After being traded from the Red Sox to the Giants in a shocking June blockbuster, Rafael Devers hasn’t quite looked like himself in recent weeks. At least some of that downturn in productivity can likely be attributed to injury, as Janie McCauley of the Associated Press writes that Devers is facing a disk injury in his lower back that has hampered him during his time in San Francisco. Manager Bob Melvin discussed Devers’s status with reporters (including McCauley) yesterday and suggested that the club is hopeful their new superstar will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list thanks to the impending time off associated with the All-Star break.
Aside from that impending opportunity to rest up for the second half, Devers began taking anti-inflammatory medication to help combat the symptoms and underwent an MRI exam on Thursday as he continues to play through the issue. Melvin suggested that the issue bothers Devers the most when he’s running the bases, though he acknowledged that the injury was “probably a little bit” of a problem for the slugger at the plate as well. The manager went on to suggest that his back injury is the reason Devers has remained entrenched as the club’s DH rather than moving to first base, where he has not only agreed to play for San Francisco but also begun working out before games in preparation for the move.
The news that Devers isn’t fully healthy sheds some additional light on his performance so far with his new team. It’s likely hard for Giants fans to not be a bit disappointed in their recently-acquired star’s performance so far given that he’s hit just .220/.350/.354 (104 wRC+) in his first 23 games as a Giant. That’s already a sample size of 100 plate appearances, but it’s easier to dismiss those numbers as an outlier and believe that better days are ahead given the possibility that he’ll be able to produce more like his usual self if he can rest up and get healthy. Additionally, Melvin’s comments suggest that Devers playing through injury is the reason they’ve been reluctant to deploy him at first base rather than any struggles adapting to the new position in drills or resistance from Devers himself to the move.
While a physical explanation for Devers’s slump offers reason for optimism that he’ll bounce back when fully healthy, it’s fair to wonder whether or not the All-Star break will actually be enough time for him to shake the injury. Back issues are hardly uncommon for sluggers as they age. Mike Trout, Kris Bryant, and Miguel Cabrera are among a number of star players who have had their careers impacted by back problems at varying levels as they aged, and injuries of that sort can often be nagging and become a matter of pain tolerance. While Devers is still just 28 years old, he’s often battled through day-to-day injuries to other areas of his body in the past: shoulder, hamstring, knee, and groin issues have cropped up at various points the slugger’s time in the majors.
While that aforementioned trio are known for their struggles remaining healthy later in their careers, a large number of hitters deal with back problems at one point or another but go on to stay healthy in the future and avoid ongoing issues. It’s a situation worth monitoring for the Giants, who have Devers locked up for eight seasons after this one, but there’s little reason to automatically assume this will be a long-term problem for him throughout his time in San Francisco at this point. In the short-term, the Giants will continue relying on a combination of Dominic Smith and Wilmer Flores at first base while Devers heals up and gets ready to take over the position.
I definitely didn’t read that as “disk” at first 😳
A ruptured dish is bad too
/s
paddyo – Agreed! Though there’s no way to know for sure, since his decline began on June 9th perhaps the Sox became motivated to act quickly on the trade for this exact reason.
It’s not like it was an impact-related injury that could be pinpointed, it was probably beginning to really bother him around that time.
Well on behalf of all the good people here, get well soon Raffy! We love you and we pray you will recover quickly.
That would be incredibly unethical on Boston’s part, like actionably so. Remember when the Padres shipped us Pomeranz, knowing he was hurt and they got in trouble for it?
The receiving team didn’t review his medicals?
They became motivated when there was a team dumb enough to pick up his entire salary. If you can get rid of 200 million salary commitment you’ve won the trade. Was the case for redsox when they traded devers and was the case when the marlins fleeced the Yankees. Regardless of return.
@Boviac Without question they asked to review his medicals. Its a near certainty BOS was asked to disclose any known lingering injuries they were aware of at the time and if they did not SFG would be seeking financial damages.
Did you see Red Sox fans three weeks ago? Most woukd disagree with you
Fans don’t understand cash is king. It’s not their money so they don’t see the value in it. Fans don’t any accountability for their opinions. They don’t review them and see if they’re right they change them if it turns out they didn’t know what they were talking about.
