Here's how Rafael Devers' monster contract affects SF Giants payroll for the next decade

The SF Giants pulled off a stunning trade on Sunday by acquiring three-time All-Star Rafael Devers. They not only added a star player, but also absorbed the remainder of a massive contract. Here's how it affects the Giants' payroll for the next decade.

Here's how Rafael Devers' monster contract affects SF Giants payroll for the next decade

To some degree, the Giants offset some of Devers' contract by sending Jordan Hicks to the Boston Red Sox. He is in the second year of a four-year, $44 million deal. The hard-throwing pitcher began the season in the rotation, but struggled to make the adjustment and was shifted back to the bullpen.

According to Cot's, the Giants have now committed $221 million against the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) this season. The CBT threshold is at $241 million in 2025, so they have $20 million remaining to make further additions.

Specifically for Devers, his cap hit is $15.6 million for the Giants this year. This is the pro-rated amount of his $27.6 million average annual value. That will be the amount that counts against the luxury tax for the Giants after this season and through the 2033 campaign.

The average annual value of Devers' contract sounds like a lot, and it is. However, with inflation and how contract values for star players increase every year, that amount will look slightly less after each season. For example, Bryce Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies prior to the 2019 season. Fast forward to 2025, and that deal almost looks like a bargain.

Plus, the CBT threshold will only continue to increase in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The Giants have a growing nucleus of players under long-term deals. Devers is joined by Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Jung Hoo Lee, and Logan Webb. Webb's deal runs though 2028. Lee's contract expires after the 2029 season, but he does have an opt-out after the 2027 season.

Chapman and Adames are both in the first year of a six-year and seven-year deal, respectively. The Giants will have a recognizable nucleus for years to come.

As Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area shares, Devers has deferrals in his contract as well. That has become a popular lever with the Los Angeles Dodgers in recent seasons. That said, deferral is a bit of a misnomer here.

The actual cash flow from the team is paid every season through the duration of the contract, but it sits in an escrow account until it comes due. As Devers' contract stipulates, he will receive $7.5 million annually for 10 years after his contract expires.