The numbers support that claim. The three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger is slashing .272/.401/.504 through 73 games with 15 homers and 58 RBI. Devers has at least 27 homers in every full season since 2019, including at least 30 homers three times (2019, ’21 and ’23).
San Francisco’s 30-homer-player drought becomes more significant when you consider the dimensions of Oracle Park, the team’s home stadium. According to Statcast’s Park Metric, Oracle Park ranks 26th at 96 (with 100 being the average for hitters), making it a pitcher-friendly environment where power numbers typically decline.
The Giants won three World Series championships from 2010-2014 without elite power, but today’s National League West demands different lineup construction. FanGraphs gives San Francisco just a 7.8 percent chance to win the division, but they have a 64.7 percent chance to reach the playoffs.
“He’s great,” Giants shortstop Willy Adames, who has known Devers for 10 years, told MLB.com’s Andres Soto. “… From what I know from him, he likes to know things. He wants you to communicate, talk to him and be honest. And I feel like here with Buster, that’s all we got. Buster’s a super honest guy, he’s going to be straight up, and [Devers] is going to love that.”
“It sends a message,” Adames added. “That we want to win, and [Posey]’s going to do whatever it takes to put the best team out there for us to go out there and compete.”
Texas Rangers GM Chris Young exemplifies the competitive edge that former players such as Posey bring to front-office roles. The ex-big-league pitcher lured Giants championship manager Bruce Bochy out of retirement and landed free agents Corey Seager and Marcus Semien en route to a 2023 World Series title.
Posey appears cut from similar cloth, willing to act rather than analyze indefinitely.
The Giants identified Devers as the piece to elevate them from playoff contender to legitimate title threat. They already have a starting rotation that ranks third in the National League and a relief corps in the top 10.
While Boston’s timid front office feeds supporters another serving of process over production, Posey delivered the signature bat his lineup demanded. The contract’s final years can sort themselves out later. This is what decisive leadership looks like.
