Landing Spots on MLB Contenders for Giants' Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and More
The San Francisco Giants haven't yet decided to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline, but rarely has a word done as much heavy lifting as that "yet."
On Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Giants have "put out feelers on some of their players." Buster Olney of ESPN followed on Tuesday with a report that the club is "open to offers" on Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman.
The Giants also have Luis Arraez, Tyler Mahle and Robbie Ray on expiring contracts, plus Adrian Houser in the first year of a two-year deal. And as unlikely as it seems, they could perhaps look to sell high on Jung Hoo Lee.
No matter which way you slice it, the Giants have the assets to be the center of attention on the trade market between now and August 3. And unless they plan on rallying from a dismal 29-43 start, any other fate seems unlikely.
So, let's ponder the best and wildest landing spots for all eight names mentioned above. We'll start with Lee and end with Devers.
Jung Hoo Lee, RF
1 of 8
Age: 27
2026 Stats: 64 G, 261 PA, 3 HR, .331 AVG, .364 OBP, .445 SLG
Contract: Year 3 of 6-year, $113 million
Best Landing Spot: Chicago White Sox
The White Sox are the pleasant surprise in baseball this year, but even their mighty offense has its warts. They have only gotten a 63 wRC+ from right field, and their 23.9 strikeout percentage is the third-highest in the league.
Though his availability is a huge "if," Jung Hoo Lee is the perfect two-birds, one-stone solution. As a rare hitter whose K% is in the single digits, he's exactly the table-setter they need ahead of a healthy Munetaka Murakami.
Wildest Landing Spot: San Diego Padres
If the Giants are going to sell high on Lee, it almost certainly wouldn't be to an NL West rival… unless maybe if the Padres make them a Godfather offer.
Their offense just plain needs another bat, and acquiring Lee would allow them to push Fernando Tatis Jr. back to second base. The position suits him, judging from his .349 average and +5 Outs Above Average when he's played there.
Other Landing Spots: Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds
Adrian Houser, RHP
2 of 8
Age: 33
2026 Stats: 13 GS, 65.0 IP, 76 H (11 HR), 46 K, 24 BB, 5.54 ERA
Contract: Year 1 of 2-year, $22 million (2028 team option)
Best Landing Spot: Chicago Cubs
Adrian Houser is having a rough season in part because he's not getting ground balls as often. A team could hope that he would again upon getting a change of scenery, as he's still using a sinker-changeup combo that is geared for grounders.
If so, the Cubs are the best place for him simply on account of their infield defense, which leads MLB with +19 Outs Above Average. While he isn't the starter their fans want, at least he's a starter.
Wildest Landing Spot: Cincinnati Reds
Ah, but what if a team acquired Houser with the idea of turning him into a reliever? He's at least suited for specialist work, as he has a .582 OPS against righties hiding behind an ugly 1.022 OPS against lefties.
Hence the Reds, whose righty relievers have posted -1.7 fWAR. That's the worst in MLB by a substantial margin, and it's a problem they need to solve if they're going to make a push in a crowded NL playoff race.
Other Landing Spots: Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres
Tyler Mahle, RHP
3 of 8
Age: 31
2026 Stats: 11 GS, 56.2 IP, 63 H (11 HR), 57 K, 24 BB, 6.04 ERA
Contract: 1 year, $10 million
Best Landing Spot: St. Louis Cardinals
Tyler Mahle has pitched well at Oracle Park, with six starts yielding a 3.90 ERA and a .701 OPS. His five road starts have resulted in an 8.88 ERA and a 1.001 OPS, which suggests he needs a friendly park if he's going to change teams.
According to Statcast, Busch Stadium is the next-best park for suppressing homers after Oracle Park. And it happens that the Cardinals are in the middle of a surprise contention push, and one which could use a boost from another starter.
Wildest Landing Spot: Washington Nationals
Nationals Park isn't such a bad place to pitch either, but we're mainly putting the Nationals here for the sake of egging them on.
They have a 39-35 record despite a 4.57 ERA from their starters, thus implying they could hang in the race if they do something about that. And since getting Mahle wouldn't disrupt their rebuild too much… well, come on, guys. Do it.
Other Landing Spots: Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians
Robbie Ray, LHP
4 of 8
Age: 34
2026 Stats: 14 GS, 73.1 IP, 66 H (14 HR), 66 K, 36 BB, 4.42 ERA
Contract: Year 5 of 5-year, $115 million
Best Landing Spot: Baltimore Orioles
At 34-40, the Orioles aren't where they want to be yet not entirely out of the picture. They can and should position themselves for a late-season run by patching up a starting rotation that ranks 24th in MLB with a 4.63 ERA.
Robbie Ray is a guy they can get without giving up too much. He'd bring some gravitas to the top of their rotation, as he's still more of an ace type than his ERA indicates. About 40 percent of his earned runs can be traced back to two starts.
