The San Francisco Giants head into the offseason with a clear objective: bolster the starting rotation. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals are staring down a different need-outfield help. On paper, it looks like these two clubs might be able to help each other out, and a potential trade involving Heliot Ramos could be the key to unlocking a mutually beneficial deal.
Could Heliot Ramos Be the Trade Chip the Giants Use to Land a Starter?
Ramos is coming off back-to-back strong offensive seasons, including an All-Star nod in 2024. At the plate, he’s proven he can contribute, but his defense remains a work in progress. That said, the Giants are flush with outfielders, and with roster spots at a premium and several players out of minor league options, someone’s likely to be on the move.
The list of outfielders the Giants are juggling is no joke: Luis Matos, Marco Luciano, Wade Meckler, Justin Dean, Joey Wiemer, Jerar Encarnación, and Drew Gilbert. That’s a crowded outfield room, and it’s hard to imagine all of them sticking on the roster through spring training. Ramos, with his recent production and years of team control, could be one of the more appealing trade chips.
Enter the Royals-A Team with Pitching to Spare
Kansas City, on the other hand, has a surplus of starting pitching-exactly what San Francisco is looking for. The name that jumps out is Cole Ragans.
He was an All-Star in 2024, and while his 2025 season was a bit of a step back (4.67 ERA in 13 starts), the 27-year-old still has plenty of upside and team control remaining. That kind of profile could be exactly what the Giants are looking for as they try to solidify the middle of their rotation.
Beyond Ragans, the Royals also have veterans like Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo. But given their value and roles, they’re less likely to be on the move. Kansas City also has a few younger arms who could develop into rotation pieces, but they’re not quite at the level where a team like the Giants would bank on them as immediate contributors.
Would Ramos-for-Ragans Get It Done?
On the surface, a Ramos-for-Ragans swap feels like a reasonable starting point. Both players are young, under team control, and have shown All-Star potential.
But Kansas City might want more, especially given the scarcity of controllable starting pitching around the league. If that’s the case, the Giants could sweeten the deal by including someone like Matos or Luciano-two players with upside but facing uncertain roles in a crowded San Francisco outfield.
Of course, moving Ramos would leave a gap in the Giants’ lineup. He’s been a steady presence offensively, and unless the team is ready to hand an everyday role to one of their younger, unproven options, they’d likely need to fill that spot via free agency or another trade.
Recent Trade History Could Help Push a Deal Through
There’s also some recent history between these two clubs. The Giants and Royals already linked up earlier this offseason on a smaller deal, and they struck a trade deadline agreement in 2025 that sent Mike Yastrzemski to Kansas City. That kind of familiarity can go a long way in getting deals across the finish line.
With the Royals needing an outfielder and the Giants searching for arms, there’s a natural fit here. The question is whether both sides are willing to give up a little to get what they need. If the Giants believe Ragans can bounce back and solidify their rotation, and if Kansas City sees Ramos as a long-term answer in the outfield, this could be more than just speculation-it could be a smart baseball trade.