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Former MLB GM Jim Bowden Makes Bizarre Rafael Devers Comment After Trade Deadline

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Graves | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 12:57 PM ET

The San Francisco Giants are in a tailspin.

Since acquiring Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox in a blockbuster trade, the Giants have gone 15-25, falling to 56-56 and sliding out of the National League postseason picture. Their offense has sputtered, averaging 3.9 runs per game, and their new found star hasn't quite found his swing.

Devers, a two-time All-Star and cornerstone bat, was slashing .272/.401/.504 in Boston with 15 home runs and a 151 OPS+. Since joining San Francisco, he is hitting .233/.335/.393 with five home runs, 19 RBIs, and a 111 OPS+ 40 over games.

Yet in his post-deadline column for The Athletic , former MLB general manager Jim Bowden raised eyebrows by labeling Devers the "best position player traded."

"Best position player traded: Rafael Devers, whom the Giants acquired on June 15 in the blockbuster trade with the Red Sox."

Bowden added that Eugenio Suárez, who was dealt in July, was the top player traded at the actual deadline , citing his home run total, which trails only Cal Raleigh, Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber, and Aaron Judge.

While Suárez has mashed his way to to 36 home runs, Devers transition to the NL has been rocky. His production with the Red Sox hasn't yet matched that with the Giants.

Bowden's comment may have been a nod to name recognition and long-term value, but so far, the on-field results tell a different story. If Devers doesn't turn it around soon, the Giants' "blockbuster" may be remembered as a short-lived misfire.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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