The San Francisco Giants are heading toward the 2026 MLB trade deadline with seller written all over them, and that means almost nothing on the roster should be considered untouchable.
Luis Arraez and Robbie Ray are viewed as strong trade candidates, but the real uncertainty sits with the Giants’ pricey infielder group. That’s where Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report sees a move that would be the hardest to pull off - and maybe the most important one, too.
Reuter is predicting San Francisco will trade All-Star infielder Matt Chapman, even with the giant obstacle attached to his contract.
"San Francisco Giants: Find a trade partner for Matt Chapman," Reuter predicts. "With a full no-trade clause and a $25.2 million annual salary on the books through the 2030 season, Matt Chapman is not the easiest player to move on the market..."
That deal is the problem. Chapman’s contract makes him a tough fit for a trade market, and the full no-trade clause only adds another layer of difficulty. Still, Reuter’s read is that the Giants could eventually find a team willing to take him on.
Among Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Chapman, Reuter sees the $151 million third baseman as the most likely to go. That may sound counterintuitive at first, but the logic is simple: Chapman has been the most productive of the group, and he also carries a smaller price tag than Devers or Adames.
Even with Chapman currently on the injured list, his season line still stands at 2.8 bWAR, a .235 average, seven homers, and a .692 OPS. He has been the most valuable player in the Giants’ expensive infielder trio.
The contract makes any deal complicated, but if San Francisco can move most of Chapman’s money and land a decent prospect return, that would be a major win for the organization. Paying down part of the deal might even be part of the path, as long as the Giants can get out from under the bulk of it.
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Carrillos appeal is obvious enough: a hard-throwing profile with strikeout ability, but also the kind of control issues that have followed him around. San Francisco has already been trying similar low-risk bets, including its recent claim of Eric Cerantola off waivers, and the pattern suggests the front office is still sorting through options rather than settling on answers. [Read more 🡒]
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For San Francisco, the calculus is bigger than a simple deadline sell-or-keep call. The team is not actively shopping Lee, but an exceptional offer could still change the equation, and any move would come with broader consequences after the organization spent the offseason trying to strengthen its foothold in the Korean market following its South Korea visit. Lee also has an opt-out after the 2027 season, which only adds another layer for any team thinking past this summer, and for now the Giants are left weighing whether the safest move is to hold steady or listen a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Willy Adames Finally Addressed What's Behind His Frustrating Giants First Half
Willy Adames has spent much of his first half with the Giants trying to find his rhythm at the plate while also managing something more physical behind the scenes. The shortstop acknowledged a lingering back problem has been part of the picture this season, and while he is not leaning on it as an excuse, it helps explain why his usual game has looked a little off at times.
Adames still has found ways to help San Francisco, including a grand slam on Friday and another home run the next day, but the back issue has also meant daily treatment just to stay loose. That routine cuts into the defensive work and extra practice he can do, leaving the Giants with a player who is still producing in bursts while trying to work through a frustrating stretch that has not gone away cleanly. [Read more 🡒]