On The Possibility Of An Offseason Rafael Devers Trade

It was no secret that the Giants were open to trade offers involving their big-name players this summer. The club is having a poor season and was clearly in seller position ahead of the deadline. Multiple reports talked about how the team was willing to discuss Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers.

Though there were plenty of rumors, a deadline trade never seemed especially likely. All three players have hefty long-term contracts. Chapman is set to make $100MM from 2027 to 2030. Adames will make $140MM from 2027 to 2031. Devers will make $211MM from 2027 through 2033, though $7.5MM is deferred annually.

Trading contracts like that is tough mid-season. Most clubs keep some powder dry for in-season moves but generally don’t have that kind of wiggle room. Beyond the money, there was the on-field performance. Those three players all got out to poor starts this year and didn’t have huge appeal throughout the summer.

Revisiting trades could be a priority for the Giants this coming winter if they still want to free up some long-term payroll capacity. The possibility of a deal should be a bit better in the winter when other clubs are more likely to have some payroll space to work with.

With Chapman and Adames, it will still be really tough to see a deal coming together. Both players have full no-trade protection in their deals, which complicates matters. They also won’t be going into the offseason with a lot of steam. Chapman is 33 years old, had a subpar season at the plate in 2026 and is currently recovering from hernia/core surgery. Adames is about to turn 31, has been battling back problems lately and is hitting .229/.288/.416 on the year.

With Devers, it’s at least possible to imagine something coming together. He’s the youngest of the trio, currently 29, turning 30 in October. His deal doesn’t have any no-trade protection. And in terms of his on-field performance, he has been back to his old self after an ice-cold start.