6 MLB All-Stars that could be SF Giants by the trade deadline

The San Francisco Giants have some work to do at the trade deadline this year. Despite the Dodgers continuing to do Dodgers things and the Diamondbacks having an amazing first half, the Giants are still firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot thanks to a roster that has played better than the sum of its parts.

However, that may not be enough to close the deal in the second half. The Dodgers are loaded with star talent and Arizona has a budding superstar in Corbin Carroll. Most importantly, both of those teams are incredibly likely to be aggressive at the deadline to make their rosters better. For the Giants, standing pat just isn't an option.

Sure, we could focus on the well-known guys who are mortal locks to get moved at the deadline and we have certainly covered many of those names. However, given the level of competition that the Giants are up against, they are going to need more than just fringe rental starters, expendable bullpen arms, and bench depth. This Giants roster is already pretty good after all. What the Giants need are substantial upgrades. They need star power.

Here are 6 MLB All-Stars that could become SF Giants by August 1

While name recognition can lead folks to ignore how a guy is actually playing in the present, there is something to be said about taking into account a player's experience and track record. As a result, this is purely going to be a look at guys that have been All-Stars in the relatively recent past who also have redeeming qualities in the present. Miguel Cabrera is one of the best hitters to ever hold a bat, but that was a long time ago and he would be a terrible idea to trade for.

Lets take a look at some of the All-Stars in the league that could get added to the Giants at the trade deadline.

Michael Lorenzen

This one is kind of funny because the only reason that Michael Lorenzen even made the All-Star team this year is because the Tigers didn't have any healthy options available. Eduardo Rodriguez would have been an easy choice, but he was on the injured list with a finger injury.

However, Lorenzen does have his merits as a potential trade target for the Giants. He doesn't walk many guys, gets guys to chase out of the zone, and has some fastball characteristics that are intriguing. Lorenzen is also set to become a free agent after the season and he is making a relatively modest $8.5 million this season.

The fit isn't perfect as Lorenzen doesn't have amazing peripherals or anything like that. However, as a back-end of the rotation starter who also has successful experience coming out of the bullpen in the past, the Giants could do a lot worse assuming the Tigers' ask for Lorenzen isn't outrageous.

Shohei Ohtani

Trading for Shohei Ohtani would be the single most impactful move that the Giants could make at the trade deadline. In fairness, that would be true of any team trading for Ohtani as he is the only player in the league that fills the role of an elite pitcher and and elite hitter with one roster spot. He is a unicorn.

The trick, of course, is getting the Angels to actually be willing to trade him and then coming up with a trade package that could actually pry Ohtani away from them. We discussed some ways that the Giants could try and force a trade for Ohtani, so we will send you over there for the specifics. The short version, though, is that it could be possible...but it would also be painful.

The smarter play is probably for the Giants to take their chances on getting Ohtani in free agency given what it would cost to trade for him. However, it is hard not to think that the Giants could try to get those negotiations started early by trading for him while also addressing their two biggest areas of need at the deadline.

Lucas Giolito

Lucas Giolito is probably the most frequently named starting pitching trade target this deadline. Fortunately, he also meets the criteria for this list as he was named to the All-Star team back in 2019 in addition to his multiple top 10 finishes in Cy Young races.

There are good reasons why every team that needs a starting pitching are looking at Giolito. The White Sox are surefire sellers and Giolito is a pending free agent making a very reasonable, but significant $10.4 million this season. The lack of team control and financial commitment should make the package required to acquire Giolito pretty reasonable for a pitcher of his caliber.

It isn't a mortal lock that he would be as productive as you would think, though. Giolito's Statcast profile is pretty middling after all especially when you look at the batted ball profiles against him. However, his stuff would play well at home in San Francisco and he should remain the top of the Giants' wish list.

Lance Lynn

A surface look at Lance Lynn's numbers does not inspire the most confidence. He currently sports a 6.06 ERA in 19 starts this season and his walk rate is the highest it has been since 2018. He has also been hit pretty hard this season and at 36 years old, it is fair to wonder if age has finally caught up with him.

However, there is cause for optimism with Lynn. He is only two seasons removed from an All-Star season where he posted a 2.69 ERA with 176 strikeouts in 157 innings. One thing that he has kept through his struggles this season is the strikeouts as his 11.05 K/9 rate would be the highest of his career if the season ended today.

To trade for Lynn, the Giants would have to bet on his track record as an underrated starter that knows how to miss bats. San Francisco is really good at getting the most out of pitchers, so it could work out and make Lynn's $18 million club option for 2024 appealing as well.