SF Giants can supercharge farm system by parting with 3 'best match' trade chips

The SF Giants are one of the few MLB teams who seem certain to be sellers going into the trade deadline. That could put them in a pretty advantageous position given all of the potential trade chips they have at their disposal.

While their farm system is well-respected and has risen in recent years, they have a chance to really supercharge their minor league ranks and become one of the top ranked farm systems in MLB after the draft if they play their cards right.

Jeff Passan of ESPN recently wrote an article and identified three Giants trade chips who would be the “best match” for three contending teams. Let’s see what a deal could look like to make those trades happen.

Giants can enrich farm system by pulling of these 3 trades

Trading Luis Arraez to the Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays could use some help at the top of their lineup and Passan lists Luis Arraez as a great fit. He would be a great leadoff or No. 2 hitter in basically any lineup so he’d definitely help a Rays team trying to assert control in the American League East.

What about a trade that sent Arraez to the Rays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brody Hopkins (ranked No. 4 in Tampa Bay’s system) and right-handed pitcher Ty Johnson (No. 18)?

Hopkins has a 4.77 ERA on the season in Triple-A and has allowed a jarring 70 walks in 71 and 2/3 innings pitched while striking out 87. If the Giants could get him to throw strikes maybe they could turn him into a reliable rotation arm.

Johnson is also in Triple-A and his numbers are much stronger as he has a 2.74 ERA on the season in 10 starts and 49 and 1/3 innings pitched. He’s struck out 65 batters compared to 19 walks. Landing those two guys would give the Giants two promising arms who are right on the cusp of the big leagues which is just what they need.

Trading Robbie Ray to the Cardinals

Passan lists left-handed pitcher Robbie Rays as the best match for the St. Louis Cardinals which makes sense because he has looked great his last few starts and the Cardinals could use a boost to the rotation.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic proposed a Giants-Cardinals trade involving Ray that felt a little light on the return, but what about a deal that sent Ray to the Cardinals in exchange for catcher Leo Bernal (No. 5 prospect for Cardinals) and left-handed pitcher Ivan Anderson (No. 12)?

Bernal would give the Giants an intriguing option at catcher, a position that feels very unsettled right now. Bernal is hitting .268/.358/.444 with 10 homers and 47 runs batted in for the Triple-A squad and Anderson is a Fresno native who had a great year last season in Double-A with a 2.59 ERA in 25 starts but has missed basically all of this season due to injury.

He did just start a rehab assignment though so the Giants could get him and then maybe hope he makes his big league debut at some point next season.

Trading Jung Hoo Lee to the Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are in need of outfield help and Jung Hoo Lee could be a great match in the eyes of Passan. It’s questionable if the Giants would want to deal a fan-favorite but they’d certainly get a nice haul in return.

If the Giants did trade Lee to the Phillies they should ask for a return of right-handed pitcher Aidan Miller (No. 2), outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. (No. 6) and right-handed pitcher Jean Cabrera (No. 13).

That would be a fair haul for Lee who is under contract for next season and was snubbed of an All-Star nod this year after a career-best season so far.

If the Giants were to make these moves they would really be loading up their farm system which would make a lot of people feel better about the team’s future after such a disappointing regular season.

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