SF Giants left an overlooked trade chip on the table in deadline deal with Yankees

By most accounts, the SF Giants had a successful trade deadline. They dealt the players they should have and got a number of intriguing prospects in return. However, they may have left one trade chip on the table.

One of the more puzzling decisions the Giants made this year was not promoting veteran pitcher Michael Fulmer at any point. He had a solid year in Triple-A Sacramento but even with all of the team’s bullpen carnage they never gave him a look.

They eventually let him go and he signed with the Los Angeles Angels where he threw 3 and 2/3 scoreless innings before he got designated for assignment.

He elected free agency and now the New York Yankees signed him. He just made his debut and pitched a scoreless inning. The fact that the Yankees had interest in him makes one wonder whether the Giants might have been able to milk a little bit more out of Brian Cashman had Fulmer been included in the deal that sent Heliot Ramos to New York in exchange for pitcher Henry Lalane and second baseman Kaeden Kent.

Obviously Fulmer would not have moved the needle entirely. Something tells me throwing him into the deal would not have gotten the Yankees to part with George Lombard Jr. Still, maybe throwing him in the deal would have allowed the Giants to get one more prospect.

SF Giants could have milked more out of Yankees in Helot Ramos trade

One guy I had my eye on in New York's system ahead of the trade deadline was 25-year-old pitcher Eric Reyzelman. He was born in San Ramon, went to De La Salle High School, pitched at the University of San Francisco for two seasons, and as of 2025 was ranked as a top-25 prospect for the Yankees.

His numbers this year have been pretty dreadful as he sports a 7.40 ERA on the year in 41 and 1/3 innings pitched. His ERA after being promoted to Triple-A is even more alarming at 10.50. 

The walks are a big concern as he’s issued 22 free passes in 24 innings of work in Triple-A but the strikeout stuff is there as he’s punched out 33 batters in Triple-A and struck out 32 batters in 17 and 1/3 innings in Double-A this year.

He could be a classic case of a player who just needs to return to familiar surroundings to find some success. If the Giants could have acquired him by throwing Fulmer in the deal maybe the fresh air of Northern California would have restored his control and he would have regained his form.

Unfortunately, they weren’t able to do that but at this rate the Yankees may just end up releasing Reyzelman which could allow the Giants to swoop in and get him.

The Fulmer case is a really interesting one because it’s puzzling why the Giants never called him up just to see how he would do and now he’s pitching well for other teams. Why even sign a guy like that if you aren’t going to try to utilize him either in your bullpen or as a trade chip? 

That's not the biggest question the Giants have to answer after this season, but it just speaks to bigger issues about the front office.

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