SF Giants trade rumors: Team “active” in starting pitching market

KANSAS CITY, MO - JULY 16: Danny Duffy #30 of the Kansas City Royals throws in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium on July 16, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - JULY 16: Danny Duffy #30 of the Kansas City Royals throws in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium on July 16, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (44) didn’t have the first season in Arlington that he hoped for, but he still could be an interesting fallback option for the SF Giants. (Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (44) didn’t have the first season in Arlington that he hoped for, but he still could be an interesting fallback option for the SF Giants. (Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports) /

According to a report by Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the SF Giants are one of seven teams “active in the starting pitching market.” Per Morosi’s report, the Giants, Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Padres, Dodgers, and Astros are the most active contenders on the market for starters. The Mets have also been rumored to be scouring the trade block for starting pitching depth, but they are not mentioned in Morosi’s report. Of course, there’s still plenty of time for other teams to

SF Giants are one of seven contenders involved in the starting pitching market.

While many Giants fans have prioritized potential relief pitching and offensive upgrades, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi already signaled that the team would be eyeing further pitching depth in the rotation. Given the shortened 2020 season, many teams are concerned about pushing their starting pitchers too far. Even though the Giants rotation has ranked among the best in MLB, the front office is clearly hoping to strengthen the unit’s depth chart.

The Giants could go in many different directions to improve their starting five. If they are willing to give up some of their best prospects, they could target potential aces, like Max Scherzer or Jose Berrios. On the other hand, players like Kyle Gibson or Danny Duffy could become intriguing options to target if they are eyeing mid-rotation depth.

Currently, the Giants rotation has a fantastic trio of pitchers in Kevin Gausman, Alex Wood, Anthony DeSclafani, but see a significant decrease in performance after that. Even among that group, however, there are significant questions about the health and sustainability of those players. So, depending on how the front office handles the deadline, it could signal how they feel about the various parts of their rotation.

Next. SF Giants: 5 prospects other teams should target

The SF Giants are one of the seven most active teams on the trade market looking for starting pitching, per a report by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. Will they go for an ace? Or is the front office just eyeing improved depth? Stay tuned to Around the Foghorn for the latest news and rumors as the MLB trade deadline approaches.