Devers' about-face on first base shows SF Giants are no longer a laughingstock

When the SF Giants pulled off their shocking blockbuster trade for Boston Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers, there was uncertainty on where he would be willing to play. He said he would play anywhere which shows the impact of Buster Posey.

The relationship between Devers and the Red Sox devolved over time. The first public disagreement was when Boston signed Alex Bregman to play third base even though that is the position Devers played. He became Boston's designated hitter but was then asked to play first base which he publicly refused to do.

Devers' willingness to play 1B for SF Giants reflects well on Posey

From the outside looking in, it seemed like Devers was being a bit of a diva and that he could be a bit of a problem in a clubhouse. Yet, his willingness to play anywhere for the Giants suggests that his issue was less about what position he would play and more the lack of communication and conflicting messages in Boston.

Boston's Chief Baseball Officer, Craig Breslow, has come under fire recently for his personality and handling of the whole Devers situation. It is not a huge shock that Devers was not a fan of the communication in Boston just based off the weird statements Breslow has made since the Devers trade.

The whole situation wreaks of something that would have happened with the Giants when Farhan Zaidi was running the team. The Carlos Correa fiasco was made even worse when it was revealed that long-time shortstop Brandon Crawford had not even been asked to change positions prior to the signing being reported.

This was just one of several instances where Zaidi's poor communication and lack of emotional touch created problems. He also struggled to articulate a resonant vision for the team to fans which, combined with a middling product on the field, helped lead to his ouster and Posey replacing him.

Thus far, Posey has stood out from Zaidi in a lot of ways. As a former player, he brings a level of credibility that cannot be bought. He has also been transparent and clear with fans, players on the Giants, and prospective players which has been a breath of fresh air. He has also been willing to take risks and swing for the fences. That is why Posey was able to reel in a big fish like Devers while Zaidi never was.

No longer are the Giants the team with an embarrassing lack of communication or conflicting messages from their front office that makes them a laughingstock to the rest of baseball. Now, the Giants have a bold and decisive front office that articulates a clear vision and executes on it which is thanks in large part to the leadership of Buster Posey.