What Astros would have to give SF Giants to make Logan Webb fantasy a reality

The SF Giants have reportedly remained steadfast in their desire to keep ace Logan Webb. Buster Posey said the team was not entertaining trade offers for him and it seems he’s stayed true to his word.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Houston Astros, amongst other teams, have been pushing hard to trade for Webb but the Giants have said no. While it seems like the Giants are going to keep him, just as a thought exercise let’s examine what it would take for a team like the Astros to get Posey and the Giants to change their mind.

The Astros are right in the thick of an American League West race that is incredibly tight. Adding a pitcher like Webb could instantly make them the favorites and transform the complexion of the division.

Yet, they know San Francisco isn’t desperate to offload him since he’s the leader of the team and is the ace of a weak pitching staff that would be destabilized without him. That means any potential return would have to be strong.

What would Astros have to give up to Giants for Logan Webb?

Here’s what a package could look like: Giants trade RHP Logan Webb to the Astros in exchange for OF Kevin Alvarez, RHP Bryce Mayer, RHP Hunter Brown, and LHP Josh Hader.

Alvarez is the No. 1 overall prospect in the organization. He’s 18 years old and is seen as a very strong hitter. He’s slashed .284/.358/.466 with nine home runs and 43 runs batted in this season.

Mayer is considered the best pitching prospect in the organization. He’s 24 years old and has a 2.86 ERA in Double-A.

Prospects alone won’t get a deal done though. The Giants are going to want big league talent and Hunter Brown would probably have to be included so the Giants felt like they were at least getting one rotation replacement.

Brown was an All-Star last year and has a 3.45 ERA on the season. He is under team control through 2028 so he’d at least give the Giants a solid rotation arm for a few years.

It might seem odd for the Giants to acquire an elite reliever like Josh Hader when they’re out of contention but the bullpen has been so bad and he’s under contract through 2028 so he could be the closer going forward. He has a 1.23 ERA on the year and has been a dominant closer for years.

It’s doubtful the Astros would agree to a trade like this because Brown and Hader are two of their best pitchers and they're trying to win the division but from San Francisco’s vantage point they aren’t going to give up Webb unless it makes the team better.

That means teams will probably have to massively overpay what they’re comfortable with to land Webb which is why he is almost certain to stay put. 

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