MLB insider believes that SF Giants will target 2 roster issues at MLB trade deadline

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Saturday that the SF Giants plan to buy at the trade deadline. He lists starting pitching and second base as areas they could look to upgrade.

MLB insider believes that SF Giants will target 2 roster issues at MLB trade deadline

This is not terribly surprising news. After all, Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey has strongly hinted that the Giants plan to be buyers. Plus, the Rafael Devers trade, along with the Matt Chapman extension and Willy Adames signing, are significant investments.

Teams do not make those moves with the hopes of being competitive in a couple of years. They plan to compete today and tomorrow. In his brief tenure running the Giants' front office, Posey has conveyed that the expectation is to reach the playoffs.

As Ken Rosenthal notes, the Giants will be looking to add to the pitching staff and second base. The pitching staff has been a need for a while now, but that need has been exacerbated with Landen Roupp being placed on the injured list.

The Giants are hopeful that the elbow inflammation is not serious, and that he misses only a couple of starts. However, any injured related to the elbow is cause for concern with pitchers.

Roupp, along with Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, give the Giants a solid front of the rotation. The need is to fortify the back of the rotation. Justin Verlander and Hayden Birdsong have filled those spots, but both have been ineffective, with the latter being optioned to Triple-A.

Merrill Kelly, Andrew Heaney, Tyler Anderson, and Zack Littell are some of the names that should be available at the trade deadline. Aside from Kelly, none of those names radically changes the dynamic of the rotation, but they would offer serviceable depth at a low cost. More than anything, the Giants need innings.

Casey Schmitt has taken over as the everyday second baseman. Since returning from the injured list in early July, he has struggled to a .496 OPS in 48 plate appearances. That said, his overall batted-ball data still remains healthy.

It is fair to suggest that Schmitt should start hitting again, as he has been making quality contact. However, if the numbers do not improve, they may need to look outside of the organization for help. There are few obvious upgrades at that position, so they are not going to make a move just to make a move. However, if Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays or Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals becomes available, either one would represent an obvious upgrade. Neither one is a rental, so the cost would be quite a bit higher.