José Devers, a cousin of Red Sox player Rafael Devers, was one of the main assets the Yankees gave to the Marlins in return for Giancarlo Stanton.
Aram Leighton of Just Baseball reported Thursday that the Atlanta Braves have signed infielder José Devers to a minor league contract.
Devers spent the previous seven seasons with the Miami Marlins, but he was designated for assignment in September. Devers, who was outrighted to Triple-A after clearing waivers, entered free agency at the end of the season.
The infielder, who will soon be 25 years old, is the younger cousin of Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers.
When the Marlins traded superstar Giancarlo Stanton to the New York Yankees in December 2017, they received three players in return, including José Devers. The rest of the package included Starlin Castro and Jorge Guzmán, both of whom have not played in the MLB since 2021.
That’s not far off from what Devers did in Miami, given that his three big league outings in September were his first since 2021. Devers entered that season as a top ten prospect in the Marlins’ farm system, but he batted only.244 with a.621 OPS in 21 big league games before being sent back down.
Devers missed a significant portion of the 2022 season due to a shoulder injury, and he spent the full of 2023 at Double-A. In 54 Triple-A games in 2024, he hit.244 with an OPS of.676.
Devers has a minor league batting average of.261 with a.686 OPS, with only five home runs, 56 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in 162 games. In 50 career major league plate appearances, the second baseman, shortstop, and third baseman has a.244 batting average, no home runs, five RBI, a.611 OPS, and -0.2 WAR.
While Devers’ deal with Atlanta would certainly include an invitation to major league Spring Training camp, it is unclear whether he will contend for a position on the MLB roster. Otherwise, he is anticipated to provide organizational depth for the Braves, who struggled in the infield in 2024.
Injuries to second baseman Ozzie Albies and third baseman Austin Riley prompted Atlanta to sign veterans Whit Merrifield, Gio Urshela, and Zack Short at various points this season, though none of them are under contract in 2025.