All fans think about is they perceive a player value as something larger than what it is. Unless prime buster posey was coming back in a trade they were always going to say the redsox lost the trade.
Especially when it rains. Stupid sat dish. Pick cable
I’m wondering how you paired that with “lower back.”
At least it has been obliterated
We see what we want to see.
That was the first thought glance as well…
Boy, is this contract going to be an albatross.
Sox are better without Devers, he was a disaster at third, no flexibility to other positions. Sox brought the kids up, all multi positional because of necessity. 8+ years is a long time with Devers. SOX win that trade, in the future, if one of the kids in the trade make the Sox it’s a plus. Hicks and the pitcher in minors may help this year. Sox can use pitching…..
End of the month I’m sure
Way too early to be disappointed.
We get this guy for the next 8 years.
You’ll probably hear about this type of problem the entire time.
Or not.
Never did subscribe to the doomer crystal ball society.
It’s not that, as @ohyeahdam said back injuries never end well.
9 injuries (not counting this one) during the past 3 years for Devers in Boston, Get used to it.
foxsports.com/mlb/rafael-devers-player-injuries
Especially when the back in question is supporting a large belly.
Jimbo – Mayer has chronic back issues as well. I wouldn’t say they *always* don’t end well, but yes they often don’t.
@FPG I guess what I mean is it’s one of those issues that’s always lurking never completely resolved.
Fever pitch guy making stuff up again. Mayer had one back injury that resulted in an extended absence. That is not a chronic issue.
That’s what fever pitch does…
Jimbo – I agree with you there.
Lower back injuries, see Kris Bryant, aren’t the best sign
Red Sox hiding medicals maybe? Ooooooohhhoo!!!
oh – They wouldn’t be the first team guilty of it.
More likely they were aware of the issue but didn’t do any imaging or have a specialist check it out, which means there would be no medicals.
Trading team ALWAYS has a chance to look at the medicals. This is BS
Pudge – Please re-read my post.
I made it quite clear there could be no medicals ON AN ACTIVE BACK INJURY.
Nowhere did I say there were no medicals of any kind. Certainly there would be medicals on his shoulders.
Fever – except they also do an in person physical. It’s up to the player to say he has discomfort in the back, and, then for the receiving team to do imaging to determine if theres fire where there’s smoke.
I give the sox medical team a pass on this one. You’ve got a big poorly conditioned dude likely dealing with a degenerative condition to that bulk he carried around
When asked about back pain, I’m sure Devers probably determined he’d rather deal with angry Giants fans vs angry Boston fans. And media.
Nope, back feels great.
Allegedly.
GaSox – I file this one under “we don’t know the facts and likely never will”.
It’s very possible he was playing with a sore back and thought it was something minor. Maybe he told the Sox medical staff, maybe he didn’t.
I totally agree with you, if he didn’t tell the Giants staff that he was experiencing pain/discomfort, there’s no reason for them to send him for imaging.
I think we both agree very few players make it through a full season with 100% health all the time.
I would think a team that is taking on a $250+ million contract, would do everything in its power to make sure the player is 100% healthy. If the Giants FO and medical staff did not or missed a disc injury ,it’s on them . Is this why he did not practice with Clark? An injury excuse is easier to believe than that he did not want to “show up” the Sox. Clark has always been brash ,one minute demanding Devers practice ,the next killing Will for what he said.
For a 250 million dollar contract, I’d send his pet dog for imaging.
And you get to pay this guy for the next 8 years. Whether he plays or not.
That is indeed how contracts work.
*mlb contracts
Yea, moving to a league is usually a disadvantage for hitters because they don’t have much experience with most of the pitchers.
On the other hand, Red Sox trading him right as he’s developing back problems does seem worrisome.
He passed a physical. Either the Giants missed something or the injury appeared during his time in SF. In case of the latter, stuff happens.
Oldg: You’re going to be sorry he’s on your team as early as 2027. He’s not 28, bad defensively, and rotund. He’s declining already. Boston (who I loathe) rooked you guys bad on the deal.
One tweaked back and the dumbasses start with this nonsense. Im pretty stoked to have Raffy Devers on my team.
