
Three Bold Trades Needed to Make Giants True NL West Contenders
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
With the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres expected to fight it out all season long atop the NL West, the San Francisco Giants were a bit lost in the mix.
San Francisco has taken that personally and through 66 games. The Giants boast a 38-28 record, 6 1/2 games better than fourth-place Arizona, tied with the Padres and just one game behind the Dodgers for the division lead.
They have played well above the mark already this season and because of their outstanding play, here are three players they should go after on the trade market.
BOSTON, MA - MAY 24: Cedric Mullins #31 of the Baltimore Orioles makes a sliding catch on Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning of game one of a doubleheader...
BOSTON, MA - MAY 24: Cedric Mullins #31 of the Baltimore Orioles makes a sliding catch on Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning of game one of a doubleheader at Fenway Park on May 24, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. MoreCedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles
Mullins is one of two Orioles players on this list, and he may be the more likely of the two to be traded before the trade deadline passes.
He is on the last year of his contract and will most likely be playing elsewhere before the season ends.
His .232 average with 10 home runs and a .771 OPS could help improve San Francisco's 0.9 Wins Above Average from all three outfield positions this season.
Along with having a decent season at the plate, Mullins' Outs Above Average total of two is more than any outfielder for San Francisco has this season. A change of scenery for Mullins and his addition to the Giants could do wonders for both parties involved.
71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water and the other 29% is covered by Cedric Mullins. pic.twitter.com/HLUstmwsOy — Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 15, 2025
Ryan O'Hearn, Baltimore Orioles
O'Hearn will be a hot commodity for teams when he is made available.
He is putting together the best season of his career in his eighth season in the big leagues. He has a .316 average with nine home runs, 24 RBI and a .897 OPS.
He could help the Giants improve at first base, where they rank 27th in Wins Above Average at minus-1.6. LaMonte Wade saw much of the action at first base this season but was recently DFA'd after hitting just .167 across 144 at-bats.
The addition of a power bat like O'Hearn to the San Francisco lineup could be massive down the road when it is facing some of the best right-handed pitching in the entire league.
Ryan O'Hearn delivers a 3-run blast to put the @Orioles ahead 😤 pic.twitter.com/LkvgQ7cdM4 — MLB (@MLB) May 28, 2025
Jake Bird, Colorado Rockies
Bird has been one of very few bright spots on a Rockies team that is headed toward the worst season in MLB history.
Bird has appeared 27 times and has pitched to a 1.49 ERA and 45 strikeouts across 36 1/3 innings pitched. He has struggled in the walks department as he's allowed 15 free passes, but he's kept the ball in the ballpark with just one home run allowed.
It feels almost certain Colorado will try and capitalize on his value, and the division rival Giants could be an excellent landing spot for the hopeful first-time All Star this season.
Jake Bird was PUMPED UP after recording three straight strikeouts to strand the bases loaded for the @Rockies 😤 pic.twitter.com/eVNB4haf31 — MLB (@MLB) June 7, 2025
More MLB: Yankees Given Trade 'Priority' as Infielder Faces Cut

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Saints Coach Indirectly Slows Hype for Giants' Pursuit of Chris Olave
Saints Coach Indirectly Slows Hype for Giants' Pursuit of Chris Olave originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On paper, the New York Giants trading for receiver Chris Olave would make a good amount of sense. The New Orleans Saints don't plan on being competitive in 2025, and Olave is eligible for an extension, with his free agency looming after the 2026 season. Advertisement The Giants could stand to upgrade at receiver, too, and the chance to sign him to a long-term deal makes a trade all the more enticing. That doesn't mean a move is coming down the chute. Saints coach Kellen Moore recently quieted the rumors surrounding Olave, letting the Giants (and the rest of the league) know that he isn't available. 'I wouldn't worry too much about that,' Moore told reporters during his press conference on Thursday. 