Ranking the SF Giants needs at the 2022 MLB trade deadline

SF Giants, Darin Ruf
SF Giants, Darin Ruf / Ezra Shaw/GettyImages
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Through two months of the 2022 MLB season, the SF Giants have been incredibly inconsistent, as they just followed a series loss to the Rockies by sweeping the first place Dodgers, and it makes the season outlook murky.

Ranking the SF Giants needs at the 2022 MLB trade deadline

When healthy, this can be one of the best teams in the majors, but being in a tough division in the NL West, it's hard to see where this squad will be come the trade deadline.

With one of the best farm systems in the majors, the Giants will also need to balance competing in 2022 with their future plans, but with Farhan Zaidi at the helm, it's easy to believe in this front office and their plans for the August deadline.

We can sit here all day and look at specific players the Giants should target, but in this list, we will be ranking every need for the 2022 SF Giants at the August trade deadline.


1. The SF Giants biggest need is on the infield

The SF Giants entered the 2022 season feeling confident about the infield, but with so many injuries and not being able to field a consistent lineup, it's one spot they could certainly address.

With Brandon Belt missing a majority of the season, it's exposed the Giants lack of a true power bat in the middle of the lineup, and with names like Josh Bell and Trey Mancini out there, it's one spot they could fix with relative ease.

Up the middle, the Giants are seemingly set with Brandon Crawford, Thairo Estrada, Evan Longoria and Wilmer Flores, but if they find a name they can add at third base, that would also help this team's cause.

The inconsistencies in their bats have plagued them throughout the year, and adding a big bat to the middle of the lineup can only deepen this team, and set them up for a serious World Series run in 2022.

SF Giants, Curt Casali
SF Giants, Curt Casali / Lachlan Cunningham/GettyImages


Ranking the SF Giants needs at the 2022 MLB trade deadline

2. One of the SF Giants biggest need comes from losing Buster Posey

The Giants entered the 2022 campaign with the tough task of replacing one of the greatest catchers baseball has ever seen, and while it's unfair to put that on Joey Bart, he just didn't live up to any expectations to begin the season.

He has now been sent back to AAA, and while Curt Casali has been serviceable in the starting role, the Giants need to add another big time catcher, and it just so happens that a team they dealt with in 2021 has a pretty good one available.

If they don't look to the likes of Wilson Contreras, who is having an MVP level campaign, the Giants lack of consistency from the lineup may be further exposed, to the point where this could arguably be their biggest need at the deadline.

If the Giants can't land someone like the Cubs Contreras, they may ride with Casali and Austin Wynns/Joey Bart for the rest of the season, and while they could make an impact with those guys in the lineup, Wilson would be a huge difference maker on this squad.


3. The SF Giants need to address their rotation

While Logan Webb and Carlos Rodon have led from the front, and Jakob Junis has been a pleasant surprise, beyond that, the Giants need to shore up the back end of their rotation if they are to climb back into the NL West race.

Alex Cobb and Anthony DeSclafani have both dealt with injuries, and while Sammy Long and Alex Wood have done their part, along with the now-injured Junis, this team needs a more set in stone rotation to finish 2022.

There are plenty of names out there, from the Reds duo of Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle, to Oakland's Frankie Montas to Marcus Stroman or Kyle Hendricks, and the Giants need to get one of these names.

The future is looking bright in the minor leagues with Kyle Harrison, Will Bednar and Mike Mikulski all looking like future rotation pieces, but the Giants need to solidify this rotation now, and any of the above names could do this.

With Rodon and Webb leading the way, this will always be a tough rotation to face in the playoffs, but if you can add one of these names and Alex Wood to your four-man playoff rotation, you'll be able to win any series you appear in.

SF Giants, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater
SF Giants, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater / Ezra Shaw/GettyImages

4. One of the SF Giants least needed positions is the outfield

One position the Giants may be overstocked in is the outfield, with names like Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater, Stevan Duggar, Joc Pederson, Darin Ruf and others all contributing so far in 2022.

If they can find themselves a star to anchor this lineup in the outfield, the Giants will certainly entertain that prospect, but with the outstanding seasons being had by both Yaz and Joc, they really don't need to add too much.

Depth is never a bad thing however, and with Heliot Ramos and Luis Gonzalez being unexpected contributors, the Giants really have all their needs covered in the outfield, freeing up this front office to explore needs at other positions when the August deadline rolls around.


5. With recent success the SF Giants don't need to address the bullpen

Despite struggles at points throughout the season from this bullpen, they've all been performing admirably, and now, with the return of Jake McGee, this unit is really set to hit their strides for the rest of the 2022 season.

Camilo Doval has been electric in recent times, and with standout performances from Jarlin Garcia, McGee and Dominic Leone, there's no reason for the team to address this spot.

There's a few names down in the minors ready to come up and contribute at anytime as well, but with such a deep and formidable bullpen, the Giants should feel comfortable that any name in this group can go out and perform in any given situation.

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