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5 SF Giants prospects that should be untouchable at the 2023 MLB Trade deadline

By Nathan Smith |
SF Giants, Kyle Harrison
SF Giants, Kyle Harrison / Christian Petersen/GettyImages
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When Farhan Zaidi took over as President of Baseball Operations for the SF Giants, they had one of the most depleted prospect cupboards in all of baseball, but now, five years later, we are looking at one of the deepest prospect pools in the league.

5 SF Giants prospects that should be untouchable at the 2023 MLB Trade deadline

For many of the Giants top prospects, their stock has risen significantly in 2023, and with two of their best, Casey Schmitt and Patrick Bailey off to hot starts, the team are looking like buyers at the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline, beginning at the end of July.

On one hand, the Giants could look to sell some of their veterans to add more prospects, but if they do want to buy and push for a playoff spot, these are five prospects that should not be moved under any circumstance.

5. The SF Giants should not move Reggie Crawford

The SF Giants have swung high on potential many times over the past few years, but no top draft pick of theirs has more potential than two-way player Reggie Crawford, who was drafted with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.

In two seasons with the University of Connecticut, Crawford hit .309 with 14 home runs and 78 RBI's, combined with a 2.25 ERA in 7 appearances (1 start) through 8 innings, and now, it appears the Giants are giving him every opportunity to make it as a professional as a two-way player.

In 3.2 innings to start his Single-A career thus far, Crawford has given up 3 hits, 0 runs and 6 strikeouts on the mound, while picking up 1 hit through 8 plate appearances thus far, and while he's still young (22-years old), he has plenty of time to grow, and will be a valuable piece to the future of the Giants.

5 SF Giants prospects that should be untouchable at the 2023 MLB Trade deadline

4. The SF Giants should not move Luis Matos

The SF Giants have been waiting on a few prospects for the past couple of seasons, with one of those names being Luis Matos, and after a solid 2022 campaign, he's been scorching hot to start 2023, quickly becoming one of the hottest prospects in the entire Giants organization.

Over 48 games between Double and Triple-A in 2023, Matos has picked up 66 hits in 216 plate appearances this season, Matos has been fantastic, and with the Giants going through an injury crisis at the major league level, he could find himself as a Giant, sooner, rather than later.

With 311 games of experience at the age of 21, Matos has been through the ringer down in the minor leagues, and while very few prospects are 'sure things' at the major league level, Matos has to be considered very close to it at this point in time, meaning San Francisco shouldn't let him go.

3. The SF Giants should not move Grant McCray

While the SF Giants have several names ready to make an impact over the next 12 months, they've also got some names slowly rising through the organization, and one player that could become a major impact player for the Giants in the next few years it's outfielder Grant McCray.

In 2022, McCray was downright dominant dominant, competing in 120 games at A and A+ level, combining for 23 home runs, 79 RBI's and 43 stolen bases, and with fantastic defense in the outfield, he's one of the most well-rounded prospects in the organization.

He's begun the 2023 season at the A+ level with a .236 average through his first 226 plate appearances, racking up 8 home runs, 26 RBI's and 21 stolen bases, and if the Giants can exercise patience with McCray, he could be a key piece to this lineup for a long, long time to come.

5 SF Giants prospects that should be untouchable at the 2023 MLB Trade deadline

2. The SF Giants should not move Marco Luciano

For the past few years, Marco Luciano has been considered the Giants' top prospect, and while that spot has been taken for now, he's still considered an elite-level player and a long-term piece in the Giants infield, and no matter the player, the Giants shouldn't move him at the trade deadline.

Somehow, Luciano is still just 21-years of age, and after a solid 2022 campaign where he slugged 11 home runs and hit .269 in 227 plate appearances, and while his average is down to .158 in 2023, he has flashed plenty of talent in the field and hit 5 home runs in just 95 plate appearances at the Double-A level.

Still, Luciano has racked up 245 games and 896 plate appearances at the minor league level by the age of just 21, so the Giants should no doubt hang on to their No. 2 overall prospect until he's ready to make an impact at the major league level.

1. The SF Giants should under no circumstance move top prospect Kyle Harrison

A year ago, young left hander Kyle Harrison looked like a promising arm that could join the rotation at some point in 2023, but now, after an incredible rise, his eventual MLB debut will bring with it plenty of hype and expectation for a rotation that needs a spark in a big way.

In 2023, Harrison has a 3.55 ERA in 38 innings of work, with 66 strikeouts to just 22 hits over that time, and with elite level velocity and two fantastic secondary pitches, he's expected to be a major success at the big league level whenver his eventual call-up occurs.

While Farhan Zaidi is seemingly prepared to swing big and be aggressive this trade deadline, if the Giants need to protect any one prospect, it's Harrison, as he could pair Logan Webb and Alex Cobb in the rotation immediately in 2023, making him key for the short and long-term future of the Giants organization.

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