'We feel really, really good about Chris. He's had an excellent offseason, he's had an excellent career so far, and he's going to have an excellent future.' There's every chance Olave signs a second contract with New Orleans, but a handful of concerns still linger, potentially making him available (or, perhaps, less appealing). Advertisement Paramount is the five concussions Olave has suffered since debuting at Ohio State. He entered the league with one to his name but has been plagued by head injuries throughout his career. This came to an urgent head in the middle of the 2024 season. In Weeks 6 and 9, Olave suffered concussions, bringing his total to (at least) five. That's incredibly concerning for Olave and puts his long-term status in doubt. Olave found 32 catches for 400 yards and a touchdown in his half-season's worth of work in 2024. Prior, he posted two 1,000-yard seasons. On a pure talent level, he's a star and an upgrade over veteran Darius Slayton. That isn't necessarily enough to warrant a deal, especially given New York's early schedule and the likelihood that it will be out of contention by the deadline. The team also just re-signed Slayton to a three-year deal. He's a beloved veteran in the locker room and stands to improve with Russell Wilson under center. Upsetting that dynamic immediately after signing him isn't good politics, which New York might be inclined to monitor after general manager Joe Schoen ruffled feathers with corner Nick McCloud a season ago. Advertisement Olave is a movable receiver and a better option than Slayton. Given just about everything else necessary for a trade to come to fruition, it is more worth hoping he has a healthy season and hits free agency in 2026. Related: Writing On the Wall for Young Giants Receiver Related: NFC East Receiver Rankings: Giants Steady As Rivals Improve This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Russell Wilson Isn't the Future of New York Giants, But He's Helping Build It
Russell Wilson Isn't the Future of New York Giants, But He's Helping Build It originally appeared on Athlon Sports. New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson understands he's not the future of the organization—and at this point in his career, he is focused on being the best leader he can be for the team. Advertisement New York signed the 36-year-old signal caller to a one-year deal worth up to $21 million with $10.5 million guaranteed, and he is expected to be the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart when the regular season begins. However, the Giants selected Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft—giving the Giants a potential future franchise quarterback. 'Jaxson's been great, man,' Wilson said. 'He's a great worker, great teammate. We're having fun, all of us. We have a really good quarterback room. Guys are so focused and working diligently every day. He's going to be an extremely, extremely good talent and everything else throughout his career.' The Giants are wisely allowing Dart to properly develop before handing him the keys to the offense. Dart will also have the opportunity to learn from a Super Bowl champion quarterback in Wilson. Advertisement 'I always share and I always think about communication,' Wilson said. 'I'm a big believer in communicating out loud, just, 'Here's what I'm thinking, here's what I'm saying.' You don't hold any information. I think that for us, it's always about us being the best that we can all be. 'And I think for me, when you have tremendous confidence in yourself, you have no problem sharing it with others. I think that's just how I've always believed.' Wilson's approach to mentoring Dart reflects maturity and professionalism—a testament to the type of leader he is. Wilson may not be the future of the franchise, but he is proving to be an invaluable part of the New York Giants' present. Advertisement Related: Giants Rookie QB Jaxson Dart Impresses at OTAs in Video Going Viral Related: Former Giants All-In on Jevon Holland's Potential This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New York Giants' QB Competition Quietly Intensifies
New York Giants' QB Competition Quietly Intensifies originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Giants have an imperfect yet intriguing quarterback situation in their building. New York's quarterback room consists of Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson, veteran gunslinger Jameis Winston, third-year quarterback Tommy DeVito, and rookie first-round draft pick Jaxson Dart. Advertisement Throughout the offseason, general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll have insisted Wilson will enter training camp as the team's starting quarterback. Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News suggested Wilson's recent underwhelming performance in OTAs could open the door to a competition for the team's starting quarterback job. 'So far this spring, with Wilson at quarterback, the Giants' first-team defense has looked like a much better unit than the offense," Leonard wrote. "...The Giants offense's operation with Wilson has not been smooth or consistently productive or explosive in any of the open practice sessions yet. And that's coming off a season when they ranked 30th in the NFL, scoring 16.1 points per game, having altered almost no personnel from that unit other than the QBs." While the Giants are expected to let Dart develop as a backup to start his career, Winston has thrown his hat into the ring to compete for the starting quarterback job. Advertisement Winston is a fearless quarterback who's always looking for the next big play on the field. Sometimes it leads to six points—other times, it's a pick-six. But if Daboll is building an offense that thrives on explosive plays, it might be hard to keep Winston off the field once the regular season begins. Related: Russell Wilson Isn't the Future of the Giants, But He's Helping Build It Related: Giants Rookie QB Jaxson Dart Impresses at OTAs in Video Going Viral This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.