SF Giants reportedly eyeing a trio of outfielders ahead of 2025 MLB trade deadline

The SF Giants should look to upgrade the outfield if they plan to compete for a playoff spot. According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, they are eyeing a trio of outfielders, headlined by Luis Robert Jr.

SF Giants reportedly eyeing a trio of outfielders ahead of 2025 MLB trade deadline

Bowden joined the Murph and Markus Show on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming trade deadline. In that segment, the former general manager confirmed that Buster Posey is aggressively looking for another power bat.

Bowden mentioned Robert Jr., along with Tyler O'Neill of the Baltimore Orioles and Lane Thomas of the Cleveland Guardians, that the Giants are targeting. These are not names who represent true upgrades in the outfield.

In particular, O'Neill is in the first season of a three-year, $49.5 million deal. He was coming off a strong year with the Boston Red Sox in 2024, where he posted an .847 OPS with 31 home runs and 61 RBI in 473 plate appearances.

That was well above O'Neill's career numbers, but he received a lucrative deal in free agency from Baltimore. He has a .724 OPS with six home runs and 17 RBI in 145 plate appearances this season. These are quality numbers, but they would not represent an upgrade over any of the Giants' outfielders. Trading him so early into his new deal would be surprising, but there is some precedent for that.

Lane Thomas had a breakout season with the Washington Nationals in 2023, where he recorded a .783 OPS with 28 home runs and 86 RBI in 682 plate appearances. This includes 20 steals in 25 opportunities. The veteran outfielder has struggled to replicate those numbers and has slumped to a .518 OPS in 142 plate appearances this year.

Luis Robert Jr. might be the most interesting name mentioned. He is having a strong July, and the Chicago White Sox hope to leverage that in trade talks. That said, he has been a below-average hitter since the start of 2024, slashing .216/.284/.366 (81 wRC+) in 761 plate appearances. That is a large sample.

The 27-year-old outfielder also carries a substantial financial cost. His contract includes a team option for 2026 and 2027 for $20 million apiece. On paper, the White Sox might be motivated to decline his team option in favor of a $2 million buyout.

If the cost is minimal, then Robert Jr. would be a nice addition. There is no guarantee that he would even be an upgrade in the outfield. That said, if the Giants are interested, it might be in their best interest to check back in the offseason.