ORLANDO — When the Giants first started talking to the Boston Red Sox about Rafael Devers, the initial ask was for top prospect Bryce Eldridge, which was an easy no for president of baseball operations Buster Posey. 

Six months later, others in the industry are playing the part of the Red Sox. With little to discuss in terms of actual moves, Eldridge’s name has been floated in some corners over the past couple of weeks. The thinking from some in the industry is that with Devers at first base, the Giants now can afford to deal Eldridge for a frontline starting pitcher to pair with Logan Webb long-term. 

The organization’s preference, though, is to pair Eldridge and Devers for years to come. During his session with reporters on Monday at the MLB Winter Meetings, Posey threw some cold water on any trade rumors. 

“We listen on everybody, but Bryce, we think the sky is the limit for this guy,” Posey said. “He just turned 21 years old. I know he didn’t put up great numbers in his limited playing time (but) he didn’t look like he was overmatched or scared. I thought he had some really good at-bats for being not even 21 (at the time). I think sometimes you can say, ‘Well the guy is young and maybe you’ve got to take that into account,’ but this guy has flown through the system and is playing at Double-A, Triple-A at 19, 20 years old. 

“I think he’s got a chance to be one of the biggest impact bats for the next 10-15 years in the big leagues potentially. I think we’ll listen, but we like him a lot.”

Eldridge might be the best Giants position player prospect since Posey, and he has done nothing since being drafted in the first round in 2023 to cause anyone to pump the brakes on the hype. He was just 3-for-28 in a late-season cameo, but he also had an average exit velocity of 95.6 mph, just above Aaron Judge’s league-leading mark of 95.4. Had he qualified for leaderboards, he also would have been the leader in hard-hit percentage. 

Eldridge profiles as the type of player you build a lineup around, which is why others understandably ask about him when they start engaging Posey and general manager Zack Minasian in trade talks. But unless a Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal is being dangled on the other end, the Giants seem likely to give the same answer they gave the Red Sox in June. 

While a lot of rumors this time of year have little behind them (the Giants are not actually pursuing Kyle Schwarber, for example), it’s understandable that Eldridge’s name would get floated. Devers is signed through 2033 and it would be a bit unusual to build around a pair of left-handed first base/DH types. While the Giants haven’t fully closed the door on Eldridge one day getting reps in the outfield, that’s not in the plans for 2026. 

Still, Posey thinks the duo works. He offered a quick “yes” when asked about it Monday. On the “Giants Talk” podcast, Minasian pointed out that a lot of teams prefer to rotate players into the DH spot for rest and health reasons, but this situation might be a good exception. 

“Those things make a lot of sense, unless you have someone that you put there that you think is a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat,” he said. 

The more relevant discussion with Eldridge might be how having that combination at first and DH will impact the rest of the roster. Wilmer Flores won’t be back and there doesn’t appear to be room for Dominic Smith, either. Posey said Monday that his preference would be for the bench to offer more positional versatility than it did in 2025. 

Eldridge had surgery earlier this offseason to remove a bone spur in his left wrist, but Minasian said he already is fully cleared. Despite his lack of experience, he’ll be a frontrunner for a roster spot in camp next spring, and the Giants are excited about the possibility of both Eldridge and Devers working with new infield coach Ron Washington on a daily basis in Scottsdale. 

They believe both can grow to be above-average defensively, and Posey said Devers, who showed flashes of being a very good defensive first baseman, won’t be bothered if the Giants end up with a two-man rotation between first base and DH. 

“I think just based on the little bit of time that we were around Rafi last year, he’s a team guy and he wants to win,” he said. “If Bryce is beating down the door, he’s going to want somebody protecting him in the lineup, too.”

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