Wildest Landing Spot: Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are the one team that has not had a left-hander make a single start in 2026. Travis Sawchik of MLB.com had an interesting note about that being a problem, given that lefty hitters are enjoying a historic season.
Tarik Skubal? Reid Detmers? Those are fine options, as is top prospect Kade Anderson. But a trade for Ray can't be entirely off the table, even if he's only on the Giants because the Mariners wanted him gone after 2023.
Other Landing Spots: Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres
Luis Arraez, 2B
5 of 8
Age: 29
2026 Stats: 69 G, 306 PA, 2 HR, .319 AVG, .352 OBP, .435 SLG
Contract: 1 year, $12 million
Best Landing Spot: Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have been platooning Richie Palacios and Ben Williamson at second base, and all they have to show for it is 0.4 rWAR and an 84 wRC+. It's a spot they need to upgrade if they want to keep pace with the New York Yankees in the AL East.
Luis Arraez can do that, and he'd fit in the Rays' lineup like peanut butter with jelly. He's the best contact hitter in the game. Their offense runs on the lowest strikeout rate in the league. Let's make it happen.
Wildest Landing Spot: New York Yankees
Jazz Chisholm Jr. took some heat in April, but he's come on strong with an .800 OPS since May 1. He has second base under control for the Yankees.
But Chisholm can also play third base, where Ryan McMahon has the team swimming in replacement-level waters. If a different third baseman isn't forthcoming, trading for Arraez and moving Chisholm to third might be New York's best play.
Other Landing Spots: Athletics, Texas Rangers, Cincinnati Reds
Matt Chapman, 3B
6 of 8
Age: 33
2026 Stats: 71 G, 299 PA, 7 HR, .261 AVG, .348 OBP, .414 SLG
Contract: Year 2 of 6-year, $151 million
Best Landing Spot: New York Yankees
So, that pitch for the Yankees to bring in Luis Arraez just so they can move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to third base? Yeah, that was convoluted. It would be more straightforward if the Yankees simply traded for Matt Chapman.
Even if he wouldn't be a dramatic defensive upgrade over McMahon, Chapman would stand to be a huge offensive upgrade. He's typically good for about a 120 OPS+, and his ability to drive the ball to right field would play well at Yankee Stadium.
Wildest Landing Spot: Boston Red Sox
It's probably (i.e., almost certainly) too late for the Red Sox to salvage their season, so they might as well get ahead on planning for the future. Getting Chapman now would be a good start.
Unless they really believe Caleb Durbin is the answer, they're going to need a better third baseman. A right-handed power bat is also a need. Chapman checks both boxes and—spoiler alert—that makes him different from any player the Red Sox can sign as a free agent this winter.
Other Landing Spots: Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles
Willy Adames, SS
7 of 8
Age: 30
2026 Stats: 70 G, 299 PA, 11 HR, .229 AVG, .274 OBP, .418 SLG
Contract: Year 2 of 7-year, $182 million
Best Landing Spot: Atlanta Braves
Pretty much ever since Dansby Swanson left town, the Braves have treated shortstop like it doesn't matter. And that just keeps biting them, including this year to the tune of 0.2 rWAR from the position.
Even this current version of Willy Adames is better than that, and let's not forget that his upside goes a lot higher. Put him back on a contender, and maybe he reverts to the slick-fielding, power-hitting dynamo he used to be for Milwaukee.
Wildest Landing Spot: Philadelphia Phillies
Yes, Trea Turner is still the Phillies' everyday shortstop. And no, the idea here isn't to trade him for Adames in a swap of bad contracts.
Rather, the idea is that they could coexist, either with Turner moving to second base or Adames moving to third. Either way, the Phillies should be this desperate for a right-handed bat. The ones they have own a league-worst 64 wRC+.
Other Landing Spots: Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Colorado Rockies
Rafael Devers, 1B/DH
8 of 8
Age: 29
2026 Stats: 72 G, 307 PA, 9 HR, .235 AVG, .293 OBP, .413 SLG
Contract: Year 3 of 10-year, $313.5 million
Best Landing Spot: Toronto Blue Jays
Those are not good numbers for a bat-only player, but look closer. Rafael Devers is clearly much more comfortable when he's the DH, as he has an .841 in those assignments compared to a .662 OPS as a first baseman.
Meanwhile in Toronto, George Springer is looking washed again after a brilliant comeback season in 2025. That's a major drag on a generally disappointing Blue Jays offense, to the tune of -0.1 rWAR and a 79 wRC+ from the DH spot.
Wildest Landing Spot: Pittsburgh Pirates
We agree that the Bucs are the last team anyone should expect to take on Devers' remaining contract. They just don't do big spending, and even this year's relatively high payroll is still in the bottom third of MLB.
Still, this team might only be one "Screw it!" move away from being a real World Series contender. Getting Devers to shore up a DH spot that is even worse (-0.3 rWAR, 74 wRC+) than Toronto's would be that kind of move.
Other Landing Spots: San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
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