3 players the SF Giants can trade and still remain competitive

Let's take a look at 3 players the SF Giants can trade and still remain competitive.

3. Outfielder Joc Pederson

Of the three candidates named here, Joc Pederson might be the most in demand. After an astounding 2022 season in which he made his first All-Star Game in seven years, hit 23 home runs and had a 144 OPS+, he has been off to a red-hot start this year as well.

In 26 games, the outfielder has five home runs, 18 RBI and an OPS+ of 130. While he's still on the injured list and recovering from a hand injury he sustained last month, he's on his way back to The Show and is a painfully obvious trade candidate.

At 31-years-old, Pederson comes with his fair share of faults, like his complete inability to hit lefties and his poor defensive reputation in the outfield, but he also has plenty to like in his toolset.

Last season was proof that he still has what it takes to be a 20+ homer type of player, and his .274 average was also the highest he had put up in his entire career. Somehow, he seems to be getting even better at the plate as he ages, which is something the Giants should take into consideration and sell him while his value is high. A pending free agent, Pederson would represent a perfect power-hitting rental for a team looking to add to their club down the postseason stretch.

Since Pederson still has value, it's worth wondering if he could be used in a deal to acquire a starting pitcher that would help the Giants take the proverbial next step on their march to October baseball. Perhaps a one-for-one swap of a rental starting pitcher from one of the AL Central clubs who are already out of contention?

As is the case with both Flores and Bart before him, Pederson has plenty of capable replacements already in-house for the Giants. Austin Slater and Bryce Johnson are both riding the big league bench right now, but they could be in line for some additional at-bats if he is moved. Luis Matos is down in Triple-A but he is another player on the 40-man roster who could benefit from Pederson playing elsewhere.