Rival general managers believe that SF Giants have picked a trade deadline path

After putting together a winning streak against the Colorado Rockies, the SF Giants might be reconsidering their trade deadline strategy after seeing their playoff odds improve. However, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, rival general managers still expect San Francisco to sell at the trade deadline.

Rival general managers believe that SF Giants have picked a trade deadline path

The Giants remain on the outside of the playoff race with a 53-55 record. They are 3.5 games behind the New York Mets for the third and final Wild Card spot. The Atlanta Braves (56-48) and San Diego Padres (57-51) are first and second, respectively, in the Wild Card race.

There is a good chance that at least two of those teams hold onto a playoff spot by the end of the season. There are three teams between the Mets and San Francisco in the Wild Card standings. Plus, the Cincinnati Reds (50-55) and Chicago Cubs (51-56) are not far behind.

If we assume that the Giants need at least 85 wins to reach the playoffs, they would have to go 32-22 in the final 54 games of the season. That would be a .592 winning percentage for a team that has rarely played consistently good baseball in 2024.

Perhaps, the Giants ride it out with now that both Robbie Ray and Blake Snell are in the rotation along with Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, and Hayden Birdsong. That can be a formidable rotation but there may not be enough time left for this year's team to realize that potential.

The trade deadline is only one day away and rivals around baseball see the Giants as sellers. Nightengale identifies a handful of Giants players who could be on the market:

Rival GMs believe the Giants will sell, and besides their big three free-agent pickups, will shop players like reliever Taylor Rogers, starter Alex Cobb, outfielders Michael Conforto and Mike Yastrzemski, and infielder Wilmer Flores.

If the Giants sell, Blake Snell could be one of the bigger names moved. However, moving any of Taylor Rogers, Alex Cobb, Michael Conforto, Mike Yastrzemski, or Wilmer Flores could open up playing time for their younger players.

With the exception of Snell and Yastrzemski, moving any of the other players would not necessarily make the team worse. In fact, the open roster spot could be better used elsewhere.

The games leading up to the trade deadline are generally when teams solidify their decision. Overall, the Giants have not played like buyers, but they did win three games against the Colorado Rockies over the weekend. The Rockies are not a good team. However, the playoff odds have improved slightly and that is something that the front office will need to weigh.