San Francisco Giants Trade Deadline Overview

The San Francisco Giants currently have a lead at the top of the NL West, but they could still stand to improve in a few areas. Here’s a look at what they might do at the trade deadline.

Whether they’re buying, selling, or something in between, the trade deadline is full of rumors and speculation for virtually every MLB team. Even clubs that are performing well and don’t appear to have major weaknesses often pursue an improvement or two on the trade market.

The San Francisco Giants are one team that has enjoyed a fairly successful first two months of the 2016 season, but could still address several needs before the August 1 non-waiver deadline. From May 11 to May 31, San Francisco was arguably the hottest team in baseball, going 16-3 over that span while challenging the notion that the Chicago Cubs would waltz their way to the National League pennant.

June has been somewhat of mixed bag in the early going. The Giants are 3-5 since the beginning of the month and currently sit atop the NL West with a 36-26 record. They’re three games ahead of the rival Los Angeles Dodgers – a lead, but by no means an insurmountable one. A couple injuries to key players have also given San Francisco something to think about.

If the Giants want to stave off L.A. and take back the division crown, GM Bobby Evans would do well to consider making one or two upgrades to his roster. It seems like that is the general sense around the franchise as well; San Francisco Chronicle writer Henry Schulman recently stated that he believes the club will seek a “complementary player” rather than a huge blockbuster.

San Francisco’s farm system was characterized as middle-of-the-pack in most preseason rankings, so they may not be able to outbid other clubs with more tempting prospects. They should, however, be able to draw from their minor league pool to get a player they really covet.

You don’t even have to be a Giants fan at this point to be aware of the team’s even-numbered year trend. The organization has alternated World Series championship campaigns with mediocre ones since 2010. The Giants are off to a pretty good start if they want to continue that pattern, but the right deal could help them increase their chances.

Next: Banged-Up Outfield