SF Giants trade for 2023 All-Star would be major upgrade over Yastrzemski and Slater

The SF Giants could benefit from some help in their outfield. They have suffered key injuries to their outfield group and several players have underperformed. That is why they should swing a trade for White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

SF Giants trade for 2023 All-Star would be major upgrade over Yastrzemski and Slater

The Giants have had some turbulence in their outfield so far this season. Losing Jung Hoo Lee for the season was a major blow although it was somewhat assuaged by the emergence of Luis Matos and more recently Heliot Ramos.

While Matos was sent down following a cold few weeks, Ramos has been on the rise as of late and is currently carrying the team's offense. If he keeps hitting like this then his bat will stay in the lineup.

The rest of the outfield could certainly improve, though. It is a veteran group of Mike Yastrzemski, Michael Conforto, and Austin Slater. Conforto has been the best of this group, slashing .268/.324/.478 with 8 home runs and 24 RBI. Yastrzemski has bounced back from a brutal start to the year, but his average still sits at .215 and we may just have to accept that is all he is capable of at this point with some occassional pop and above average defense.

Slater has been the biggest liability thus far which is why there was such outcry over him being called back up and Matos being sent down. Slater currently has just 6 hits in 43 at-bats this season. He has been injured for a decent chunk of the season, but that does not make those numbers look any better. Slater has a track record of success in the big leagues and could turn things around, but the Giants may feel they need to make a move to upgrade their outfield.

In comes Luis Robert Jr. Currently on the dismal White Sox, Robert Jr. is definitely a trade candidate as the White Sox will almost certainly look to sell ahead of the trade deadline. He is just 26 years old and is coming off a stellar 2023 campaign in which he was an All-Star and had 38 home runs and 80. RBI.

He has been banged up for much of 2024 which unfortunately has been a theme throughout his career. In just 11 games this season he already has 4 home runs so his power has not left his bat.

Bleacher Report lists the Giants as a potential landing spot for Robert Jr. However, it should be noted that Robert Jr. will not come cheap. The Giants would probably have to cough up at least one top prospect to get him. That means someone like Marco Luciano or perhaps even Luis Matos. Perhaps they could work Slater into the deal to clear a spot on the roster.

It would be a risk for sure, but the Giants would be taking a bet on a guy who has proven he can have great success in the big leagues and in doing so would upgrade their outfield in a major way.