MLB Trade Rumors: Giants Seek 'Significant' Starting Pitcher, Shortstop at Deadline
July 24, 2023
Locked in a fight with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks for the top spot in the National League West, the San Francisco Giants are looking to make a splash before the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Per The Athletic's Jim Bowden, the Giants are prioritizing a "significant" starting pitcher and shortstop to upgrade their roster.
The Giants have been linked to New York Mets ace Justin Verlander recently. MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported on Saturday they are among the teams evaluating the three-time American League Cy Young winner.
Verlander's situation is complicated because he has a full-no trade clause in his deal with the Mets. He did an interview with The Athletic's Will Sammon last week and specifically said he remains "remain committed to trying to win a championship" in New York.
Despite having a rough free-agent period during the offseason that saw their agreement with Carlos Correa fall apart and Aaron Judge opting to return to the New York Yankees, the Giants have done a good job of putting themselves in position to compete for a playoff spot down the stretch.
San Francisco's lineup is hurting right now with Thairo Estrada, Brandon Crawford and Mitch Haniger on the injured list.
Crawford has been awful at the plate with a .207/.285/.333 slash line when he has played. The three-time All-Star has also rated as one of the worst defensive shortstops in MLB with minus-11 defensive runs saved.
Finding someone who can even be passable with the bat and glove at the position would be a big upgrade for the Giants over the final two months of the season.
The starting rotation has two quality pitchers in Logan Webb and Alex Cobb, but not much else behind them. Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood and Ross Stripling are their only pitchers who have started at least nine games, but they all have ERAs over 4.88.
San Francisco (54-46) has lost five consecutive games, including getting swept over the weekend against a Washington Nationals team that has the second-worst record in the NL (41-58). It has fallen four games behind the Dodgers in the division race, but is still tied with Arizona for the second wild card spot.