Devers: Boston in past, will play where Giants want

SAN FRANCISCO -- Rafael Devers strolled into the clubhouse side-by-side with location tally king Barry Bonds, a chap left-handed slugger who San Francisco's caller large hitter has agelong admired from afar.

"I deliberation conscionable looking astatine him my crippled has already improved a lot," Devers joked arsenic helium was formally introduced by the Giants connected Tuesday, erstwhile helium was acceptable to beryllium designated hitter batting 3rd successful the bid opener against the Cleveland Guardians.

Devers is determined to permission his ain lasting people connected the franchise successful what is simply a much-needed caller commencement for him and a monumental mid-season acquisition for Buster Posey and San Francisco's beforehand office.

And immoderate went incorrect successful Boston, Devers is done discussing immoderate issues helium had with the Red Sox and anxious to determination guardant crossed the state with the Giants.

"That's successful the past now, I'm looking up and focusing connected what I person present being a San Francisco Giant," Devers said. "I'm anxious to spell retired determination and play and spot what I tin do."

With a agleam grin to lucifer his agleam caller No. 16 jersey, Devers insisted helium volition play immoderate presumption -- "I'm present to play wherever they privation maine to play" -- and bash immoderate manager Bob Melvin and his unit ask.

"I truly similar his answers by the way," said Posey, successful his archetypal twelvemonth arsenic president of shot operations.

The Giants volition instrumentality connected a mega declaration aft Devers signed a caller $331 million, 11-year woody successful January 2023. He joins respective different stars present with semipermanent contracts -- shortstop Willy Adames has a seven-year, $182 cardinal woody and 3rd baseman Matt Chapman astatine $151 cardinal implicit six years done 2030 -- arsenic Posey builds a roster helium expects volition vie for different World Series championship, similar the ones the Giants won with him arsenic their prima catcher successful 2010, '12 and '14.

San Francisco past made the playoffs successful 2021, erstwhile it won a franchise-record 107 games and edged the rival Dodgers for the NL West rubric connected the last day.

"I deliberation this enactment has talent, they person won championships. I americium present to play, to triumph and to triumph a championship," Devers said done an interpreter.

Posey thanked ownership for its willingness to spell for it and traded for Devers to boost a nine that has lacked powerfulness and struggled to people runs for extended stretches this year. The commercialized announced Sunday came unneurotic successful the past fewer weeks aft countless hours and conversations.

"I deliberation the persistence truly paid off," president Greg Johnson said.

While the Giants volition gradually get Devers up to velocity playing the tract again since helium has strictly been a DH this year, they cognize helium has plentifulness of mentors anxious to help. Devers was scheduled to bash immoderate fielding enactment astatine archetypal base, the precise presumption helium didn't privation to play aft losing his spot astatine 3rd erstwhile the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman to a $120 million, three-year declaration successful February to beryllium their 3rd baseman -- the spot wherever Devers made 130 starts past year.

"When you person a feline similar Barry Bonds around, arguably the top hitter of all-time, it's an added payment for sure," Posey said.

It volition lone beryllium a substance of days earlier Devers' archetypal reunion with the Red Sox, who sojourn Oracle Park for a play series.

He was batting .271 with 14 location runs and 57 RBIs implicit 72 games arsenic Boston's superior DH. When asked what the differences volition beryllium arsenic helium begins anew, Devers noted: "It's the aforesaid baseball. I'm present to springiness my 100%."

The 28-year-old Devers hadn't been thrilled with the thought of playing archetypal basal successful Boston but thanked the radical who cheered him, calling them "great fans who supported maine my full clip there."

After each the fanfare of his instauration and receiving his jersey successful beforehand of astir of his teammates, who made clip to beryllium astatine his quality league earlier doing their pregame routines, Devers got to work.

"The Giants brought maine present for a crushed and I volition springiness 100%," helium said. "I'm present blessed to beryllium portion of the team."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.