This expanded Yankees-Giants trade package for Rafael Devers could change everything

Full disclosure: we have no idea what's going to happen at this year's trade deadline. And neither do you. So stop pretending as if any trades are "impossible" or "stupid" — outside of ones that are actually impossible and stupid. For the New York Yankees, they need to figure out something game-changing, and fast.

The Tarik Skubal and Mason Miller rumors are fun, but we're just not sure either of those guys will get moved. The catching market just took a hit with Shea Langeliers' injury, as did the outfield market after Spencer Steer went down. New York does not need to overpay for Hunter Goodman, nor do they need an underwhelming depth option in Lane Thomas.

So why not go crazy? The San Francisco Giants are among the most desperate teams in MLB. They possess a bloated payroll but with nothing to show for it. Buster Posey's impact has been limited and Tony Vitello's first year has been characterized as a disaster.

Can the Yanks and Giants help one another out? Let's talk Rafael Devers and Jung-Hoo Lee for a minute. We can fully admit such a trade is unlikely, but the infrastructure might be in a better place than you'd suspect.

For Devers, it's been reported the Giants want off of his contract (among a few others). For the Yankees, they need another impact bat and should probably begin planning for life after Giancarlo Stanton. Devers can be an elite DH option for the next five years.

The contract is ugly, but not ugly enough for a big market team like the Yankees, who can absorb the exorbitant cost to save their Aaron Judge-Gerrit Cole window. Devers will be paid $28.5 million per year through 2033. We've seen worse deals, especially as this one will take Devers to right around the point where he'll start to decline (his age-36 season).

And then there's Lee, who isn't expected to be moved, but there's no way they will get away scot-free with any potential Devers trade. The speedy centerfielder is making ~$23 million through 2027 before he can exercise a player option, which he might at this point (he'll be heading into his age-29 season and could get one last big payday). At the very least, the Yankees can brighten their 2027 picture (assuming there's a season) and the Giants can get value for a potential free agent headache in a year and a half.

The Giants have one of the better farm systems in the game, but they also need pitching, as six of their top seven prospects are position players. So what would be wrong with this potential offer from Brian Cashman to the Giants?

Giants Receive:

Carlos Rodón ($27.8 million per year through 2028)
Jasson Dominguez OR Spencer Jones
RHP Elmer Rodriguez (No. 3) OR RHP Ben Hess (No. 6)
RHP Xavier Rivas (No. 25)

Yankees Recieve

Rafael Devers (and his entire contract: $199.5 million)
Jung Hoo Lee (and his entire contract: ~$30 million if he opts out after 2027, ~$70 million if he opts in)

It's understandable if this is viewed as an overpay/underpay in either direction. This is how these proposals go. But the fact of the matter is the Giants need to restructure at almost any cost, since Matt Chapman and Willy Adames are far more untradeable. A deal like this gives them flexibility and some talent potential for the road ahead. And let's be honest: Lee's overall MLB track record doesn't all of a sudden make him an untouchable. He's got 3.0 WAR over 283 career games.

Acquiring Devers may feel irresponsible on the Yankees' end, but he's in a ballpark that doesn't suit his strengths, whereas Yankee Stadium would maxmize them. Not to mention, this adds an historic wrinkle to the Yanks-Sox rivalry. Set and forget him at DH and continue adding at the margins over the next few years.

There aren't many impactful opportunities out there, so might as well see how far struggling front offices are willing to go.

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