The Giants are already staring past the calendar and into an offseason that could get weird fast. With a lockout looming, San Francisco still figures to be active, and the trade market may be where the front office does some of its heaviest lifting.
One name worth circling is Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert. Mark Feinsand of MLB listed Gilbert among 11 possible trade candidates this offseason, and the fit for the Giants is obvious enough: he’s a durable, established starter from one of baseball’s better rotations.
The catch is just as obvious. He won’t come cheap.
Gilbert, 29, has been one of the steadiest arms in the sport over the last few seasons. Since 2022, he owns a 3.46 ERA across 151 starts and 888 innings pitched, and he has topped 24 starts in every big league season of his career. He also made the American League All-Star team in 2024.
Feinsand’s read is that Seattle and Gilbert do not appear likely to agree on an extension, and with Gilbert set to become a free agent after the 2027 season, the Mariners could decide it makes more sense to move him now and get something back instead of letting him walk later.
For the Giants, the appeal is easy to understand. They already went back to the Mariners once to help shore up their rotation, landing Robbie Ray a few years ago to give Logan Webb a dependable No.
- Going back to the Pacific Northwest for another starter would follow the same playbook.
But there’s a big wrinkle here. Gilbert would only be under contract through next season, which means a trade carries real risk in a lockout world.
If 2027 gets shortened, the Giants could end up paying a premium for less than they expected. The move only really makes sense if they can also lock him up with an extension, and San Francisco’s reluctance to hand out major deals to starting pitchers is no secret.
If the Giants want Gilbert, they may have to give up a real piece to get him. One possible framework is a one-for-one deal involving Casey Schmitt, especially since Seattle could use offense and Schmitt showed real pop before his injury, hitting 21 homers in just 98 games.
That would be a painful price for San Francisco. Schmitt looks like a possible long-term answer at second base and is still years away from free agency. Still, that may be the kind of cost attached to landing a pitcher like Gilbert.
And the Giants may not have much choice if they want to make sure the rotation looks better in 2027 than it did entering 2026. Outside of Webb, that group remains a major question.
In Other News...
Giants Just Took A Brutal Rafael Devers Hit They Can't Ignore
The Giants lineup took a tough turn this week when Rafael Devers landed on the 60-day injured list with a core muscle injury, leaving a major hole at first base for a club that had already been leaning on his presence. San Francisco moved quickly to fill the roster spot, selecting outfielder Scott Bandura from Triple-A and adding him to both the 28-man and 40-man rosters.
Bandura is now set to make his Major League debut, a notable moment for him but one that comes with awkward timing for the Giants as they wait to learn more about Devers next step. Devers is scheduled to see a doctor for possible surgery, and until that process plays out, the organization is left dealing with a significant absence at a spot it can ill afford to lose. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Prospect Gets A Bigger Test As His Rise Speeds Up
Henry Lalanes climb through the Giants system is speeding up again, with the left-hander headed to Double-A Richmond for the next step in what has been a steady rise. Acquired from the Yankees in a trade, Lalane has worked his way through the minors with a power mix that includes a mid-90s fastball, changeup and sweeper, and now he gets a tougher assignment against more advanced hitters.
The timing adds another layer to the move, since Richmond is in the middle of a push toward the postseason and will need every arm it can trust. For Lalane, the assignment is as much about adapting to the level as it is about proving he can fit into a winning environment, and the Giants will get a better read soon enough on how his stuff plays when the margin for error gets even smaller. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Outfield Crunch Could Be Bad News For Turner Hill
The Giants outfield picture is getting tighter by the day, with reports suggesting the club is preparing to promote Scott Bandura from Triple-A Sacramento. Bandura has earned the move with a strong minor league season, and his arrival would add another capable outfield option to a group that already has several players jockeying for playing time and roster security.
For Turner Hill, that kind of addition can only make the path tougher. San Francisco has not announced any official roster moves yet, but another outfield bat in the mix would force the Giants to make more choices about who stays, who sits and who gets squeezed as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]