He no-showed Will Clark for fielding practice. He’s a prima donna. Enjoy the next 8 years of watching him go all Anthony Rendon.
rhand – As the saying goes, misery loves company.
And as Clemens once said, “Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated.”.
That was Mark Twain, I believe.
That was Samuel Clemens.
hayzee – That was also Roger Clemens after Duquette said he was “in the twilight of his career”.
See what I did there? ;O)
Poor Duquette. Never has a guy been so perfectly spot on with a comment, only to have it overcome by massive PED use. Though perhaps he was naive to not factor that element in!
He’s not going to be happy hitting in that park, either.
john – Devers has a long history of playing injured and in pain, he’s no Rendon or JD Drew.
And if you can’t understand why practicing at first base 20 feet in front of the Sox dugout would have been disrespectful to the Sox and inflammatory, then there’s no point in trying to explain why.
soxu – In all fairness to Duquette, he didn’t mean Roger was already in the twilight of his career. But of course the East Coast media took it out of context and ran with it, because stirring up crap is what they do best.
Fever: refusing to play 1st when his team asked him was disrespectful. Not practicing 1st in front of the team he forced a trade from was for his own pride. He also could have told Clark his feelings privately. You want to carry water for Devers, go ahead.
I don’t dislike the Giants at all, I’m upset they bailed out Boston taking that terrible contract on fully. Devers is going to age like milk in the July sun.
FPG… no they weren’t exaggerated…. He just as the Beatles sang… he got by with a little help of his friends…
Hahaha. Yep. 8 years. Hahahaha. Sorry.
$30 million a year for a guy with a 100 OPS+. That is pretty disappointing,
Shoulda bought the warranty!
Interesting that this wasn’t identified during the physical prior to the trades completion.
Mondesi: How do you know it wasn’t?
Stuart: How do you sleep at night?
Stuart replied: on a mattress from Mattress Firm.
Lloyd Emerson: By turning off the lights, closing my eyes, and breathing very deeply.
That’s how we humans sleep. What about your species?
With one eye open. Good luck 🙂
Actually, during NREM sleep human’s breath becomes shallow.
outinleftfield: Details
Google is your friend. Or if you are up to the deep dive, NIH.gov
outinleftfield: It’s not that serious an issue. But go look it up if that’s your thing.
By turning on fans and listening to a podcast on my tablet while a fish aquarium video plays on the TV
Blue, apparently he did look it up. When you get shown you are wrong, it’s a bad idea to try to turn it on the person who showed you the error of your ways.
websoulsurfer: OK, I was wrong. It’s not the first time and won’t be the last time.
But it’s not a big fat hairy deal because it was just a throwaway comment and I manage to sleep however I sleep every night.
Are we done here or do you wish to continue belaboring the issue?
You are done. When you add nothing to the discussion other than venom, its time to remove you from it.
Pf
Fantastic
@Baron: Because the Giants tend to exercise extreme caution (remember Carlos Correa) and the fact this is coming out just weeks after completion without any prior inclination.
Mondesi: But you don’t know that it wasn’t identified and discussed before the deal was done anyway.
There was not necessarily a physical just an exchange of medical info between team doctors
I bet that degenerative disk condition really flares up when they ask him to get his first baseman’s mitt.
Don’t bet because you made up the “degenerative” part.
M m my degeneration.
I didnt make anything up. All bones, joints, spines, muscles, etc… are degenerative in a sense. The human body is degenrative unless you’re Benjamin FN Button.
I merely included the adjective to extend the emphasis of what was intended to be a simple sarcastic quip but thanks for putting you’re pouty and accusatory two cents in the pot.
Oh please. Really ?
You changed the reality.
No pouts or accusations, just sound advice on your future bet, even if it is only for my 2 cents.
Tough crowd. Advice – Ad – Vice – A – D – V – I – C – E – I don’t get it?
Thanks for trying to enlighten me.
In reality, I have a disk problem in my back that reoccurs from time to time, I can go a year or two without it ever being an issue and then for a couple weeks I injure it and Im down for two weeks with this nerve pain that is difficult to deal with. Now, I have had it diagnosed. I dont take oain meds or go the doctor for it, I just ride it out, and it usually subsides. But, would I consider it a degenerative condition? Yes, I never had the issue in my thirties. All conditio s and injuries can be described as degenerative. Like your teeth and your smelly breath, your mouth is degenrative.
