Which SF Giants could be traded during the 2020 season?

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Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco Giants could be active on the trade market in 2020.

We don’t know when MLB will return, but we do know if history is any indication there are several San Francisco Giants trade possibilities after transactions reopen.

That’s because you can already tell this isn’t the Giants’ year. The Baseball Prospectus standings projection based on PECOTA puts SF at last place in the NL West with a 68-94 record. FanGraphs is a little more optimistic at 71 wins, but that still wouldn’t be close to making the playoffs.

Director of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi was a busy man at the July trade deadline in 2019, making five deals, including moving Ray Black, Sam Dyson, Mark Melancon, and Drew Pomeranz.

He wrote to a note to fans at the time saying he recognized the pace of the roster moves was faster than they were probably used to, but, “I firmly believe the changes we have made give us the best possible chance to win each day and position us well for the future.” (h/t NBCSN BA)

So it seems logical to believe he’ll be just as active this year. As MLBTR put it, “(We) already know that Zaidi’s front office is open to any transaction.”

A team looking for a pitcher to make its final playoff push will have plenty to choose from in San Francisco. Longer-term Giants like Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto might get a majority of the ink, along with Tony Watson.

But the likes of Drew Smyly, Kevin Gausman, and Trevor Cahill were signed this offseason for the task of rebuilding their value for a possible trade.

There are others, too, though with a much lower likelihood of being moved. First baseman Brandon Belt will have some work to do after 2019 but a good start to the year could create interest. Shortstop Brandon Crawford is one many teams should want, but he has a full no-trade clause giving him the final say. Both of them have a contract year remaining after 2020, but are owed a fair amount of money.

So let’s take a closer look at six Giants who might be traded during the 2020 season.