5 prospects the SF Giants shouldn't trade at the 2022 MLB trade deadline

SF Giants, Will Bednar
SF Giants, Will Bednar / Lachlan Cunningham/GettyImages
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The SF Giants were once a team full of struggling veterans, with not much of a farm system to look at and no future prospects. Then, the Giants hired former Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi as the President of Baseball Operations.

5 prospects the SF Giants shouldn't trade at the 2022 MLB trade deadline

Since then, not only has the big league team improved, winning a franchise record 107 games in 2021, but the farm system has become stocked with players that look like one day becoming stars by the bay.

While not all prospects are going to become stars, and some won't even make the big league level, the Giants need to figure out how to balance trying to win and trying to mold the future of this organization.

The Giants may have to make some decisions on some of their young prospects in order to potentially acquire a new catcher, a middle of the order bat or rotation help, but these are five names that shouldn't be traded in 2022.


1. The SF Giants shouldn't trade first round pick Will Bednar

In the 2021 MLB draft, the SF Giants went exclusively with pitchers, and the best of those came in the first round, as they selected Mississippi State's Will Bednar with the No. 14 selection.

Will spent his short stint in 2021 in the minors coming out of the pen, where he did a fantastic job, but in 2022, he's getting the expanded opportunity to be the starter he was in college, and while his numbers aren't elite, the talent is definitely there.

If the Giants are patient with the development of Bednar, his 97MPH fastball and effective off-speed pitches will play well at the next level, and if he can develop his changeup, we may be looking at a future ace alongside Logan Webb.

SF Giants
SF Giants / Lachlan Cunningham/GettyImages

5 prospects the SF Giants shouldn't trade at the 2022 MLB trade deadline

2. The SF Giants shouldn't trade No. 1 prospect Marco Luciano

Marco Luciano was a prized international signing of the Giants back in 2018, and when he hit the minor leagues back in 2019 at just 17-years of age, it was clear that he was a special talent.

The young shortstop has all the makings of a big league starter, and although the Giants could push for a bigger name at the deadline, he's the perfect replacement for the day that Giants legend Brandon Crawford retires.

Luciano is still young, and has plenty of time to develop, but with placeholders like Evan Longoria and Tommy La Stella currently on this team, the Giants will need permanent options soon, and Marco could be exactly that if his development continues well.


3. The SF Giants shouldn't trade young phenom Matt Mikulski

The Giants three World Series titles in the early 2010's were a combination of many things, but what truly drove that team was a young Buster Posey along with a home grown rotation of immense talent.

While Matt Mikulski may never turn out to be Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum, he certainly has plenty of potential, and with Logan Webb already in the majors and Will Bednar rising through the minors, this future rotation looks very promising.

Mikulski is a bit older than the other Giants prospects on this list, but with a funky delivery and plenty of life in his stuff, he could become a valuable, and cheap option for the fourth or fifth spot in the Giants rotation in no time.

SF Giants
SF Giants / Eric Espada/GettyImages

5 prospects the SF Giants shouldn't trade at the 2022 MLB trade deadline

4. The SF Giants shouldn't trade fast-rising Kyle Harrison

While Kyle Harrison has always been on the radar of Giants fans in the know, his rise in 2022 thus far has been fantastic, and with such great stuff and the confidence that comes with it, we could be looking at a major rotation piece in the next few years.

Harrison is still only 20-years old, but if he can continue to handle the pressure of taking the next step up time and time again, there's no reason for the Giants not to see him as a future ace pairing with Logan Webb.

The step up to AA Richmond hasn't been as successful as his stint in High A Eugene earlier in the year, but with patience, the Giants can build a rotation for the future around Webb, Harrison and Will Bednar, so it's best to keep them both around as long possible.

He started the season lower down on the Giants top-30 prospect list, but now, finds himself at No. 2 behind just Marco Luciano, and if he can finish the 2022 campaign strong, we could be seeing a big league debut as soon as 2023.


5. The SF Giants shouldn't trade blue-chip prospect Luis Matos

While a lot of the attention in the Giants farm deservedly goes to the likes of Marco Luciano and Heliot Ramos, who has tasted the big leagues in 2022, one player that deserves much more attention is outfielder Luis Matos.

The 20-year old has been impressing in the minors since 2019, and although his beginning in high-A Eugene this year hasn't been fantastic, he has all the tools to be a star of the Giants outfield in the future.

Matos is the best natural hitter in the Giants farm system, and while he's still in A ball, the Giants are going to allow him to come along with patience, and when he, along with Ramos and Luciano are ready for the bigs, this team will see a big influx of young talent.

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