So you made it up
6th grade name calling will never help, but good luck with your degenerative condition. I sincerely hope you improve. Back pain sucks.
There’s a 28yo with a disc related sore back and then there’s Chris Bryant with a degenerative disc disease. An early aging of the spine issue. One is not the other.
You know whats funny about people like you, who act polite and proper all the time, you are usually the most rotten of all. From my perspective, you’re comment on my joke was the most ignorant of all the comments made in this back and forth between you and I, because it was a baseless correction to what was clearly meant to be a sarcastic joke. That’s my own viewpoint. I think you are likely a
“Artistic liberty refers to the freedom to deviate from strict rules, realism, or established norms to achieve a desired effect or to express their unique vision.”
The news article above is the facts, this is the comments section.
Not giving the sarcasm enough weight is fair criticism. Point taken.
You’re digging your own grave there BW, no one believes your bs.
People like me ?
Pouty, smelly breath, ignorant, most rotten of all guys ?
Dude. Sorry I hurt your feelings.
Nice chat. I think you’re great !
But you’re not a pro athlete, 162 game schedule, with pre game batting practice…he can wind up missing major time…. Christian Yelich finally had back surgery last year, after trying to manage it for years.. he starting to hit for power like 2018/2019… Devers is not easy to talk to…
Indeed, no clear Dx yet that indicates it’s a herniated disk.
Ha ha. I’ll just change “disk injury”to “degenerative disk condition” and hope no one notices.
This is probably a crazy conspiracy but I think this whole thing is a work to cover for Devers. Giants want to please him and are covering for the Will Clark fiasco.
I’d buy that. Short quick dl before the all star break is the perfect time
Probably not, but core strength is crucial, and Devers hardly appears to be a guy that is a poster boy for that.
The Will Clark thing was an interesting followup to the rest of the story. He wouldn’t get back to David Ortiz when he offered help, and he doesn’t communicate with Will Clark who shows up for three straight days to work with him at 1B. On top of the rest of the RS fiasco. At some point one sees that the pattern is pointing in a certain direction.
Dudes hanging tough and playing hurt. How does that fit the pattern ?
Too bad the Will Clark fiasco was mostly made up in the first place.
What part was made up?
None of it was made up. Devers skipped out without talking to Will first because he was afraid to face his former teammates. That is what will said happened. Will tried to cover for Devers but the complete truth made Devers look even worse than what the media had indicated happened in the first place.
What he really said was that he totally understood why Devers didn’t want to be working out in front of the Boston dugout with all the media present. Read it yourself.
sports.yahoo.com/mlb/breaking-news/article/red-sox…
@OILF – Folks make up their minds on things and then only seek to bolster their own previously held opinions. It is human nature to a point, but in our world today it has hit pandemic levels.
Devers is an incredibly talented hitter, and probably a decent guy in the overall sense. He is also rather immature and entitled as shown by the series of events and needs to grow up; he also needs to commit to being in much better shape as a highly paid professional athlete. For the Giants and their fanbase, I hope that he does.
If my team ownership / FO spends huge long term $$ on a player, I really want them to check most of the boxes in a positive way. First – not being a limited player (1 tool type or close to that). Health history and body type and conditioning / fitness history plays a role. Leadership; commitment, work ethic and willingness to improve…all of those things are a part of the parameters for the players that will get those incredibly expensive long term deals. Devers really doesn’t check off many of them.
Why does he have to get in shape? He’s in good shape. He doesnt look like Aaron Judge but he was hitting .275/.400/.500 – he can swing a FN bat, you get in shape people, gym rats with no talent, keep picking on him.
And he never had a bad attitude, look at his BR photo, nobody smiles like that. He is a happy guy, you broke his heart, you jerk him around like he’s a dog on a leash and he isn’t. He’s a ball player, he signed the deal because thats the going rate for his talent but if the going rate was 1M, he’d have signed that deal too and would have the had smile on his face if you treat him like the all-star player that he is and dont knit pick about his bad defense at third like a DRS a few points higher is going to win you a few more games you FN dolts.
