It’s mid-June, and nearly every Major League Baseball team is a contender, and if that remains the case in late July, the trade deadline could be one big dud.
With an Aug. 15 deadline, the Angels could have been more open to dealing Ohtani, and the Giants could have had a more realistic chance to acquire him than they later did through free agency. President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi had checked in with the Angels in July just in case Ohtani would be made available and was prepared to be aggressive in his trade proposals.
A later deadline would better assure annual trading frenzies, especially because MLB did away with August waiver trades a few years back. All the Giants did at last year’s deadline was acquire AJ Pollock, who had six at-bats and was released in early September. The Giants went in the tank that month and fired their manager. One veteran player told the Chronicle that management should have improved the roster at the deadline: “If they thought we were a playoff team, they needed to go get us some help.”
Fast-forward to 2024, and the deadline could pass again without the Giants making significant moves, with Zaidi remaining committed to the free agents he signed in spring training, the young players who are trying to stick and the pitchers due to come off the injured list. He’ll analyze the Giants’ place in the standings in the weeks ahead, though it’s anyone’s guess whether he’ll be a buyer or seller — or both.
The Giants’ game plan will be based on how many teams ultimately declare themselves sellers. If last year was any indication, and if ample teams remain in a middle-ground cluster, demand will again far outweigh the supply.
That would make it an extreme seller’s market for at least five teams: the Marlins and Rockies in the National League and the A’s, Angels and White Sox in the American League, all of whom are buried before midseason. The Astros are fading fast and other teams could follow.
A sampling of appealing players from the five also-rans include Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo, Rockies starter Austin Gomber, White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and A’s closer Mason Miller. Oh, and Angels outfielder Mike Trout.
Let’s dismiss Trout right away. The Chronicle’s Scott Ostler at last year’s trade deadline and Tim Kawakami of the Athletic more recently made nice points about the value of the Giants acquiring Trout, but from this corner, considering his age (33 in August), his contract ($35 million a year through 2030) and his inability to stay on the field (way too often), no way should the Giants have any interest. Their sick bay is too jammed already. He can veto any trade, and it seems unlikely he would join a team with one playoff appearance in seven years.
When I asked someone familiar with Angels management about Trout and the Giants, he responded, “I think a text you must have sent me in 2019 just came through.”
Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. is the most marketable piece on the roster of the Chicago White Sox, who have the worst record in the major leagues.
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Robert is more like it. He’s back in center field for the White Sox after missing two months with a hip issue. He hit 38 homers last year and was an All-Star, and he won a Gold Glove a few years back. His contract is team-friendly ($15 million next season with $20 million club options for 2026 and 2027), but he would be extremely costly in a trade.
So would teammate Garrett Crochet, a lefty who converted to starting and has a spectacular strikeout-to-walk ratio, 116-19 entering the weekend. Erick Fedde is another starter who’s enjoying a good year on a bad team. Nobody on the White Sox will be untouchable.
The Marlins already got a jump on trade activity by sending bat master Luis Arraez to the Padres, and feature the left-handed Luzardo, who pitched for Giants manager Bob Melvin in Oakland and is under club control through 2026.
By the trade deadline, however, the Giants’ thin rotation could have some in-house reinforcements with Blake Snell, Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb on the mend. Even if just two of the three are back healthy and mixed in with Logan Webb, Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, that could make for an impressive fivesome.
If that’s the case, Zaidi could pivot to improving his lineup and/or bullpen. The Angels have outfielder Taylor Ward and relievers Carlos Estevez and Luis Garcia. The Marlins have reliever Tanner Scott, the White Sox reliever Michael Kopech. If the Giants want to improve their catching depth, the Rockies might dangle catcher Elias Díaz.
And the A’s have Miller, who might be Oakland’s All-Star and would make any bullpen far more intimidating. However, the A’s generally trade players closing in on free agency, and Miller isn’t anywhere close. So any package would need to be over the top for trade talk to get serious.
It’s too early to reach trade-deadline conclusions. Several teams could go into tailspins in the coming weeks and suddenly become defined sellers. One could be the Giants. Their preference is moving above .500, distancing themselves from the middle of the pack and hoping more teams conclude they’re out of the race.
It’s quite a wish list 6½ weeks from the deadline.
