Giants Rumors: Could SF steal Dodgers’ long-desired trade candidate?

When Brandon Crawford played his last game with the San Francisco Giants at the end of this season, the Giants lost a veteran presence, a two-time World Series winner, and a shortstop. Crawford only played in 92 games this year between stints on the IL, with No. 2 prospect Marco Luciano taking over toward the end of the season. The Giants are excited about Luciano but don't seem committed to giving him the everyday start at shortstop yet, so they're looking to the markets to find another.

In a surprising move, the Giants signed catcher Tom Murphy to form a platoon with Patrick Bailey, seemingly turning their attentions away from former top prospect Joey Bart. This has led to some speculation about Bart's future; could he be packaged in a trade for a new shortstop? Could one of those shortstops be a player long-coveted by a division rival?

Giants Rumors: Could SF steal Dodgers’ long-desired trade candidate?

Talks between the Dodgers and Brewers regarding a trade for Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames have been starting and stopping throughout the offseason, though things seem to have stalled and quieted in recent weeks. As things stand for the Dodgers now, they're expected to start Gavin Lux at shortstop next season after he missed a year with a torn ACL. His 2022 season was promising and he's still young, which could make him a key piece in a trade for Adames and/or Burnes, both of whom the Dodgers have been very keen on.

Adames' bat is serviceable but nothing special (he hit .217/.310/.407 this year, with 24 home runs and 80 RBI), but he's become an elite defensive shortstop. In 2022, he finished the year with a career-high 10 OAA at shortstop; this year, he broke through that ceiling easily to set a new high at 16. At 28, Adames could easily give the Giants two or more good years of work if he can stay healthy, and he's avoided any notably long stints on the IL for the entirety of his career.

The Giants have already lost out on Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers this season, and they may lose Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but a trade for Adames could be the perfect way to swipe a candidate the Dodgers have had their eye on from right under their noses.

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