SF Giants should pursue trade for Bay Area native after Detroit Tigers decision

The first base position is a little bit up in the air for the SF Giants going into next season. If they want to add an intriguing option, Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson may be a trade candidate after the Tigers announced a different player will start at first in 2025.

After Detroit added second baseman Gleyber Torres in free agency, former Giants general manager and current Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said that Colt Keith will move to first base for the 2025 season.

That puts Torkelson, the number one overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft, in a bit of a tough spot. The Arizona State product had a promising 2023 season in which he blasted 31 home runs for Detroit, but last season was a struggle as he slashed .219/.295/.374 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI in 342 at-bats.

SF Giants should trade for Bay Area native Spencer Torkelson

Harris has not completely given up on Torkelson, saying that he thinks there is a spot for him on the team if he has a strong offseason and spring training. However, the Tigers would probably entertain trading the 25-year-old if the right offer came along.

Plus, Torkelson is a native of Petaluma, California which is roughly an hour north of San Francisco. Perhaps a return to the Bay Area is just what the power-hitting righty needs to get his career back on track.

Last month we explored a potential mock trade for Torkelson in which first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. and reliever Camilo Doval went to Detroit in exchange for Torkelson and a Detroit reliever. A deal like this could still work potentially, but the Giants may want to keep Wade and platoon him with Torkelson at first.

Maybe a trade of Wilmer Flores, a right-handed first baseman who would not really have a place on the roster if the Giants added Torkelson, and Doval in exchange for Torkelson would get the job done.

The Giants should be careful to not give up too much for Torkelson. Perhaps he really is a bust, so they should be cautious to not give up any valuable prospects to land him. They would be wise to wait and see how desperate Detroit may be to get rid of him if they feel there really is no place for him on the team.

It could end up being a situation like last season for the Giants when they had to move on from former top prospect catcher Joey Bart and ended up giving him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for practically nothing and he had a very good year. According to spotrac.com, Torkelson only has one minor league option remaining so if the Giants play their cards right maybe they can acquire him and help him get back on track.