Spencer Steer’s wrist injury may have done more than just knock one of the better right-handed bats off the market. It also could have changed the calculus for the SF Giants, who suddenly look better positioned to deal two of their own trade chips.
Steer, who had been viewed as one of the premier right-handed hitting options available, is now on the IL after hurting his right wrist. That doesn’t completely rule out a trade, but it makes a move in the next week less likely. And when one of the more attractive bats disappears from the board, teams in need of help have to start looking elsewhere.
That’s where Casey Schmitt and Heliot Ramos come in. Both were already considered possible trade chips, but the Steer injury could make them even more valuable. With one less right-handed bat potentially available, the Giants may be sitting on players who suddenly fit even more cleanly into what buyers are hunting for.
Schmitt, in particular, lines up as a natural fallback. Like Steer, he can move around the diamond, and Steer has played every position except pitcher, catcher, and shortstop this year. For clubs looking for a right-handed utility type, Schmitt now stands out as the obvious pivot.
The market itself adds to the Giants’ leverage. There should be plenty of teams chasing a right-handed bat at the deadline, but the pool of sellers is limited. That scarcity gives San Francisco a better shot at getting meaningful returns if it decides to move players.
And the Giants do have a choice to make. They can keep things conservative and focus on pending free agents such as Luis Arraez, Robbie Ray, and Tyler Mahle. Or they can push further and consider moving players under team control for several more years, including Schmitt and Ramos.
In the end, it will come down to what kind of offer lands on their desk. If the Steer injury nudges a team into adding another prospect or sweetens a package just enough, the Giants may find it harder to turn away. At this point in the year, even one injury can ripple through the market, and San Francisco appears ready to benefit if it decides to sell hard.
In Other News...
Giants Suddenly Face A Heliot Ramos Decision Fans Wont Like
With the trade deadline approaching, the Giants are having to sort through a familiar kind of roster puzzle: which young outfielder fits into the long-term picture and which one might be used to help elsewhere. Heliot Ramos has become the name drawing the most attention, not just because of his value, but because San Francisco also appears intent on keeping Jung Hoo Lee in place as part of its outfield core. That leaves the front office weighing whether to lean on the system or use one of its more established pieces to address other needs.
If Ramos does end up in play, the Giants would at least have some internal cover to consider. Victor Bericoto, Parks Harber and Bo Davidson are among the outfield options mentioned as possible replacements, which gives San Francisco a path forward even if it is not the one fans would prefer. Still, the bigger question is whether the club is willing to move a player with real trade value at all, and the answer to that could shape how the rest of deadline season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Fans Wont Like Which Contender Just Entered The Rumor Mill
The Rays are still expected to be active when the trade deadline arrives, with catcher and second base viewed as the obvious places to look for help. But the picture around the roster has gotten a little murkier lately, because some of the players who were supposed to be part of the supporting cast have started making a stronger case to stay in the mix.
Cedric Mullins, Chandler Simpson, Nick Fortes and Victor Mesa Jr. have all turned in better recent stretches, and Tampa Bays win over the Guardians offered another reminder of why that matters. Fortes came through with four hits, Simpson contributed both at the plate and in the field, and Richie Palacios delivered the deciding three-run homer, leaving the front office with a harder question than it expected as deadline season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Casey Schmitt Injury Suddenly Raised The Stakes For Giants Deadline
Casey Schmitts breakout season has been one of the more encouraging developments for the Giants, with the third baseman giving them real production at the hot corner and a middle-of-the-order presence they could build around. He left Mondays game on July 28 after an apparent left knee injury while rounding first base, and even before any official diagnosis, the timing alone made the moment feel bigger than a single in-game exit.
For a club trying to sort out its deadline direction, any uncertainty around Schmitt changes the conversation fast. The Giants were already weighing how aggressive to be, and now the ripple effect could reach beyond one roster spot, with Heliot Ramos suddenly looking like a more likely name to move if the front office decides it needs to pivot. For now, though, everything hangs on what the MRI shows and how much the Giants are forced to rethink from there. [Read more 🡒]