SF Giants have free agency backup plan if Brendan Donovan trade talks fizzle

The SF Giants have been linked to St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan, but there are other teams in the mix as well. However, if those trade talks do not bear fruit, the Giants could pivot to free agent Cody Bellinger.

Recent reporting suggests that the Giants have checked in on Bellinger who will also have his fair share of suitors. Bellinger's agent Scott Boras has mentioned the Giants as a team that has expressed some amount of interest in his client.

SF Giants linked to free agent Cody Bellinger

Obviously, Donovan and Bellinger would bring two very different offensive profiles to the lineup. Donovan is more of a line-drive hitter who can double another team to death while Bellinger is much more of a power threat.

Last season Donovan slashed .287/353/.422 with 10 home runs and 50 runs batted in while Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs and 98 runs batted in for the New York Yankees.

Donovan seems like he could be a better fit at Oracle Park and would fit president of baseball operation Buster Posey's ideal mold of a player who makes contact and puts the ball in play more.

However, the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers are among the teams who have expressed interest in Donovan as well and they may have more enticing prospects to offer than the Giants who have reportedly dangled top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt and the team's 2025 first-round draft pick Gavin Kilen.

Money may very well be the thing that lands Bellinger so if the Giants were to offer him the most money they could probably get him to come to San Francisco. That is a big if though because we know the Giants already have a lot of money tied up with other veteran position players so ownership might chafe at the idea of adding yet another 30-something player on a nine-figure contract.

Bellinger may make more sense because the Giants do not currently have anyone on the roster who has proven they can be a consistent, everyday right fielder. At second base, Casey Schmitt proved he can be a serviceable everyday player in that spot in 2025 so an upgrade to the outfield may be the greater area of need.

At this point in the article, one might reasonably ask, "Why noy both?" It's a fair query, but the Giants do not seem to be in the mood to go crazy this offseason. They may very well limit themselves to one upgrade to the lineup so if they are not able to land Donovan maybe they can turn to free agency and make a play for someone like Bellinger to add some pop.