The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t shy about opening their checkbook when the right opportunity comes along.
But they’re selective about it. Same approach applies to trades – if it doesn’t make sense, they won’t pull the trigger.
That’s why any talk of the Dodgers pursuing Rafael Devers from their division rivals seems far-fetched. With Shohei Ohtani locked in as their DH and Freddie Freeman manning first base, there’s simply no logical fit.
“Of all the places Devers could get traded, to the Giants’ most longstanding rival is probably the least likely. And besides, the Dodgers have no need to upgrade over Shohei Ohtani at DH or Freddie Freeman at first base.”
That’s Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer breaking down why this potential move doesn’t add up.
The San Francisco Giants picked up Devers from Boston less than a year ago, but word is they’re already exploring options to move him. That’s telling in itself.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Even if you ignore the positional logjam, Devers’ performance this season makes the idea even more questionable. Through 42 games, he’s hitting .241 with a .677 OPS – hardly the production that would justify taking at-bats away from two cornerstone players.
Dave Roberts would have an impossible puzzle trying to find meaningful playing time for all three. You don’t mess with a formula that has Ohtani and Freeman anchoring your lineup.
Unless Freeman decides to hang up his cleats unexpectedly – which seems highly unlikely given his continued production – the Devers-to-LA conversation is more fantasy than reality.
The Dodgers will keep spending when it makes sense. This isn’t one of those times.
