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Should the Giants trade Camilo Doval? Rival execs think it's a disservice not to consider it
Should the Giants trade Camilo Doval? Rival execs think it's a disservice not to consider it

New York Times

time2 days ago

  • Sport
  • New York Times

Should the Giants trade Camilo Doval? Rival execs think it's a disservice not to consider it

SAN FRANCISCO — Teams like the San Francisco Giants, firmly in the playoff race and just one month removed from acquiring star Rafael Devers, do not trade their closers. Once Thursday's deadline passes, right-hander Camilo Doval is indeed expected to remain a part of the team's bullpen. But are the Giants missing an opportunity? Advertisement Rival executives wonder if the Giants should entertain offers for Doval given San Francisco's needs elsewhere and the general state of the reliever market. It's not too crazy of an idea. High-end relievers are in demand. But the teams dangling those pitchers such as the Minnesota Twins (Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax) and Cleveland Guardians (Cade Smith, Emmanuel Clase), to name a couple, are notoriously hard to strike deals with, executives say. An opportunistic team might be able to take advantage. The Giants are at least positioned to do so. Their bullpen has been such a team strength all season that they could afford to subtract from a group that ranks second in the majors in bullpen ERA (3.23, behind only the San Diego Padres), third in opponent's OPS (.643, behind only the Padres and Boston Red Sox) and first in WHIP (1.16). Doval, 28, is under club control through the 2027 season, making him all the more valuable. Although Doval regained the closer role in late May, supplanting struggling right-hander Ryan Walker, All-Star Randy Rodríguez, another righty, would appear primed to step into the ninth inning. Rodríguez has emerged as not only the Giants' best reliever but one of the best in the major leagues. Before giving up solo home runs to the Mets' Ronny Mauricio and Juan Soto during a 5-3 loss on Sunday, Rodríguez had been scoreless in 40 of his 43 appearances, with a 0.82 ERA, along with 59 strikeouts and eight walks in 43 2/3 innings. He had allowed just one home run all season – to the Padres' Xander Bogaerts on April 29. Doval, an All-Star in 2023, has rebounded nicely following a disastrous 2024 season in which he was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento in August and finished with a 4.88 ERA. He's also made improvements that two coaching staffs spent years coaxing him to address, slide stepping to control the running game and reducing issues with the pitch clock. His arm talent continues to be undeniable — his cutter averages 98.1 mph — but it's fair to wonder if Giants management would feel ultra-confident watching him pitch in October with a season on the line.  Subtracting from the bullpen could allow the Giants to address other pressing roster weaknesses, potentially down the stretch and in future seasons if they can acquire an athletic position player with years of club control. The Giants' immediate need is for rotation filler behind All-Stars Logan Webb and Robbie Ray; over the past week, they placed right-hander Landen Roupp on the injured list with elbow inflammation and sent erratic right-hander Hayden Birdsong to work on his control issues in Sacramento. Advertisement But a lack of offensive dynamism continues to be their most persistent issue. The Giants went 0-for-23 with runners in scoring position while getting swept in three home games by the Mets over the weekend. They have finished 29th and 30th in the majors in stolen bases in each of the last two seasons, literally getting passed by following rule changes that MLB implemented to incentivize risk taking on the basepaths. They hoped for a more athletic lineup this season but center fielder Jung Hoo Lee hasn't attempted to run much and speedy Opening Day second baseman Tyler Fitzgerald didn't hit enough to stay in the big leagues. Incredibly, the Giants have attempted just two stolen bases in July. (The cynical upshot: they haven't been caught stealing since June 25.) Despite losing 9 of their last 11 games, the industry views the Giants as a buyer. They are 54-52 and just three games back for the final wild card spot. It is highly likely that the only way they would even consider trading off their major-league roster is if they get major-league talent in return that makes them a stronger overall club. The way some rival executives see it, if dangling Doval can achieve that goal, the Giants would be doing themselves a disservice to ignore it.

