SF Giants: Should the team trade outfielder Mike Yastrzemski?

The SF Giants are obviously in the middle of a painful rebuild. As with any rebuild, the organization will probably trade many of their best players for future assets. As fun as Mike Yastrzemski’s start has been, should the team be looking to move the outfielder?

With the August 31st trade deadline approaching, there will be lots of speculation about the Giants trading some of their better players in a rebuilding year. That will probably include many of the few bright spots on the team like Mike Yastrzemski.

SF Giants Trade OF Mike Yastrzemski? Why teams would be interested

While on its surface, trading Yastrzemski would seem blasphemous, he will be 30-years old in less than a week and the Giants may seriously be considering whether they could get a top prospect in exchange for his services. Thus far in 2020 (prior to the series against the Angels), he is hitting .305/.430/.634 with five home runs and 16 RBI.

Yaz would be an appealing trade target for any team looking for a left-handed outfield bat with pop who can play all three outfield positions. Since he didn’t reach the bigs until he was 28, Yaz remains under team control through the 2022 season, so any acquiring team would retain his services for two years beyond 2020.

SF Giants Trade OF Mike Yastrzemski? Why they’d consider trading him

The main calculation the Giants would have to make in considering trading Yaz is whether they believe he will still be a productive member of the team when the Giants may be able to make a postseason run of their own.

If they feel 32 year old Yaz can still produce at this level, then chances are they wouldn’t consider sending him to another team without an absurdly stacked return. At the same time, with a farm system full of outfield depth, the organization might feel confident that they’ll be able to replace his production within a couple of years.

SF Giants Trade OF Mike Yastrzemski? Why they shouldn’t

The team shouldn’t discount the value of clubhouse and fan morale. Yaz has quickly become a fan favorite among Giants faithful and has clearly become a leader in the clubhouse. Given the rocky road back to contention for San Francisco, it might be smart to keep a steadying force like him around.

Trading Yaz would be a major blow to a fanbase already struggling to be excited about a team that has struggled so mightily this season. It might have an even more damaging effect on a clubhouse trying to keep things positive.

So far there have not been any public rumors that the Giants are actively shopping Yaz, but it’s only a matter of time before that gets called into question. There’s no doubt the front office will receive calls, but Giants coaches, players, and teammates will hope an offer never comes that leads Farhan Zaidi to pull the trigger.