The San Francisco Giants' problems continue, with a 3-7 record in their last ten games.
With the Giants still just three games out of a wild card spot, they could look to improve before the trade deadline and secure a playoff spot. What they do before the trade deadline remains to be seen, and it's one of the more interesting situations in baseball.
There are clearly areas of need, including a center fielder and a shortstop. Jim Bowden of The Athletic suggested a deal that would help them get a player who can play both positions, but the trade could be a huge overpayment.
His proposal would send Jazz Chisholm Jr. to San Francisco for Carson Whisenhunt, Marco Luciano and Luis Matos.
“Chisholm has a batting average of .267/.332/.445 with 10 home runs, 13 stolen bases and an OPS+ of 115. He can play second base, shortstop and center field.
“The 26-year-old offers a rare combination of speed and power and has the potential to one day hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a season. His positional flexibility would give the Giants multiple options to use him. As a 2022 All-Star, Chisholm is arbitration-eligible next year and is under the team's control through 2026.”
While Chisholm would be the ideal player to target in a deal on his own, there are some legitimate concerns about him.
In the first four seasons, he only appeared in more than 97 games once and was unable to fulfill all expectations.
That doesn't mean he's a bad player and wouldn't help this team, but this package seems a bit too much.
His best season was 2022, when he was named an All-Star for the first and only time in his career. That season, he posted an OPS+ of 138 and 14 home runs. Although he played well, he only appeared in 60 games.
If Chisholm can perform well for the Giants for a full season, he would have a good chance of being the best outfielder on the team, but that remains to be seen.
There is hope that he is healthy, as he has played in 75 games this season. His slash line of .267/.332/.445 with 10 home runs is also impressive. If he continues at this pace, this would be the best season of his career.
The Miami Marlins are in a position to sell, so trading the 26-year-old makes sense. And they're likely expecting a huge sum in return. San Francisco can offer them that with some of their young players, but it's up to management to decide if it's worth it.
