The San Francisco Giants are struggling midway through the 2026 Major League Baseball season. After their latest win against the Atlanta Braves, the Giants stand at 30-43, trailing a significant 17 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite the expanded playoff structure, they are still eight games shy of the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals for the third wild-card spot.
Competition for this playoff position is fierce. The Giants must overtake the Cubs, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Marlins, Reds, and Mets. Only the Colorado Rockies have a worse record in the National League. Reports by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, ESPN’s Buster Olney, and The Athletic suggest the Giants are open to trading several players ahead of the trade deadline.
Some high-profile players mentioned in these discussions include first baseman Rafael Devers, shortstop Willy Adames, and third baseman Matt Chapman. However, star pitcher Logan Webb and several younger players are not expected to be traded.
In October 2024, the Giants appointed Buster Posey as President of Baseball Operations. Posey, a legendary figure in the franchise, transitioned from a player to this role with limited experience in modern analytical methods. This shift marked a departure from the approach of his predecessor, Farhan Zaidi, known for his data-driven strategies. Under Posey, the team finished 81-81 in his first year, with expectations for a poorer performance this season, despite a payroll increase to $210 million in 2026.
One of Posey’s initial moves was signing free-agent shortstop Willy Adames. Adames’ performance has declined, both offensively and defensively. His Wins Above Replacement (WAR) dropped from 4.8 in 2024 to -0.3 this year.
Rafael Devers, another significant acquisition, has underperformed. With only nine home runs and a .234 batting average this season, Devers has failed to meet expectations and is now on the trading block. The trade that brought Devers to the Giants involved giving up promising prospect Kyle Harrison.
Harrison, now with the Brewers, boasts a 2.47 ERA and positive WAR. James Tibbs III, another traded prospect, is thriving in Triple-A with the Dodgers and is ranked as the 24th-best prospect in baseball this year.
Despite some promising developments, like Bryce Eldridge and Josuar Gonzalez, the Giants’ pitching has been lackluster. Comparatively, the Dodgers thrive by leveraging their robust farm system to fill gaps caused by injuries, employing analytics to enhance defensive strategies, and finding bullpen assets in unexpected places.