If he doesnt want to play first, and I believe he would have been open to it if it didn’t go down so badly, then don’t pressure him to.
How about Matt Chapman to first and Devers back at third and lets FN go!
Great post Carver. It was telling when Will Clark came to Devers defense, and what Clark had to say only pointed out in a clearer manner just what kind of a bad teammate and self-centered player Devers is. Considering his growing lack of conditioning, increasing injuries that now include both shoulders and his back, this contract is not going to age well.
@bwMiller – Professionalism, period. You either get it or you don’t. Sure, the RS front office has not been really smart about things, but that doesn’t take away from the rest.
What Will Clark said was that Devers was such a wimp that he didn’t want to work out in front of his teammates because he knows that he was 100% in the wrong for refusing to do what was best for the team in Boston and at least working out at 1B, but he didn’t tell Clark that he wouldn’t be working out with him. Devers just skipped out.
A wimp. A bad teammate. Now injured again.
There was no “Will Clark fiasco” though
Yes there was, and it was caused by space lasers and a weather machine.
Ha ha ha. And the twitter ecosphere.
Will didn’t hold back in his attack…..on the Red Sox guy !
Makes sense. As we’ve seen in Colorado, fans really warm up to a new acquisition they’ll have for the next 8 years when they find out he has a back disk injury.
Yeah, it’s a crazy conspiracy.
If they wanted to explain why he wasn’t taking the field, all they would need would be to drag out the shoulder injuries (both shoulders?) from last year. His body has not been aging well the last couple years (to put it mildly).
Mine isn’t aging all that well either, but happily my job doesn’t involve performing as an athlete at the highest level.
Nah, he hasn’t been running well for awhile, it’s pretty obvious he has something wrong.
He should be on the DL though — playing through it isn’t really helping the team right now.
What’s the over/under on how many doctor appointments he’s going to miss?
As long as he’s got Will Clark making sure he’s there, he shouldn’t miss any.
Too soon to call the Sox the victors in this trade?
It’s quite obvious that the Sox fans are suffering. The constant lashing out on every thread about Devers. It sucks to lose good players. Sorry for your loss.
But really happy for SFGs gain.
So, yes way too soon.
Yeah, those Red Sox fans suffering through winning 12 of their last 13. Must be very tough on them.
dan – That’s the thing that is so very sad.
Even with the current win streak, certain Sox fans still insist on bashing Devers.
Not being able to get over the loss of a superstar player is extremely unhealthy.
Bash Devers, bash ownership, bash bash bash for some. All I know is that I found a lot to love about the team and sport pre-2004, and since then I have absolutely nothing to complain about. There was a window of mediocrity that I definitely didn’t want to see extended much longer, and fortunately the team seems to be either preparing to escape that or perhaps even already has!
Absolutely correct redsox. Some guys in here are supposed Boston fans but do nothing but bash them.
Soxu – Why are you encouraging people to bash Devers, what has he done to deserve that? Well that’s a you-thing that only you can work on resolving.
I am glad you are happy with all the last place finishes, all the losing records, all the missed postseasons, and the middle-of-the-pack spending. I am glad morals and ethics don’t matter to you. I am glad you don’t care about how a marquee franchise has turned into a laughingstock with an awful reputation for the way they treat their star players.
So while I respect your decision to support what the franchise has turned into since 2019, I would hope you respect Red Sox Nation’s decision to demand better of the Red Sox organization.
So true Provost and redsoxu.
Just look at FPG’s comment in this thread, where he brings up Giolito’s injury for absolutely no reason and says “LOL!!!”.
Thats messed up. And bizarrely keeps telling everyone he’s the voice of Red Sox Nation.
The FPG account claimed to be a Yankees fan when it first appeared on this website.
The Red Sox were 36-36 the day he was traded. Today they are 52-45 having gone 16-9 since the trade. From what they are saying on here and on other boards, Red Sox fans are extremely happy he is gone.
15-9 but they have played extremely well since the trade. I would have to guess that Red Sox fans are happy
They got rid of Devers. That was a huge win for the Red Sox. You can see it in how well they have played since they traded him.
Nope
Christian Yelich’s back problems turned him into a mere mortal in his age 28 season.
