2 spots in the lineup are quickly emerging as trade deadline needs for the SF Giants

We looked at the SF Giants trade deadline needs last week. However, that list looks to be growing, as the Giants have struggled to get production at second base and right field. Those could be spots they look to address at the trade deadline, too.

2 spots in the lineup are quickly emerging as trade deadline needs for the SF Giants

On paper, the Giants should be a relatively easy team to fix at the trade deadline. The pitching staff is second in baseball with a 3.07 ERA. Only the New York Mets pitching staff has a better mark with a 2.84 ERA.

The bullpen has been even better, as it leads baseball with a 2.35 ERA. They could look to add at least one reliever, especially one who throws from the left side. Even if they do not make a move, the bullpen is in a good spot.

The Giants have more starting options than spots in the rotation. The rotation has some depth, and the Giants could look to trade from their depth on the 40-man roster or the upper minors to address more pressing needs.

In my opinion, the hard part is putting together a competitive pitching staff. Teams that can pitch can be a tough matchup in the playoffs. Perhaps, it is still too early to be talking about the playoffs, but the Giants have a playoff-caliber pitching staff.

The Giants can check that part of the roster off. The next step is putting together a lineup that can score three or four runs per game. That has been a difficult task for the Giants, and they have scored more than four runs just twice in the past 20 games.

With how good the pitching staff has been, the Giants need to find a way to put together a serviceable offense. They will play a lot of close games, but the lineup needs to produce more than it has.

First base will likely remain a need for the Giants. Dominic Smith has already been an improvement to the production they got earlier in the year, but he is likely a stop-gap option. There are not many spots the front office could look to upgrade, but second base and right field are emerging as possibilities.

Tyler Fitzgerald has handled the bulk of the playing time at second base. He is not doing bad, slashing .255/.312/.359 (92 wRC+) in 159 plate appearances. However, he has just two home runs, and his .103 ISO is a sharp decline from the .217 ISO he posted last season. If Fitzgerald's slide continues, the Giants will need to upgrade that spot in the lineup.

The same goes for Mike Yastrzemski. The veteran bat got off to a strong start, but has struggled to a .518 OPS in 118 plate appearances since May 1. He did get a couple of days off to reset earlier this week. However, Yastrzemski is in the final year of his rookie deal, and the Giants could look to upgrade that spot in the lineup if his slump continues.