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
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw Under Fire After Postgame Remark
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw Under Fire After Postgame Remark originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-3, improving their record to 39-27 and keeping them atop an extremely competitive NL West. Advertisement The biggest storyline from the game was the Cardinals using their video board to show a highlight of former first baseman Matt Adams hitting a three-run home run off Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw in the 2014 National League Division Series, which St. Louis won in four games. Despite that home run and game taking place over a decade ago, it's clear that Kershaw was not a fan of the Cardinals' actions. After the game, he made his feelings known. "I think it's a little bush league, but I don't expect anything less from these guys," Kershaw said. "So, it's no worries." However, his comment quickly caught the attention of many MLB fans, who are expressing their frustration toward the 10-time All-Star for a number of reasons. Advertisement "What a baby. Crying about something from over an decade ago," said one comment. "One of the biggest chokers the last 20 years btw crying about a video of him choking go figure," said another. "Kershaw gotta do better at eliminating the outside noise," a third added. A fourth stated, "Breaking: teams play highlights of moments in their franchise's history. You'd think the HOFer could handle that." "And it's bush league to respond in that manner.... ignore and move the (expletive) on," a fifth continued. "How about you dont give up jacks in the playoffs and teams wont troll you?" said another. Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Davis-Imagn Images In the end, though, the video clearly didn't affect Kershaw too much, as he was awarded the win on Sunday for the Dodgers after tossing five innings, allowing six hits, one earned run and zero walks while recording seven strikeouts. Advertisement Related: Major Juan Soto Announcement Made on Saturday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
It Is Past Time For The Red Sox To Call Up Top Prospect Roman Anthony
The Boston Red Sox took two of three from their rival New York Yankees over the weekend. Yet they still remain 8.5 games behind the division leaders. And, potentially more importantly, they are three games under .500, and four games out of a Wild Card spot, needing to jump over four teams to make the post-season. They need to do something drastic to change the trajectory of their season. Since winning American League rookie of the month in April, Kristian Campbell is slashing .165/.232/.233 (and that includes four hits over the weekend in New York) and playing mediocre second base. Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense, is hitting .244, with a .296 on-base percentage. Marcelo Mayer stepped into the void left at third base when Alex Bregman went down with a quad injury, making his major league debut, and has hit .222, with an OBP of less than .300. And while the Red Sox are sixth in MLB in team OPS (.753), and tied for sixth in home runs (83), with their pitching is in tatters (23rd overall with a 4.13 ERA; leading MLB in blown saves), they need to augment their offense. And, if they could do that while solidifying their defense, all the better. As a team, Boston has the fifth worst defensive efficiency (the rate at which they convert batted balls into outs). The Red Sox have used rookie sensation (?) Campbell at second base for 52 games this season, and the results have been disastrous. As a team, they have the third worst Defensive Runs Saved at the position, and Campbell, having played 425 innings at second, is tied for the third worst Fielding Run Value per Statcast. But what if they could fortify that offense (with Bregman out for a few more weeks and Casas down for the season), while also augmenting their defense? What if they had a player just fifty miles down the road ready to step into the breach? What if there was guy in Triple-A slashing .288/.423/.491, with 10 home runs, including a 497-foot grand slam on Saturday night, just waiting for the call? Roman Anthony is the consensus #1 prospect in all of baseball. He has done everything the Red Sox have asked of him, including playing all three outfield positions over the course of the past two seasons (not for nothing, they could have asked him to take some grounders at first as well). All Boston would need to do to improve their club is send Campbell down to Worcester for a few weeks to get his bearings offensively and defensively. They could then move Rafaela to second base (where he played capably for 10 games last season); or send Rafaela down to try to improve his approach at the plate (he is currently swinging at 42.7% of pitches outside the strike zone), and keep Campbell with the big club. Then they slide Jarren Duran from left field to center, where he played 105 games last season with 17 Defensive Runs Saved, was six Outs Above Average, and had a Fielding Run Value of +8. In short, swapping Duran for Rafaela will not hurt Boston's defense in center field. With Duran out from in front of the Green Monster, a spot opens up for Anthony and his ferocious bat. Ken Rosenthal laid it all out in The Athletic over the weekend. Rosenthal questioned whether or not the Red Sox are keeping Anthony in the minors so he doesn't achieve 'Super Two' status, which would give him an additional year of salary arbitration. But the team had no such concerns about Mayer, who they brought up weeks ago; and they have already signed Campbell and Rafaela to long-term, team-friendly contracts, so there is no reason to believe that they wouldn't try to do the same with both Mayer and Anthony. One year of (potential) arbitration cannot be worth the wait (or the talk radio/internet/broadcast vitriol inflicted upon the club at this point). For years the Red Sox have vacillated between acting a like a big market team (massive contracts for Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval, Chris Sale, Rafael Devers) and a mid-market club (low-balling Jon Lester, trading Mookie Betts rather than making a serious offer, bowing out on Xander Bogaerts (wise, in hindsight)). However, they have not hesitated to lock up young stars. In addition to the deals referenced above, they signed home-grown pitcher Brayan Bello to a long-term deal, and extended Garrett Crochet shortly after acquiring him from the Chicago White Sox this past winter. So, a deal for Anthony could be in the offing, which would obviate any concerns about potential arbitration proceedings. The time for the Red Sox is now. The team begins a homestand against the Rays tonight, and then the Yankees comes to town for the weekend. Get the rookie's feet wet with Tampa Bay, so he is ready to rock and roll come Friday night with a raucous crowd at Fenway Park. Mayer hit his first career home run against the Yankees in the Bronx last Friday night. Wouldn't Anthony doing the same a week later be a perfect bookend to a new chapter in Red Sox lore? Manager Alex Cora recently told ESPN's Karl Ravech that Anthony is 'not knocking on the door, he's actually kicking the door.' Maybe Boston can make everyone's lives easier by simply opening it for him.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Aaron Judge 'Surprised' by Red Sox Rookie's Bold Anti-Yankees Statement
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. The rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees could be argued as the greatest rivalry not only in baseball, but in sports as well. That rivalry took center stage over the weekend and culminated on Sunday with the two teams meeting up on "Sunday Night Baseball" in the rubber match of their three-game series. There was a bit of extra spice added before the game with comments made by Red Sox rookie starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins. "If the Yankees were the last team to give me a contract, I'd retire," Dobbins was quoted as saying. Yankees superstar Aaron Judge gave his thoughts after the media relayed Dobbins' remark to the New York captain. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Hunter Dobbins #73 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 08, 2025 in New York... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Hunter Dobbins #73 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 08, 2025 in New York City. More"I've only heard Ken Griffey (Jr.) say that," Judge said, per Ryan Dunleavy of he New York Post. "So, surprised." Judge was asked if the comments were on his mind when he stepped into the batter's box against Dobbins in the bottom of the first inning on Sunday, and they indeed were for the captain. "Once somebody tells you, yeah," Judge told reporters. Judge got the best of Dobbins the first time around, as he launched a 436-foot home run to right-center field to give the Yankees an early 2-0 lead. It was a big moment early in the game and added fuel to the fire of New York fans giving Dobbins a hard time about his comments. Judge would homer again later in the game, but it was ultimately Dobbins and the Red Sox that came out on top with an 11-7 victory that secured a series win for Boston. Dobbins allowed just three runs across five innings and got his third win of the season and first career win against the Yankees. The two teams are set to begin another three-game series starting on Friday, and it is extremely likely Dobbins will once again toe the rubber against New York. This time, it will be in front of his home fans, who will undoubtedly show him love for his anti-Yankees comments. More MLB: Three Bold Trades Needed to Make Giants True NL West Contenders
