The San Francisco Giants took a big swing this offseason, making a serious push to land Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams in a trade. But despite their efforts, the deal never crossed the finish line, according to sources.
The plan? Slide Abrams over to second base-something he's done before, both in the minors and at the big-league level-and plug him into an already impressive infield that features Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman. That’s a group with plenty of glove and pop, and adding Abrams’ athleticism and speed would’ve given the Giants one of the most dynamic infields in the National League.
To get there, San Francisco was reportedly willing to part with some serious prospect capital. Sources say the Giants were open to including Josuar Gonzalez, the club’s No. 2 prospect, in the deal.
That’s no small chip. Gonzalez is viewed as a high-upside talent, and dangling him shows just how badly the Giants wanted to make something happen.
But it didn’t stop there. The talks with Washington also involved several other notable names: left-handers Carson Whisenhunt and Jacob Bresnahan, outfielder Bo Davidson, and shortstop Jhonny Level.
That’s a mix of arms and position players with varying timelines, but all with enough potential to make any front office take notice. The Nationals, however, ultimately held onto their young shortstop.
This wasn’t San Francisco’s only attempt to shake things up. The front office also reportedly explored a deal with the St.
Louis Cardinals for second baseman Brendan Donovan, a versatile, high-contact hitter who could’ve slotted in nicely. And before Edward Cabrera was traded to the Cubs, the Giants were in the mix for the Marlins’ electric young starter as well.
Despite all the conversations and near-moves, the Giants have been relatively quiet on the position player front this winter. For a team that’s clearly looking to contend-and has already invested in big-name infielders-that's left fans wondering when the next move is coming.
Now, the focus appears to be shifting toward free agency. One name on their radar: outfielder Harrison Bader. Known for his elite defense in center and solid speed, Bader could bring a needed boost to the Giants’ outfield depth and give them another high-energy presence on both sides of the ball.
The Giants have shown they’re willing to be aggressive. They’ve put top prospects on the table and explored multiple avenues to upgrade the roster. The deals haven’t landed-yet-but with free agency still in play, it’s clear San Francisco isn’t done trying to make noise this offseason.