Ranking the SF Giants 3 best trade assets at the 2024 MLB trade deadline

Ranking the SF Giants 3 best trade assets at the 2024 MLB trade deadline

3. LaMonte Wade Jr.

Moving LaMonte Wade Jr. would not be a popular move, but the Giants should at least consider it. He will be entering the final year of arbitration this winter and the Giants have to weigh whether they see him as a long-term fit.

By the end of 2025, the veteran bat will be 31, which is not old from a baseball standpoint. However, he continues to sustain knee and leg injuries that will possibly limit him to just first base going forward.

That is not necessarily a bad thing. Wade Jr. is still an athletic player and can be an excellent defensive first baseman. This is in conjunction with the value he brings to the plate.

The left-handed bat is slashing .298/.423/.399 (141 wRC+) with three home runs, 19 RBI, and 30 runs in 234 plate appearances. This includes a 17.5 percent walk rate, 22.2 strikeout rate, and a .101 ISO.

Wade Jr.'s power numbers have declined in recent seasons, but he has offset this with an excellent eye at the plate. Any team would benefit from having a hitter who can post a .423 on-base percentage in the lineup.

That is part of what makes him a solid trade chip. With more than one year of team control, Wade Jr.'s value will not be any higher than it is today. If the Giants do not see him as a long-term fit for the organization, then moving him now to replenish the farm system makes some sense.