It not a surprise…that’s a lot of team to have to put on his back.~
He’s probably done as we know hm. Tough break for SF but they didn’t give up much to get him.
$250 mil is nothing to shake a stick at.
Shaking a stick might be the closest I get to $250 million.
On other injury notes, it looks like Konnor Griffin will get some IL time after getting smashed in the wrist during the Futures game.
Pirates season is officially over.
Carrying that big paycheck to play 1st base really hurts, see ya Devers.
Yikes, back problems can be a killer. Hope he can get back to full strength, but you never know with an injury like this.
Love how the conspiracy theorists jump out to wonder if the red sox were hiding something..this dude wouldn’t even take the field for them and was mashing at the plate prior to getting on that plane to SF..if the giants didnt do a complete physical once he landed thats on them.this is 100% a SF problem..like the man said “ill play anywhere” …yep except boston…good luck
Isn’t Devers likely to mess himself up more if they put him in the field and he is diving for ground balls? I was happy Boston kept him at DH so he wouldn’t slam himself into the ground.
Are you really expecting him to dive? Ain’t getting paid enough for that!
Styme- use powdered sugar to for the lines.on the field and he’ll dive sure enough
Slamming that stomach into the ground might just blow out a disc. Just saying.
If that’s the case at least he was trying.
The problem was that the contract was written with the expectation that he could play 3B for a few more years, and 1B after that. It wasn’t written with the expectation that he would be a permanent DH struggling with injuries from the age of 28 on.
If you are correct in your assessment, then the contract is a millstone for whatever team he is on, but especially for the Red Sox who have too many outfielders plus Yoshida to fit in. Possible that the Giants are able to accommodate him at DH better.
It is a shame that Devers wasn’t able to stay in playing shape. His physical condition deteriorated rapidly after signing the long term deal.
No it didnt, he hit .275/.400/.500 before the trade. He can drop twenty pounds in two months.
Why do you picking on him?
He is getting older, everybody has to be conscious of their health as they age but this guy is one of the ten best hitters in baseball, his slump has more to do with heartache than anything else. He has been with Boston for a decade. Its a business but some players are all heart and those are the guys you want around.
Bw,
He said after the contract was signed not trade.
Regarding his conditioning. He’s a professional athlete who is fat. Call it what it’s is. Are there others in MLB? Of course. Some guys just have the pure athleticism to overcome the extra weight.
If he signed as a DH, you can get away with it. If he signed to play the field? Not as excusable.
The emotional aspect is real. But so is the mentality that let him get out of shape in the first place.
I wasn’t the one who was arguing that he couldn’t physically play the field. Ask them? Drawing walks and hitting home runs requires minimal athleticism. Playing the full game, including defense, requires somewhat more.
I wish things hadn’t gotten to the point of such “heartache”, but once they did then trading him to another team was the right move.
He isn’t fat mate, Jake Burger is fat. Hou see how fat Burger was?
Funny stuff, hit a ton, get called fat. What’s new?
Now you want to see a player who didnt come into the season respecting his game take a look at Burger. He is fat. Devers put his work in, hit .275/.400/.500 with Boston, all the fat and out of shape comments in regards to Devers are innappropriate, he isn’t fat.
Since you went with an example of someone out of shape, let’s go the other way with this comparison.
Devers 6′ and 240 listed. Likely more than that. He certainly isn’t in shape.
You know what 245 pounds in muscle looks like? Giancarlo Stanton is 6’6″ and is listed at 245 pounds.
5 pound difference (listed) and worlds apart in physical shape. Not to mention the extra 6 inches in height.
.275/.400/.500 this season before the trade – for his career .278/.349/.507 – he isnt out of shape – he was prepared for the ’25 season.
Like everybody who ages into middle age, Devers needs to consider his health and the inevitable decline in his ability to remain a top tier athlete. It takes consciousness, but to be motivated by shame isn’t the answer. All those who put that out there are mostly —- stay conscious, know yourself and your ability, but you dont change a guy like Devers too much, keep him happy, keep him conscious, keep him honest, and he’ll be good.
By the way, the difference between Burger and Devers is a clear cut example of a player who didnt respect his game and a player who has always worked hard to respect his game.
