Rafael Devers trade impacts the Braves in more ways than one

The Rafael Devers trade rocked the baseball world, and it impacts the Braves in more ways than one.

Before the Giants and Red Sox came to an agreement, Alex Anthopoulos actually inquired about a deal with Boston, according to Sean McAdam. That might confuse some Atlanta fans for a few reasons.

Firstly, Devers is under contract through 2033, and it will pay him more than $250 million in that span. Not that I subscribe to the notion that the Braves are a poor club, but they’re certainly not $250+ million for a DH-rich.

He’d likely be a DH in Atlanta because two long-term pieces fill the other two positions he could play. Austin Riley is entrenched at third base, and Matt Olson isn’t going to play another position.

More than anything, I imagine Anthopoulos heard one of the best hitters in baseball was available for trade and wanted to see if a deal could be worked out. The Braves’ offense has sputtered for going on a season and a half. Can you blame Anthopoulos for inquiring about a guy who boasts an OPS+ that is 52% above league average?

But there’s actually another way it impacts the Braves. Rafael Devers is a damn good baseball player, and he just joined the Giants, who Atlanta will be competing with for a Wild Card berth. Here are the current Wild Card standings:

• Philadelphia Pillies (+2.5 games)
• San Francisco Giants (+1.0)
• San Diego Padres 

1. Milwaukee Brewers (1.5 games)
2. Cincinnati Reds (3.0 games)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (3.0 games)
4. Arizona Diamondbacks (3.5 games)
5. Atlanta Braves (8.0 games)

The Braves are currently 8.0 games out of the final Wild Card spot and 9.0 games behind the Giants, who just got dramatically better with the addition of Rafael Devers. There’s a long way to go before the playoffs, but Atlanta has to start making up some ground soon.