San Francisco Giants: Clock is ticking on buyer or seller decision
By Kevin Henry
The San Francisco Giants are the defending National League West champions, but, on the surface at least, have some tough decisions to make as the August 2 MLB trade deadline approaches.
After dropping their second straight game to the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the post-All-Star break portion of the schedule, the San Francisco Giants sit at 48-46 overall and in third place in the NL West (five games behind the San Diego Padres and 15.5 games behind the Dodgers). If this was a season as in years past, the Giants could consider themselves cooked in the postseason race. However, with a third Wild Card spot in the mix in 2022, San Francisco is just two games out of the Wild Card race.
Looking back on history, this could be the week that determines the rest of the season for the San Francisco Giants
As was pointed out in this article, during the 2019 season, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told reporters that the final 10 days before the trade deadline would determine which way the pendulum swung for the Giants. San Francisco did make some deals at the deadline since the team was one game over .500, but the Giants finished the season with consecutive 11-16 marks in August and September and didn’t sniff the postseason.
Looking at the calendar, we are officially less than 10 days away from this year’s trade deadline, meaning the clock is likely ticking loudly for the Giants and whatever decision they choose to make. They are a game behind the Phillies in the race for the final Wild Card spot, which is currently held by the Cardinals. San Francisco has lost just one game to the Cardinals in that race over the final 10 days, giving hope that, even though the Giants have been just 5-5 in their last 10 games, they can get hot and make the postseason as a Wild Card.
There are reasons to believe a winning stretch could be coming as well. After Sunday’s game against the Dodgers, San Francisco faces the Arizona Diamondbacks on the road for three games before getting the reeling Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park for four games. Those seven games could certainly provide the opportunity for the Giants to get hot and for Zaidi to decide that this franchise should be a buyer.
Next. If the Giants want Juan Soto, this prospect must be included in the deal. dark
Based on past experience and near-future scheduling, look the San Francisco Giants to lean much more toward the buyer side as the trade deadline approaches.