I was impressed by the advances in his plate discipline this year, and he has always been a very good hitter.
Agreed on his character, he is a guy who needs to stay happy, stay comfortable, to be at his best. Unfortunately the Red Sox were not able to navigate the move off 3B without badly upsetting that apple cart.
Wish him all the best with the Giants. Wish the Giants all the best with him.
Also a world of difference in talent between Burger and Devers, but I don’t disagree with your point.
Enjoy the evening and the nice run the Red Sox are on!
I dont know about that Burger is a good hitter.
Im a White Sox fan, I like the Yanks mate.
Saux are the Saux – happy for the Saux.
AnDodgersFan – Agreed…weight matters. Back when I was still playing and in my mid-forties as a catcher in a MSBL age 25 and up league I worked out a lot. At the gym training 4 days per week, and running 20-30 miles per week. 6′ and was at 205 lbs. but was not moving as well and had extra weight on me. Decided to lose 20 that winter and the next spring I felt like a kid out there. It made a huge difference. Moved better behind the plate; ran the bases better and was not as tired. I was doing the same basic workouts – just dropped the extra weight. This stuff is really basic but folks do not want to acknowledge the obvious.
hey mate, that is the kind of motivation that a person needs to play well into his forties and honestly you cant fault a man who works his tail off to make it.
Some players have it in their heart and when you break it don’t matter how much you work out.
I’m a GM, Im taking care of my players. The 1M dollar guy, the 30M dollar guy. Most important to remember that they are all young adults and that they all have lives to live outside of baseball.
There are certain people that their comments on here are just not worth reading and BW is near the top of that list. Argumentative to a fault. Almost never has the facts correct. The few times he gets stats right, they have nothing to do with the conversation. What does Devers slashline have to do with the fact that he is fat?
Well, that is what the mute button is for.
So you’ll pamper an out of shape player because he’s talented and can hit a ball? It leads to a bad locker room vibe if you don’t treat your players somewhat equally. Just because he’s making money doesn’t mean he should show up out of shape.
If he were 190-195 he might have been a better fielder with more agility. Just saying.
As far as his feelings go? I get it. I felt like the Red Sox really blew it by being horrible communicators and basically lying to Devers. And I think Devers was childish, petty, and entitled. He makes enough money to get therapy if getting called fat bothers him.
Or he could go work out and eat better. Personal chefs are a thing in professional sports. So are personal trainers.
No problem. Devers just needs to get 6″ taller!
It doesn’t look like there is a mortality rate for this injury so no thoughts and prayers from me…
Did the Red Sox dump him just in time or is this part of the injuries that kept him out of spring training games until March 15th?
He wasn’t injured in ST. They just had to wait for him to quit pouting.
Both shoulders were injured during spring training. Its why he didn’t play in any games until March 15th. But that doesn’t make your comment any less funny. It put a smile on my grumpy old face.
Devers arrived at spring training on February 12th at which time the Red Sox found out that both shoulders were injured to the point he could neither swing a bat nor take infield practice at 3B. That is why Devers did not even take a swing in batting practice for 3 weeks and in a game until spring training was nearly over. It was a huge part of why they signed Bregman 4 days later.
Buyer beware market…the acquiring team gets a chance to do a physical and review medicals and unless there’s something really material, I wonder what the accepted obligations of a seller really are. The teams must have some sense of who cuts corners and who is straight
Boston playing like a team that loves Devers is no longer part of it.
Cws – there were reports that devers stopped showing up as early before games, and, sat unengaged in the clubhouse with airpods in his ears, then leaving quick as he could towards the end.
So, yeah, he was clearly discontented with his situation. Lifting that sort of funk out of the clubhouse only helps morale
GaSox – Devers was a DH-only with the Red Sox, and he was told to burn his glove because he wouldn’t even be filling in for Bregman at 3B. So naturally he wouldn’t show up as early anymore, he didn’t have fielding drills to do anymore.
