SF Giants swing trade for minor league shortstop from Boston Red Sox

The SF Giants and Boston Red Sox swung a trade on Opening Day. The Giants acquired minor league shortstop Christian Koss, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants swing trade for minor league shortstop from Boston Red Sox

No return was listed, so there is a good chance that the Giants sent cash over to the Red Sox. Koss has been assigned to Double-A, so he is likely not a candidate to impact the major league roster in 2024. That said, he does give the organization some extra middle infield depth.

Koss was originally drafted in the 12th round of the 2019 draft by the Colorado Rockies out of the University of California at Irvine. He was shipped to the Red Sox in exchange for minor league reliever Yoan Aybar.

Despite being a college draftee, the 26-year-old infielder has made a deliberate climb up the minor league ladder, reaching Triple-A for the first time in 2023. Overall, he has registered a .269/.331/.446 line with a 6.9 percent walk rate, 22.5 percent strikeout rate, and a .177 ISO in four minor league seasons.

The right-handed bat did not flash much power in college, never hitting more than five home runs in a season. However, he has eclipsed the 15-homer threshold in two of the past three seasons. Unfortunately, he only tallied four homers in 296 plate appearances last season primarily in Double-A and Triple-A.

Koss has been a below-average hitter for much of his pro career with some of his best numbers coming in the lower minors. That said, he does have some pull-side power.

In the field, the former 12th-round pick has experience all around the diamond and has seen more time in left field in recent years. He is capable as a defender at shortstop and that could be where he plays in the Giants organization.

One of the team's top infield prospects, Aeverson Arteaga, has been placed on the 60-day injured list to start the year. It felt like a good bet that he would move up to Double-A given that he posted a .708 OPS with 17 home runs in 546 High-A plate appearances in 2023.

However, he will not be an option to start the year. Koss would slot right into place at Double-A and could see time around the field once Arteaga returns.