The Giants have one clear offseason need hanging over everything they do: they have to get better on the mound. The Yankees, meanwhile, are sitting on the kind of pitching depth that could make them a natural trade partner - and if San Francisco is willing to part with Casey Schmitt, there’s a path for both clubs to help themselves.
Schmitt is the kind of piece that can make this conversation work. He has experience at both second and third base, and his best spot is third, where Matt Chapman has him blocked in San Francisco. New York could use help at either second or third, especially with Jazz Chisholm Jr. likely headed for free agency and Ryan McMahon not giving them enough at third.
That opens the door to a deal built around one of several Yankees starters. In this scenario, the Giants could ask for Ryan Weathers, Will Warren, or Clarke Schmidt.
Weathers is 27 and just posted a 3.60 ERA in 25 starts last season. He struck out 143 batters and walked 38 across 137 innings.
Warren, also 27, put up a 3.92 ERA over 156 innings while striking out 158 and walking 54. Schmidt is the oldest of the group at 30, and he logged a 3.07 collective ERA across the 30 starts he made in 2024 and 2025, though he missed practically all of 2026 because of injury.
From a control standpoint, Warren may be the cleanest fit. Schmitt won’t reach free agency until after the 2029 season and is entering his first offseason of arbitration eligibility, so a straight-up Schmitt-for-Warren swap would make plenty of sense on paper.
Weathers won’t hit free agency until after 2028, while Warren is under control through 2030. Schmidt, by comparison, is set to become a free agent after the 2027 season.
If the Giants did move Schmitt, they’d have to patch the lineup somewhere else. Second base and left field would both need attention for next season.
One route would be a platoon of Bo Davidson and Victor Bericoto in left, with Marcelo Mayer handling second. They could also look outside the organization and shop in free agency.
There’s no certainty San Francisco even puts Schmitt on the table. He’s coming off a strong season, and the Giants may decide the pitching upgrade is worth the hit to the lineup. If that happens, don’t be surprised if the Yankees enter the mix, even with Brian Cashman potentially remembering that Buster Posey already sent him Camilo Doval and Heliot Ramos, both of whom struggled in pinstripes.
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The squeeze only gets tighter heading into 2027, with newly acquired infielder Marcelo Mayer joining a group that already includes Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Casey Schmitt. For Koss, the issue is no longer just whether he can stick around, but where the opportunities will come from if the Giants start sorting out playing time differently under Tony Vitello. In a situation like this, every spring rep matters, and every mistake can shift the depth chart a little more. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Have A Real Center Field Question This Offseason
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Drew Gilbert has emerged as the likeliest answer if Bader needs more time, after starting 83 games in center field in 2026. Jonah Cox gives the Giants another layer of depth, but the clubs center field picture now hinges on how much Bader can rebound and whether Gilbert is ready to carry the job for a full season. [Read more 🡒]