Ranking the top pitching trade targets if the SF Giants miss out on Shohei Ohtani

The SF Giants are holding out hope that they can finally add a top-of-the-class free agent to their Bay area club. As they anxiously await the decision of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, San Fransisco fans around the globe have dreams of receiving the ultimate baseball Christmas gift.

Ranking the top pitching trade targets if the SF Giants miss out on Shohei Ohtani

While the free agent's final decision remains muddied, and several teams remain in the mix for the multi-time MVP's services, it is important to remember that the Giants quest for a superstar infusion is not Otani or bust.

The 2023 offseason is unusually flush with available stars. Juan Soto has already swapped jerseys. Yet, at least four star bats are still available on the trade market.

And, the opportunity to add a superstar does not stop there. After losing out on Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa in recent offseasons, what if President Farhan Zaidi and the SF Giants front office elected to add to their top-heavy pitching rotation instead?

If the Giants choose to value top-tier pitching over an All-Star bat, they would have their choice of multiple pathways toward adding a Cy Young-level ace. Who is available? Who makes the most sense for San Fransisco? And how would make the biggest star impact on the Bay Area?

Here are our top-four pitching rankings for superstars on the MLB trade market:

Ranking the top pitching trade targets if the SF Giants miss out on Shohei Ohtani

4) Dylan Cease

Dylan Cease is one of the more interesting players on the off-season trade block. The young ace felt like an untouchable asset in 2022. Cease pitched to the tune of a dazzling 2.20 ERA, 227 strikeouts, and a 14-8 record over 184 innings pitched. This earned him second place in the AL Cy Young vote, losing to a historic season by future Hall-of-Famer Justin Verlander.

While his MLB-leading 78 walks were a sign of potential concern, the then 26-year-old was considered to be a pillar of the White Sox's franchise. However, a sub-par 2023 campaign has brought Cease's momentum back down to earth.

Last year, the Chicago star's ERA ballooned to 4.58. He also finished with a Win/Loss record below .500 (7-9). His strikeout numbers were still high, 214 in 177 innings. And his walk numbers, 79 for the season, were still high, ranking 6th in baseball.

Cease is not the slam dunk ace he appeared to be. But he is a bounce-back candidate with a sky-high ceiling. A move to a pitcher-friendly Oracle Park and a spot behind incumbent ace Logan Webb could both be helpful factors as the Chicago star seeks to regain his former dominance.

He would be a game-changing addition as the SF Giants seek to build their identity around elite top-of-the-rotation pitching in 2024 and beyond. Cease would be an excellent consolation prize if Ohtani signs elsewhere.

Ranking the top pitching trade targets if the SF Giants miss out on Shohei Ohtani

2) Shane Bieber

Speaking of former aces seeking a bounceback in 2024, we present Shane Bieber. While Bieber was noticeably more effective in 2023 (with a 3.80 ERA, 6-6 record, 1-7 strikeouts, and only 34 walks), the 28-year-old ace has lost a small step over the past few seasons.

Bieber's best seasons earned him AL Cy Young honors in 2020. The Cleveland superstar posted the best ERA in baseball (1.63), recorded a ridiculous 8-1 record, and led all of baseball in strikeouts during the COVID-shortened season. Since that time, Bieber has had two top-seven Cy Young finishes (2019 and 2022), two All-Star selections, one Gold Glove (2022), and an All-Star game MVP award.

The longtime Guardian has a unique pitch mix. His 91 mph four-seam fastball is startlingly slow, particularly in the modern-day MLB. However, his elite control paired with his savvy mix of off-speed pitches, including a nasty slider, allow him to dominate without 100 mph velocity.

Bieber will pitch the 2024 season in his last year of arbitration, before entering free agency in 2025. While he will require a massive payday to remain in the Bay area long-term, the Cleveland ace has proven he belongs in the top tier of starting pitchers.

As much as Logan Webb is developing into one of baseball's best young arms, Bieber would join him as co-ace, giving San Fransisco one of the best pitching duos in baseball. This advantage would give them the firepower to seriously contend with the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and the rest of the loaded NL West.

Ranking the top pitching trade targets if the SF Giants miss out on Shohei Ohtani

1) Corbin Burnes

This final member of the 2025 free agency class represents one of the top-tier fish in the next offseason market.

Corbin Burnes needs no introduction, even to the casual baseball fan. He does not need a bounce-back campaign. He does not carry any unusual injury concerns. Or any concerns in general. Simply put, Burnes is one of the top pitchers in the world. He is a former Cy Young winner (2021). He has been an All-Star in each of the past three seasons. He has finished in the top eight in NL Cy Young votes in each of the past four seasons. He holds a career 3.26 ERA (3.39 in 2023). He holds one of the best K-to-BB rations in baseball (870 career strikeouts to only 206 career walks). And his Baseball Savant metrics indicate that he could perform better than the above numbers.

Burnes is one of the rare pitchers who would immediately supplant Webb as the ace of the team. Adding him to the roster would allow the Giants to feature a one-two punch, unlike anything the franchise has seen since Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain were leading the franchise to consistent World Series appearances.

This potential top-of-the-order pairing would give SF a top-of-the-rotation advantage against any other club. Should they crack the playoff field, and one would assume adding Burnes would allow them to, they would also have the pitching firepower to wreak havoc in shorter postseason series.

Burnes would require a small fortune of assets to acquire. The soon-to-be free agent would also likely demand something in the range of the nine-year, $324 million contract that the Yankees offered Gerrit Cole received during the 2019-20 season.

The price tag would be sky-high across all levels. But the juice is worth the squeeze for a club like the Giants. Should Ohtani break the Bay area's hearts, Burnes would be a thrilling pivot as the franchise seeks to add the ever-elusive superstar.