While there was some surprise attached to the Red Sox monster trade of Rafael Devers to the Giants, not just for the sheer weight of the departure of a star like Devers, or of the $250 million responsibility that now falls on San Francisco, but also for the timing of the trade. We’re still six weeks away from the MLB trade deadline, and this did not seem to be a deal that needed to happen now.
But, it turns out, it might have happened even quicker if the Red Sox had gotten their way. That’s because the team had sought to bring in top Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge–a first baseman, no less–as part of the trade.
The Athletic’s Andy Baggarly reported on Wednesday that the Red Sox originally insisted that Eldridge be in the deal.
“It took nearly four weeks of negotiations to agree on the player package,” he wrote. “In the early stages, the Red Sox insisted upon 20-year-old first base prospect Bryce Eldridge but the Giants refused to consider including him in the deal. When the talks began to gain considerable momentum, Posey took the matter to Giants chairman Greg Johnson.”
Red Sox Package Criticized
The Red Sox have been criticized for the package they brought in, but it could turn out to be a productive deal for them. Jordan Hicks has had his issues, but he is still a promising and productive arm who could provide needed rotation help for a team battling injuries. Kyle Harrison is a very good depth piece.
While they did not get Eldridge, they did get the Giants’ 2024 first-round pick, James Tibbs. He hit 55 homes in college at Florida State and is gaining momentum with wood bats, now batting .243 with an .842 OPS and 12 home runs in 59 games in the minors this year.
He was rated the Giants’ No. 4 overall prospect by MLB.com. Here’s a piece of Baseball America’s scouting report on him: “Tibbs has solid but unspectacular raw power. … . He’s a corner profile through and through, whether that’s in an outfield corner or at first base, and is expected to be a below-average defender in either spot. Despite a bat-only profile, Tibbs has hit enough to warrant first-round selection.”
More Needed From Young Players After Trade
Of course, what gets lost about the Devers trade is that it’s not so much about what the Red Sox did here in mid-June, it will be more about what the team does from here, both to add some power to a suddenly barren lineup and to add some spending either in taking on players at next month’s deadline or signing a big bat this winter.
It would help, too, if the trio of Boston prospects who are now in the big leagues–Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell–start hitting more. Each has shown some raw skills during their major-league stints, but they’ve been not nearly consistent enough to chip in on driving Boston into the playoffs.
The three are batting a combined .209 this season.
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