And Raffy had many close friends on the team, especially the Latino players (the clubhouse has always been somewhat divided under Cora)
mlb.com/redsox/news/ceddanne-rafaela-s-big-night-h…
“Rafaela led the attack not just with his bat, but when he made a nice leap against the wall in center to take a hit away from his close friend Devers”
mlb.com/giants/news/rafael-devers-hits-first-homer…
“A very good friend,” Bello said of Devers. “He was always there for me when I went through struggles. And he was always there with advice and is a very good friend”
Funny how these acknowledgements of Raffy’s immense popularity in the Red Sox clubhouse are being reported by nearly all the media, except the Boston media. East Coast reporters toeing the company line, as always.
Probably that extra 40 pounds on the midsection!🤣
Craig Breslow redemption arc incoming.
SF got the new Panda!
I smell the next Kris Bryant here. Back problems don’t just get better, especially for athletes.
Not trying to be a DISK, but maybe they should have checked for a DISC Injury instead of DISK Injury.
He’s got a floppy disk instead of a hard disk. Should have gone with a zip disk. I hear those are the best!
Devers, the dynamic diva of the diamond,
Dealt a daunting disk injury, a devastating blow.
Determination defines his drive, defying discomfort,
Developing dreams despite the daunting diagnosis.
Devoted Giants fans, undeterred, deliver deafening cheers,
Devising hope for their dear star’s defiant return.
Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do, we’ll sing it
Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do, oh yeah, oh, oh yeah
Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do……
A little over 60 games left in the season and the Giants fighting for a playoff spot, at this point give up the idea of Devers playing First Base and if they really want to go forward with it, revisit the topic over the winter
Rsox – They may have no choice, a healthy back is pretty essential for playing first base.
He was going to have to play first so he just happened to suffer an injury that allows him to bat but not play the field. Hmmm. On a serious note, that contract is going to be so bad if he starts having back problems too. Good luck Giants
That’s a life-time injury.
This could be terrible for the giants,those injuries can be career ending or at least end the career as an effective player like it did with Bryant. I wonder if the red sox knew about the injury and wanted to get rid of him before he falls apart.
While I hope Raffy is okay, The Giants have a medical staff correct?? Didn’t they give him a major look over before, or at least the first day he became a Giant?? I know I don’t go and buy a used car especially a expensive one without getting all the info I can get and not just what the seller tells me…
Olm – You mean like what Giolito did to the Sox? LOL!!!
Teams don’t do MRI’s if there’s no known reason for them.
Gio is a highly intelligent guy, he knew exactly what he was doing. He missed a year on Breslow’s dime, and now he’s pitching his way to a nice fat contract.
Teams don’t do mri’s for no reason… well the Giants had over $200 million to spend the extra $2.35 on electricity to be sure…
Giolito has a team friendly 14M club option for 2026. He’s not setting up a “nice fat contract” for any time soon. More misinformation from the legendary Red Sox hater.
Also, what does Giolito have to do with Devers?
It’s a mutual option I believe
If he finishes with less than 140 IP, then the Red Sox have a $14M option on 2026. If he finishes with more than 140 IP, then it becomes a mutual option. Mutual options very rarely work out, because one side or the other wants a better deal.
Its only a mutual option if Giolito reaches 140 IPs. Right now, its a $14M/1yr team option and he’s on pace to pitch 119 innings. I seriously management allows him to pitch himself into free agency.
However, with the possibility of a $14M/1yr contract, my guess is Giolito will be happy to negotiate an extension before season end. That would be ideal for both sides.
It’s borderline… With 64 games remaining on the schedule, Giolito would be in line for 13 more starts. If he stays healthy. He has thrown 72 innings over the first 13 starts.
If he is healthy and effective, they aren’t going to stand in his way of reaching that 140 target.
“…the club is hopeful their new superstar will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list thanks to the impending time off associated with the All-Star break.”
“Superstar”? I got a good laugh out of that line.
Worst trade in mlb History
For both sides
Boston being off the hook and not owing that fat selfish POS any money = they won that trade by a land slide.
Not possible
Welcome SF fans to Devers being Devers. And why he is no longer in Boston. It’s all about him!
He isn’t going to take over first base.
FAT!
C’mon comments section…
It is quite clear when they remove the pole stuck up you know where, his back will likely feel better.
Let the downfall he earned begin!
Better hope this isn’t the beginning of another Kris Bryant Rockies situation lol