be out here trying to win, trying to win some division championships and some World Series. So that was the initial plan and he’s delivering with that trade right now. The whole clubhouse is excited, so it shows you he’s doing something special.”

Harrison was scheduled to start Sunday and was warming up in the Dodger Stadium bullpen when he was informed of the trade. Reliever Sean Hjelle quickly got loose, started and pitched 3 2/3 innings. He allowed three hits, two earned runs and struck out five.

As for Devers, Adames has a simple plan to make the 28-year-old feel welcome in San Francisco.

“To make him feel like home, man,” Adames told Ravech and Perez. “We want him to feel comfortable and to feel like he’s just going to come out here and play and just do his game. We’re just thrilled to have him and everybody’s excited, so just make him feel like home.”

The Giants entered Sunday’s game in Los Angeles one game behind the Dodgers for first place in the NL West, and Devers certainly changes the equation.

“I feel like it sends a message that we’re going to compete, that we’re going to do whatever it takes to try to come over here and win the division,” Adames said.

Posey and the Giants swung for the fences by acquiring the two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and San Francisco is building a formidable core with Devers, Adames, Chapman, Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos.

Devers is under contract for eight more seasons at a cost of $254.5 million, giving the Giants another pillar in their lineup.

Now, all these big-time pieces have to deliver on the field.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

New York Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury might opt to take a unique approach this offseason. 

Pursuing restricted free agents via offer sheets is not a common strategy in the NHL, but it’s becoming more prevalent.

With a lack of star talent in the unrestricted free agency class this summer, the Rangers reportedly have their eyes on taking the offer-sheet route with restricted free agents. 

“The Rangers came into this offseason more worried about an offer sheet poaching either K’Andre Miller or, far worse, Cuylle, who has a lot of value and upside here and elsewhere,” Arthur Staple of The Athletic wrote. “Now, it appears the Rangers want to be the aggressors on the little-used offer sheet market.”

Staple linked the Rangers to Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka as a potential offer-sheet option. Peterka is a player who was connected to the Rangers at around the trade deadline, but nothing ultimately transpired between the Blueshirts and Sabres. 

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman echoed the same sentiment about the Rangers being intrigued to adopt the offer-sheet strategy.

Chris Kreider Clears The Air About Transparency With Rangers Management And Explains Reasoning For Waiving No-Trade ClauseFor the entirety of Chris Kreider's career, he’s been with one team until now as the New York Rangers traded the veteran forward to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. 

“I think the thing that is really interesting is that the word offer sheets are being mentioned with them and they are not really having a problem with it…The Rangers don’t seem all that bothered by the fact that people are linking them to offer sheets, so I’m curious to see where that is all going to go,” Friedman said. 

Drury has already been aggressive to start the offseason as the team traded Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks, starting what should be an eventful summer for the Rangers.

Watch Devers blast homer in final Red Sox game before Giants trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With the Giants’ trade for Boston Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers, San Francisco has injected some much-needed firepower into its slumping offense.

Exhibit A: The three-time MLB All-Star’s final game in Boston on Sunday, where his solo home run in the fifth inning helped propel the Red Sox to a 2-0 win over the New York Yankees.

Blue bat power! 💥 pic.twitter.com/bl0aK0QElX

— Red Sox (@RedSox) June 15, 2025

That 375-foot opposite-field shot certainly would clear the wall in left field at Oracle Park, where Devers should be playing through the 2033 MLB season.

San Francisco acquired Devers on Sunday in a blockbuster trade that sent Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, James Tibbs III and Jose Bello to Boston, the teams announced during the Giants’ 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The move comes just a couple of weeks after Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey conducted his first big roster shakeup, designating first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. for assignment in a message to San Francisco’s struggling offense.

Devers hit .272 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI in 73 games for the Red Sox this season, and he’ll bring some pop to the Bay that has been missed for quite some time.

