Giants GM clarifies stance on using Rafael Devers or Bryce Eldridge as trade options

San Francisco Giants GM Zack Minasian has no intention of viewing Rafael Devers or Bryce Eldrige as expendable pieces despite their positional overlap at first base. Minasian sees value in premium bats in the current low-scoring environment.

Devers arrived in San Francisco via a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox in June. Meanwhile, top prospect Eldridge is a towering lefty slugger whose profile is similar to Devers.

With Matt Chapman entrenched at third base, Devers won't have an option to play in the hot corner. Therefore, questions naturally emerge about how the Giants would handle the long-term fit of Devers and Eldridge. Minasian addressed those concerns on Thursday's episode of "The Murph & Markus Show."

"I wouldn't call either of them expendable, just because they can both hit in a nine-man lineup," Minasian said (Timestamp: 14:42). "How many Giants games have you gone to wondering, 'How are we going to score today?' And that's part of this run environment that we're in."

"It's not to say that you're not open-minded, that you shouldn't be open-minded to trading away offense for pitching," he added. "You're trying to stay open-minded really to everything. But, you know, I think the potential of a middle-of-the-order bat, and now we talk about having multiple players like that for a long time."

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Giants GM points out another reason trading Rafael Devers or Bryce Eldridge isn't realistic

Before he arrived in San Francisco, Rafael Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension with the Red Sox in Jan 2023. The deal runs through the 2033 season. Meanwhile, Bryce Eldridge still retains his rookie status for the 2026 season and is projected for free agency in 2032.

In the same conversation on "The Murph & Markus Show," Giants GM Zack Minasian pointed out that Devers and Eldridge are not realistic trade chips due to the fans.

"Rafy was a great fit in our clubhouse," Minasian said (Timestamp: 15:27). "I thought our fans were fantastic with him, really welcomed him. I think we're going to see him get more and more comfortable, and I think Bryce is just a fantastic young player, person. And you know, those are players that I think our fans can connect to."

Rafael Devers played 90 games for the Giants last season. He hit 20 homers in 335 at-bats with a .236 average. In 73 games for the Red Sox, Devers struck 15 homers in 272 at-bats. Meanwhile, Eldridge mustered only 3 hits in 28 at-bats last season.