A blockbuster MLB trade shook up the futures market at sportsbooks over the weekend.
Key Takeaways
- The Giants are the most-bet team in a key market since the Rafael Devers deal was announced.
- A new power bat shortened San Francisco’s odds to win the World Series, the NL Pennant, and the NL West.
- The Red Sox’s odds didn’t do a whole lot after Devers' departure.
ESPN BET reported on Monday that since the Boston Red Sox sent slugger Rafael Devers to San Francisco on Sunday, the Giants are the most-bet team in the World Series winner market.
Devers’ new team got 23.5% of the bets and 62.4% of the handle between Sunday evening and Monday morning. The Philadelphia Phillies are the next most-bet team by handle at 10.7% since the news broke.
San Francisco’s odds to win the World Series went from +4,000 to +3,000 at ESPN BET after acquiring the three-time All-Star. The Giants also increased from +1,600 to +1,400 to win the National League, while the odds to claim the NL West title got shorter as well (+1,300 to +800).
Power move
The Giants are just two games back from the Los Angeles Dodgers heading into Monday and have won seven of their last 10 games. However, a team that’s scored the eighth-most runs in the NL needed an offensive boost.
Devers is batting .272 this season with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs, third-most in MLB at the time of the trade. The Giants are on the hook for more than $250 million of his contract that runs through 2033.
“To get a guy like Devers ... there's a lot you have to give up for him, but this fits us perfectly,” Giants manager Bob Melvin told ESPN. “It's a power left-handed bat, a guy that can go the other way and hit for power in our ballpark. I mean, it's tailor-made for us, so kudos to the front office to swing this.”
Odds don’t budge
The Giants sent pitchers Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks along with prospects James Tibbs III and Jose Bello to Boston.
The Red Sox’s World Series odds didn’t budge, despite trading away a franchise-type player. They remained at +4,000, and their AL pennant odds of +1,800 stayed the same as well.
There was a slight shift in the AL East winner market as Boston dropped from +1,800 to +2,000.
Boston is currently fourth in the division and 6.5 games back from the first-place New York Yankees. The Red Sox are just half of a game out of a wild-card spot entering Monday.
Back on the mound
The team San Francisco is chasing is also getting a boost in a much-needed area. Ravaged by pitching injuries so far this season, the Dodgers didn’t have to make a deal to find a new starter. Reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani is starting on Monday for the first time since August 2023.
One of the game’s best hitters and a rare two-way player is making his mound debut for the Dodgers after having elbow surgery while he was still with the Angels. The Japanese superstar isn’t expected to throw many pitches against the San Diego Padres on Monday, but according to ESPN BET, Ohtani over 1.5 strikeouts (+105) is the third most-bet player prop for Monday. Over 2.5 strikeouts (+320) is seventh. Those are the only two non-batter props in the top 20.