Rafael Devers says he ‘would rather be on the field' after debut at first base
Rafael Devers says he ‘would rather be on the field' after debut at first base

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Rafael Devers says he ‘would rather be on the field' after debut at first base

Rafael Devers made his debut at first base on Tuesday night for the San Francisco Giants — a move he was happy to make for his new team. Devers went 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI in San Francisco's 9-0 win over the Atlanta Braves. After the game, Devers was asked if he feels he's more productive offensively when he's playing in the field. 'Definitely. It keeps me active,' Devers told reporters through translator Erwin Higueros. 'It keeps my head out of just thinking about the next at-bat. I'm the kind of player that likes to be active, likes to be on the field. I'd rather be on the field than be in the cage hitting all the time and just thinking about the next at-bat.' Devers, who was traded to the Giants last month by the Red Sox, made it clear he didn't want to play first while after Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury. 'I know I'm a ballplayer but at the same time they can't expect me to play every single position out there,' Devers said earlier this year while he was still with the Red Sox. 'In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove — that I wasn't going to play any other position but DH. So right now I just feel like it's not an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position. 'They told me that they didn't want to allow me to play any other position,' Devers said. 'And now I think they should do their job essentially and hit the market and look for another player (to play first base). I'm not sure why they want me to be in between, the way they have me now.' The ask from Boston came after the team moved him off third base — the position Devers played his entire career — and moved him to designated hitter. After a slow start, Devers began to find a groove at the plate before he was traded. Once he got to the Bay Area, though, Devers changed his tune about playing first. It's unclear how often Devers will be utilized at first going forward, but he returned to the designated hitter spot on Wednesday afternoon. More Red Sox coverage Red Sox promote son of team legend David Ortiz Is Alex Bregman 100%? Alex Cora explains why Red Sox are comfortable to 'play it safe' on bases Rafael Devers breaks out of slump with two home runs for Giants Fenway concession workers set Friday deadline for first strike in 113 years Red Sox lineup: Two top hitters sitting Wednesday as Boston looks to avoid Philly sweep Read the original article on MassLive.

Rafael Devers making first base debut for Giants on Tuesday, five weeks after Red Sox traded him
Rafael Devers making first base debut for Giants on Tuesday, five weeks after Red Sox traded him

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Rafael Devers making first base debut for Giants on Tuesday, five weeks after Red Sox traded him

PHILADELPHIA — Just over five weeks after the Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the Giants, he made his much-anticipated first base debut for San Francisco on Tuesday night. Devers, who has served as the Giants designated hitter in his first 28 games for the club (and didn't see an inning in the field for the Red Sox before the deal) is starting at first and hitting third in Atlanta on Tuesday night. It's the first time he has ever played first base in his career. Devers quite famously refused to start taking ground balls at first base after they asked him to do so in the wake of Triston Casas' season-ending knee injury in early May. Angered by the club's decision to 'go back on their word' and move him from third base to DH after signing Alex Bregman during spring training, Devers started a public feud with chief baseball officer Craig Breslow that necessitated a May sitdown with principal owner John Henry in Kansas City. Eventually, the Red Sox, citing a lack of 'alignment' with Devers, traded him to the Giants in a stunning blockbuster on June 15. Boston acquired pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison and prospects James Tibbs III and Jose Bello in the deal. Immediately after arriving in San Francisco, Devers changed his tune and said he'd be willing to play first base for the Giants. He began taking grounders at the position before his San Francisco debut. 'I'm here to give my 100%,' Devers said, via translator, on June 17. 'I don't put any 'buts.' They're the men in charge. I'm here to play wherever they want me to play.' The Giants, who have platooned Dominic Smith and Wilmer Flores at the position for weeks, were confident in Devers' ability to move across the diamond after logging nearly 8,300 career innings at third in Boston. 'If you can play third, you can play first,' said Giants manager Bob Melvin. 'He has done a great job at third before. I don't think it's going to be too difficult for him. More than anything, the fact he hasn't played in the field this year, we have to take our time working him in. It's a new position, so we'll take it day-to-day.' Devers has struggled so far as a Giant, hitting just .219 with two homers, six doubles, 10 RBIs and a .667 OPS in 29 games before Tuesday. The Red Sox, playing in Philadelphia, have moved on. Asked about Devers playing first for the Giants before Tuesday's game, manager Alex Cora didn't want to touch the subject. 'I don't want to talk about the Giants,' he said. More Red Sox coverage Fenway Insider Live: Submit questions for MassLive's Sean McAdam Why Alex Cora isn't worried about Red Sox offense striking out 28 times in two games Red Sox hurt by another weird play at plate: 'Stuff I've never seen in my life,' Alex Cora says Red Sox reactions: Offense has 28 Ks in last two games, weird play contributes to another loss Red Sox sitting three key players — including Jarren Duran — vs. Phillies lefty Tuesday night Read the original article on MassLive.

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