What Does Selling at the Deadline Look Like for the Giants?
The San Francisco Giants are clear sellers and have several intriguing trade candidates they could move at the deadline.
In each of the last few seasons, the San Francisco Giants have found themselves stuck when it comes to what direction they need to go in at the trade deadline. While they inevitably sold at last year’s deadline, there could’ve been a decent argument for them to buy.
However, 2026 is a completely different story. San Francisco is in the midst of their worst losing season in recent memory and are probably the most obvious sellers when looking across the league.
With a few soon-to-be free agents playing well and a handful of high-upside, big-money pieces that they’d love to see leave the books, there’s a world of possibilities for Buster Posey.
Unless they surprisingly made Logan Webb available, it’s unlikely that they receive any top-flight prospects at this year’s deadline. However, the goal should be clear for Posey and the entire front office: bring in talent to support Bryce Eldridge and the future.
The 6-foot-7 rookie has emerged as one of the best young bats in baseball, and San Francisco needs to make it a priority to win while he’s here. It’s been close to two decades since the organization has developed a player with his ceiling, and they simply cannot waste it.
Stats were taken prior to play on June 24.
The Obvious Departures
With this winter’s class being fairly underwhelming, the Giants possess two of the more profitable rentals in baseball. While the value of the returning packages is debatable, some decent talent should find its way to San Francisco’s farm.
2B Luis Arraez
Remaining Contract Length: Rest of 2026
Best Team Fits: Rays, Yankees, Phillies, Nationals, Athletics, Dodgers
Arraez has been one of the best stories around the league this season. Not only has he graded out as one of the better defenders in the sport, but the bat has returned to its peak form.
His 2.8 fWAR ranks second among all second basemen, while his .320 batting average unsurprisingly leads the pack. Even though he’s currently day-to-day, there’s no long-term worries about his health.
With the impressive jump in defensive value alongside a league-leading 3.9% strikeout rate, any team with a chance at October baseball should be foaming at the mouth to bring Arraez’s talents to their ball club.
SP Robbie Ray
Remaining Contract Length: Rest of Year
Best Team Fits: Athletics, Nationals, Cubs, Padres, Braves, Diamondbacks
Behind Tarik Skubal, Robbie Ray is arguably the best southpaw in this upcoming winter’s class. Naturally, that makes him one of the more sought after rentals at this year’s deadline.
Pitching is always a necessity for contenders at the early August buzzer, and, despite going through a rough stretch of games earlier this year, Ray looks like he’s back in prime form of late.
Across his last two outings, Ray has thrown 14.1 innings without allowing an earned run while striking out 14. With some slight tweaks to his pitch mix, he’s been extremely effective for a struggling Giants’ pitching staff.
Ray also has experience pitching in the playoffs, and, even though it’s an elevated ERA, has struck out 12.83 hitters per nine innings in his limited postseason career.
The Big Three
One of the biggest storylines across MLB in recent weeks has been the report that the Giants will listen on their three most expensive players.
All of them are technically in their primes, but have each had their ups and downs in 2026, which has made a potential contract dump appealing for San Francisco.
1B/DH Rafael Devers
Remaining Contract After 2026: 7 Years/$199.5 Million
The Giants trading for Devers was one of the biggest storylines of the 2025 campaign and the deal made perfect sense at the time. However, he’s looked like a shell of himself since sporting the orange and black, and San Francisco has been one of the worst teams in baseball since the deal.
More recently, Devers took over Bay Area headlines after an interesting situation in which he attempted to wave off a pinch-runner from rookie manager Tony Vitello. Either way, there’s a healthy chunk of money left on the deal, especially considering the fact that the position he plays every day is where Bryce Eldridge is supposed to play for the rest of his career.
While Posey and the Giants will likely have to eat at least a quarter of the contract to get rid of it, if the right trade presents itself, don’t be surprised to see Devers in his third uniform in just two years.
SS Willy Adames
Remaining Contract After 2026: 5 Years/Roughly $155.7 Million
There’s a healthy argument to be made that this is the deal the Giants should be trying their hardest to get out of. Even though he inked the biggest free-agent deal in San Francisco’s history and broke their 30 home run curse, the signs Adames is showing in just year two of this seven-year pact are discouraging.
Yes, there’s good power output from a shortstop, but everything else has been worrisome through the first few months of 2026. He’s posting the lowest OPS of his career by nearly 30 points (.686) while playing some of the worst defense in the league (-10 FRV, -13 OAA).
While an eventual move to second base was likely expected by Giants executives in the back end of this deal, the regression with the glove and all-around game this early surely has the alarm bells ringing in San Francisco. However, a no-trade clause will make any type of move relatively difficult for Posey.
3B Matt Chapman
Remaining Contract After 2026: 4 Years/Roughly $100.6 Million
Chapman is clearly the contract that San Francisco should be most comfortable with keeping, which also means it has the most value on the trade market. This is undoubtedly the deal they’d have to pay down the least.
Chapman was, however, the first person to sign on to the Buster Posey era of the San Francisco Giants and, like Adames, has a full no-trade clause.
Chapman was adamant about wanting to finish his career in San Francisco, but that was also when Bob Melvin — someone he has been extremely complimentary of throughout his career — was still the club’s manager.
The 33-year-old had an underwhelming start to the season but has completely turned it around. Since May 17, Chapman’s 1.4 fWAR, .909 OPS, 152 wRC+, and .523 SLG have led all qualified third basemen.
Oh yeah, and he’s still arguably the best defender at the position with a league-leading 13 DRS and a FRV of +4, which ranks second.
Names That Could Be Moved
Keaton Winn, RP – The righty is under control through 2030 and has cemented himself as arguably the club’s best reliever with immense upside.
Caleb Kilian, RP – This winter’s minor-league signing has emerged as the club’s most reliable ninth inning option and is under control through 2031.
Tyler Mahle, SP – The veteran starter had a horrendous start to 2026 but can raise his value when he returns to the rotation this week after an IL stint.
Heliot Ramos, OF – Injuries have plagued his 2026 season, but the 26-year-old has proven to be an above-average big-league bat and won’t be a free agent until 2030.
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Written by
Michael Monreal got his start in baseball media when he started his own website covering the San Francisco Giants after playing two years of college baseball.…