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For all the months of drama that led up to it, Rafael Devers’ first-base debut was pretty hilariously uneventful.
Plus: I found video to corroborate a story about Ichiro, Ken on the Royals’ deadline thinking, and is Joe Ryan the best pitcher (maybe) available at this year’s deadline? I’m Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal — welcome to The Windup!
Finally: Devers makes first-base debut
Remember June 13? That was the day when the Giants beat the Dodgers to pull into a tie for first place in the NL West. Since then, San Francisco is 12-20, and was swept by the Blue Jays coming out of the All-Star break. Hayden Birdsong’s last start was so bad that the Giants “get out of my face”d him to the minor leagues.
Time to smash the button! Let’s see what Rafael Devers can do at first base.
Of course, you know the backstory by now. Devers was moved off third base in Boston against his will when the team signed Alex Bregman, then didn’t want to play first base when Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury. Both sides were annoyed, and then the Red Sox traded him to the Giants.
His debut at the position didn’t offer much in the way of challenges. Devers only had to take four throws all night, each an accurate toss from an infielder on a groundout. First base is easy, right? Tell ‘em, Wash.
With Devers now fully indoctrinated into the brotherhood of first basemen, the Giants can use the DH spot to — as they did last night — allow Wilmer Flores (or another infielder who needs a break) to take a half-night off. Or when he returns from the IL, maybe it’s Jerar Encarnación. Or — hear me out — maybe it’s time to take another spin on the former-Braves-slugger wheel (after trading Jorge Soler back to Atlanta last year).
Anyway, the move worked last night. San Francisco won 9-0 against the Braves. They’re 2 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot, at 53-49.
Ken’s Notebook: Latest on the Royals’ deadline plans
With the deadline eight days away, here is some of my latest information from major-league sources:
The Kansas City Royals, 4 1/2 games back in the AL wild-card race, are making it clear to clubs that if they trade right-hander Seth Lugo, they will want controllable outfield help in return.
The Royals aren’t at that point yet. Lugo, 35, is likely to turn down his $15 million player option for 2026 and become a free agent. The Royals not only would consider giving him a qualifying offer, but also believe they would be competitive in trying to re-sign him. So, they are in no rush to disrupt the relationship.
The thin state of the Royals’ rotation, as exemplified by their choice to start 45-year-old lefty Rich Hill last night, is another reason the front office is hesitant to act. Righty Michael Lorenzen, recovering from a left oblique strain, likely is two rehab starts away from returning, maybe more. And lefty Cole Ragans, dealing with a strained left rotator cuff, is not expected back until mid- to late August.
A losing streak and/or injury prior to the deadline obviously would alter the Royals’ thinking. And even if they stay in the race, trading Lugo would be tempting if it brought a strong enough return.
The athleticism of Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran makes him attractive to the Royals, as does his three additional years of club control. The Red Sox would not trade Duran for a pitcher who likely would amount to a rental. But the Royals could sweeten the deal with prospects, and teams are targeting their young catching, in particular.
For what it’s worth, Red Sox manager Alex Cora is familiar with Lugo. Cora was the GM for Team Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Lugo was one of the pitchers on that squad.
The Royals do not appear to line up for Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds. The Pirates also are pursuing offense, and the Royals have precious little to spare.
If the Royals end up buying, they likely will pursue pitching help as well, both starting and relief.
Intrigue: Is Joe Ryan the best starting pitcher available?
On Monday, we talked about Eugenio Suárez as my pick for the biggest impact bat to move at this year’s trade deadline. Today, in concert with the release of our Trade Deadline Big Board 3.0, let’s look at the top starting pitcher available.
- Joe Ryan, career: 43-30, 3.67 ERA (11 bWAR) in 104 games. 657 K, 132 BB in 586 2/3 innings
- Ryan, 2025 season: 10-4, 2.63 ERA (4.5 bWAR) in 20 games. 132 K, 23 BB in 116 1/3 innings
As with Suárez, we have to start with an acknowledgement that Ryan might not be available at all. Sure, Minnesota is 48-52, 4 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot. Feels like it might be time to sell, right?
But Ryan, 29, is under team control through 2027, and if the Twins plan to contend in the next two years — they should, and new ownership could mean a higher payroll — Ryan is a player who could benefit them.
… Unless they can trade him for a package of almost-ready prospects who would help them even more. And those are the kinds of players that are difficult to pry from other teams (unless your scouting report differs from theirs).
In addition to Ryan, the Twins could also have the top reliever on the market in Jhoan Duran (if the Guardians keep Emmanuel Clase).
If the Twins decide to hold steady, there are other options for teams seeking starting pitching. This article is Yankees-centric, but it has a good list of other starting pitchers who might be available.
More deadline: This week’s “What we’re hearing” features some great insight on what it’s like to be a GM at this time of year.
Legends: Lessons from Ichiro
If you ask me, the best part about working in sports journalism isn’t the ability to get into the ballpark for free. It’s not walking on the field during batting practice, hearing your own voice in the postgame new conference, or even the travel.
In my opinion, the best part of the job is just listening to people tell stories. And when the stories are about someone as eccentric and unique as Ichiro Suzuki, well … I suspect Rustin Dodd had a great time writing today’s story about Ichiro, in which he arranges those stories into four things we can learn from Ichiro’s career.
Not to spoil it, but it’s just full of gems like this:
And then there was the time Ichiro homered off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in Seattle.
“He’s rounding the bases, and as he’s running home, he stops about 10 feet short of home plate, jumps, does the ‘suck it’ sign and yells, ‘Suck it!’” former Mariners pitcher David Aardsma said. “And then (he) touches home plate.”
Oh, there has to be video of that, right? Ha ha, yeah. There is.
This Sunday, Ichiro (along with Dick Allen, Dave Parker, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner) will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Given his penchant for humor — both dry and occasionally not — I can’t wait to hear his speech.
More Hall of Fame: Guardians broadcaster Tom Hamilton will be awarded the Ford C. Frick award, the highest honor given to baseball broadcasters. He is “everyone’s best friend.”
Handshakes and High Fives
Yes, the Cubs need starting pitching. But they’d need more if not for Matthew Boyd’s brilliant season.
Yes, the Yankees also need starting pitching. But does Cam Schlittler’s hot start mean that help has already arrived?
In 2022, Jackson Holliday set a record for drafted high school players with his signing bonus of $8.19 million. That record is now held by … his little brother Ethan, who got $9 million from the Colorado Rockies.
The Astros now have 17 players on the IL, including six starting pitchers. Those numbers include the most recent addition: Lance McCullers Jr., who is dealing with a blister.
Andrea Arcadipane looks for ways that Dylan Cease and Jackson Chourio can be better in the second half.
Brewers win streak counter: Reset it to zero: Seattle snapped Milwaukee’s streak at 11 games behind Cal Raleigh’s solo homer (No. 39). Nevertheless, Eno Sarris digs in on the numbers to tell us what’s been working for the Brewers.
On the pods: This week’s guest on “Starkville”: outfielder Mike Cameron, who talks in depth about his time as Ichiro’s teammate, and what he learned from the Hall of Famer.
(Photo: Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Images)