Devers: 3 30-homer seasons

Giants: no 30-homer season by an individual since 2004 Barry Bonds

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 15, 2025

Most homers by a Red Sox player before turning 29:
Jim Rice 237
Ted Williams 220
Rafael Devers 215

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) June 15, 2025

It should be fun watching Devers in the Orange and Black — once Giants fans get over the shock, of course.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Why Posey, Giants are making massive gamble with Devers trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LOS ANGELES — Long before he made the decision to take over the Giants baseball operations department, Buster Posey was fascinated by the trade deadline. He watched all sorts of moves during his time as a player, and he saw the kind of impact that a lead executive can have without ever taking the field. 

Two weeks ago, as the calendar turned to June and Posey watched his lineup struggle to score runs, he admitted he felt the need to make a splash. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to, but he felt there was something special building if the Giants could just score a bit more consistently. 

“I think there’s pressure to put this team in a position to win ball games, because, as you mentioned, the pitching staff is really good and I believe that that’s going to continue through the year,” he said on the Giants Talk Podcast. “Yeah, I think there’s urgency from everybody to provide these guys with run support.”

Six weeks before his first deadline, Posey delivered. 

The Giants are acquiring Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers in a blockbuster that shook up the baseball world minutes before a game at Dodger Stadium, sources confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area. Kyle Harrison, the scheduled starter Sunday, is the main piece of the deal, and according to Robert Murray of FanSided — who first reported the shocking details — he’ll be joined by Jordan Hicks, 2024 first-round draft pick James Tibbs III and 20-year-old pitching prospect Jose Bello. 

The Giants, Posey declared Sunday, are going for it. 

They are doing so in a fascinating way, and not just because the deal happened six weeks before anyone expected real movement, and was centered around a player who was once supposed to be a pillar in Boston. They’re pushing all their chips to the middle with a slugger who is in some ways an imperfect fit in San Francisco.

Devers has been a third baseman his entire career, but the Red Sox added Alex Bregman in the offseason and Devers was not pleased, both publicly and privately. When they lost their starting first baseman, he indicated he didn’t want to play there either, and he has been a DH in all 72 appearances this season. 

The Giants appear to have bigger holes elsewhere — Wilmer Flores has been their everyday DH — but they can work around that this season. Flores can play first and Devers likely can, too, and the hope is surely that he’s more willing in a new home to pick the glove back up. Short term, Matt Chapman is on the IL, although it might be asking a lot of Devers to return to third base right away, and for just three weeks or so. 

Long term, the Giants will have to sort through the Devers-Bryce Eldridge fit. Their top prospect is a first baseman, but may also need DH time at the big league level if the glove doesn’t develop as hoped. This offseason, when Flores hits free agency, the Giants will have to figure out who their 2026 starting first baseman is.

If Devers ends up at DH, they’re taking on a lot — he’s in the second year of a 10-year, $313.5 million deal — for a bat-only player, but that bat might be worth it. 

Devers comes to San Francisco with a 145 wRC+, .905 OPS, 15 homers and an AL-leading 56 walks. He’s a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner who is a career .279 hitter. In three different seasons, Devers has cleared 30 homers, and he hit 28 last season. 

Devers immediately becomes the team’s best hitter, and joins a core that includes Chapman, Willy Adames, Heliot Ramos, Jung Hoo Lee and, eventually, Eldridge. If there are any clubhouse concerns — and it’s hard right now to know if that was just a Boston thing — Posey is surely counting on Adames and Chapman to smooth things over. 

Posey and general manager Zack Minasian have spent weeks scouring the market for offensive upgrades, and they came away from their early searching with the impression that they might have to be patient. The president of baseball operations recently met with the coaching staff to make sure they relayed the message that a lot of fixes had to come from what they already had. 

“There’s never any certainty,” he said recently. “I do know this, even though this is my first year doing this, there’s never any certainty that you’re going to be able to improve even if you wanted to.”

On Sunday, he found a way to ensure some certainty. As a player, Posey was known for lining balls softly into center field. As an executive, he has proven to be someone who takes some of the biggest swings imaginable.

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