Giants Must Act at Trade Deadline After Slumping Season

The San Francisco Giants are in a tough spot as the season moves into its second half. They entered 2026 with modest hopes of battling for a wild‑card spot, but the reality is far different. A week before the All‑Star break they sit at 38‑54, the third‑worst record in baseball, and a 10‑0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 8 left them hitless through eight innings.

That defeat, highlighted by a Dylan Cease no‑hit bid that was halted after eight innings, has turned the spotlight on a roster that simply isn’t delivering. Fans are growing weary, and the club appears headed into the trade deadline as sellers rather than contenders. The need for change is clear—San Francisco must decide where to make moves and how to reshape the dugout for the stretch run.

Giants’ disappointing start

San Francisco’s record of 38 wins and 54 losses puts them well below mid‑level expectations set at the season’s kickoff. The loss to Toronto was especially lopsided, with the Blue Jays vaulting to a 10‑0 lead while the Giants managed only a hitless eighth inning. The season’s struggles have many fans questioning what the team can do down the stretch. It’s clear the Giants will need a serious shake‑up to get back on track.

Trade‑deadline strategy: sellers

With a struggling roster and a looming trade deadline, the Giants will likely embrace a seller mentality to free up cash and clear logarithmic contracts. ESPN’s Jeff Passan lists outfielder Jung Hoo Lee as a top‑ranked trade candidate. Lee, a 27‑year‑old who plays all three outfield spots, is in the MLB’s top ten for batting average and strikeout rate, and he carries a $22.83 million salary for this year and next, dropping to $21.33 million in 2028 and 2029. Moving Lee could help San Francisco acquire assets while shedding a sizable contract.

Veteran infielders are also on the chopping block. Rafael Devers, turning 30 in October, is hitting just .244 with 86 hits and 18 home runs, yet he is locked in through 2033 with a hefty price tag. Willy Adames, under contract through 2031 at over $31 million per season, and Matt Chapman, locked through 2030 at more than $25 million annually, are fan favorites but may be moved to improve payroll flexibility. Shedding these contracts could free dollars for prospects or immediate reinforcements.

Preserving and developing young talent

The future does offer some brightness, though. Bryce Eldridge, a 21‑year‑old designated hitter, has already shown flash, including a walk‑off grand slam against the Washington Nationals on June 10. The Giants reportedly want to trade two infielders to clear room for Eldridge, who currently serves as a DH but is slated to develop as an infielder. Other promising names include Blade Tidwell, Drew Gilbert, Logan Webb, Heliot Ramos, Casey Schmitt, and Landon Rupp. Keeping these players could help usher in a new era for the franchise as the team rebuilds around younger talent. As the trade deadline looms, the organization must decide whether to retain these prospects or leverage them for additional assets. In the meantime, the club should hold on to its developing players while exploring trade options to reshape the roster.

What next for the Giants

The Giants must accept the current reality and start rebuilding from the ground up. They need to act decisively at the trade deadline, trading high‑salary veterans to free up room for younger arms and bats. Retaining prospects like Eldridge, Webb, and Ramos will be essential if San Francisco hopes to field a competitive team in the coming seasons. Fans will be watching closely to see how the front office balances short‑term fixes with long‑term sustainability.

What should the Giants do now?

The Giants have to accept their fate. Entering the season, they looked like a team that could compete with anybody, but then the baseball games were played and that proved to not be the case. So now San Francisco has to look itself in the mirror and figure out what went wrong and how to make things right – well, better than they have been going, anyways.

Advertisement

Here are a few ideas:

Get aggressive in the trade market, sell high

It’s easier said than done, but the Giants have to get off the expensive contracts eating up their salary. Reason being, you won’t be able to get any talent, let alone invest in your prospects, if there isn’t enough dollars to go around by the time negotiations occur.

It’s also a matter of how aggressive they plan to be and who will be prioritized. Who is untouchable? ESPN’s Jeff Passan has Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee as a top-ranked trade candidate. He plays all throughout the outfield. Offensively, Lee ranks top 10 in MLB in batting average and strikeout rate.

Advertisement

Lee, 27, makes $22.83 million this season and next, before going down to $21.33 million in both 2028 and 2029. Although not a star, the Giants can sell teams on Lee being a promising, solid all-around player.

Move on from veteran players

With a record like San Francisco’s, the best thing you can do for the fans is give them something to be hopeful for. That’s not aging veterans.

Examine the market for your guys who are age 30 and up, or are occupying a ton of salary space.

Rafael Devers turns 30 in October. His age isn’t so much a problem, but his contract … combined with the lack of expected production. Devers has had a down year so far, batting .244, registering 86 hits and 18 homers. He’s under contract through 2033 at a hefty price tag.

Advertisement

Others to consider moving on from are Willy Adames and Matt Chapman. They’re fan favorites, but based on age and dollars it all makes sense. Adames is under contract through 2031 at over $31 million per season. Chapman is locked up through 2030 at over $25 million per year.

It’s hard to say goodbye, but in the best interest of the Giants, they have to find new homes for these guys. And honestly, it wouldn’t be surprising if Devers, Chapman and Adames wanted to find a new home if it meant playing for a contender and a chance at a World Series title.

Retain young talent, bring in fresh faces

There’s promise for the future in this squad with guys like Bryce Eldridge, Blade Tidwell and Drew Gilbert. It’s a start.

Advertisement

“The San Francisco Giants, who would love to trade two of their infielders at the trade deadline, need to clear space for power-hitter Bryce Eldridge. They realize it’s stunting his growth as an infielder to keep using him as a DH at the age of 21,” USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale wrote.

Eldridge has had plenty moments as a designated hitter but none bigger than his walk-off grand slam against the Washington Nationals on June 10.

Another intitiative San Francisco needs to focus on is hanging on to guys like Logan Webb, Heliot Ramos, Casey Schmitt and Landon Roupp. The best bet is to hang on to them to help usher in a new era. Years from now, when the team has a new look, you can decide whether to leverage them for additional assets.

However, in the interim, hold on to those guys for dear life because teams will come knocking as MLB gets closer to the trade deadline.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: What’s next for San Francisco Giants as MLB trade deadline approaches?