Top trade targets the SF Giants should consider to upgrade the right side of the field

The SF Giants have a handful of needs with the trade deadline being less than two months away. First base remains an obvious area to upgrade, but a couple of other positions are emerging as needs.

Top trade targets the SF Giants should consider to upgrade the right side of the field

1. First base

There's no way around it, but first base has been an issue all season long. The Giants recently DFA'd former Willie Mac Award winner Lamonte Wade Jr. and turned to another left-handed veteran in Dominic Smith on a one-year deal. Smith has put up quality at-bats since joining San Francisco and had some big swings in the final two games against the division rival Padres. However, only time will tell if he can be a long-term solution for the squad.

The most exciting option is in-house, and that is Bryce Eldridge, who was recently promoted to Triple-A Sacramento. In just his second game there, he blasted a grand slam for his first home run at Triple-A. If he ends up playing well enough, Buster Posey and the front office may have to call him up sooner rather than later. However, Jerar Encarnación
is also in the mix, who had hand surgery in Spring Training and recently returned from the injured list. He hasn't gotten off to a great start, but if he gets hot, he could become a major part of the solution.

Even with these options, there's still a pretty good chance the Giants will have to look elsewhere for their answer. Two intriguing names that come to mind are Ryan O'Hearn and Rhys Hoskins. O'Hearn has been a revelation for a struggling Baltimore this season, getting off to the best start of his career. Hoskins, on the other hand, hasn't been quite as good but would still provide good pop at the position as well as veteran playoff experience. Other possibilities include guys like Yandy Díaz and Ryan Mountcastle, though those seem less likely.

2. Second Base

Second base isn't nearly as much of a problem as first base, but it definitely isn't a strength. Tyler Fitzgerald has been serviceable, but overall underwhelming. He had a few hot weeks, but his power has vanished (only two home runs) and his wRC+ is down to a mere 95. On the bright side, he's been solid defensively as he's posted 4 DRS. He also brings elite speed to the table, as he currently ranks 13th in MLB in sprint speed which places him in the 97th percentile.

If the Giants wanted a little more, offensively, out of second base, Amed Rosario could be a fit. He's hitting .290 with a 115 wRC+ in limited action, and his three home runs slightly outpace Fitzgerald. Yoán Moncada is another name that the front office could look at as he's hitting .237/.336/.505 with 6 home runs. Neither are a premier game-changer, but in the National League where second base is fairly weak, the bar isn't extremely high.

3. Right Field

Right field isn't a crisis, but it's a question mark right now. Mike Yastrzemski looked revitalized to start the year, but hit just .215 with no home runs in a rough month of May. Luis Matos was the guy who many fans expected to be the solution there, but he was overall disappointing and recently optioned to Triple-A. Daniel Johnson, on the other hand, provided a bit of a jolt in his season debut against the Padres with a multi-hit effort that included a game-saving catch late in the game.

Although Jackson provided a good spark, right field is far from being a stable position for the Giants. As mentioned earlier, Jerar Encarnación
could be a factor here if he heats up, especially given the Giants' need for a power bat.

4. Final Thoughts

The Giants have a plethera of questions to answer on the right side of the field, but they do have a few options. Between internal choices such as Eldridge and Jackson, or trade targets like O'Hearn and Rosario, there is a path to be found. The real question is whether the front office will push the right buttons before it's too late.

At the end of the day, it's Buster Posey's first trade deadline at the helm, and we don't know what to expect. If San Francisco is serious about contending, they can't afford to let these holes linger.