The San Francisco Giants are staring down another pivotal offseason after missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year, and it’s clear where the focus needs to be: second base. The rotation just got a boost with the addition of Adrian Houser on a two-year, $22 million deal, but the lineup-particularly up the middle-still needs work. And based on recent reports, the front office is actively exploring some intriguing options to shore up that hole.
One name that’s surfaced in the conversation is Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs. Hoerner, a Gold Glove second baseman with Bay Area roots, is drawing attention from San Francisco as a potential trade target.
According to reports, the Giants have already checked in on the 28-year-old, who grew up in Oakland and played his college ball at Stanford. That local connection could make him an instant fan favorite if he ends up in orange and black.
But this isn’t just about sentimentality-Hoerner fits the Giants’ defensive identity like a glove. Since shifting from shortstop to second base, he’s won two Gold Gloves in three seasons and just wrapped up his best year in the majors. His 2025 campaign included a .297/.345/.394 slash line, a 114 OPS+, and a 6.2 bWAR-a well-rounded stat line that speaks to both his defensive value and offensive consistency.
Hoerner is also under contract through 2026 on a three-year, $35 million extension, with $12 million still owed. That’s a manageable number for a player of his caliber, but it also means the Cubs could look to move him while his value is high. For the Giants, acquiring him would likely require a significant return, even with just one year left on his deal.
Still, Hoerner isn’t the only name on the radar. The Giants are casting a wide net, and another high-profile target is Brendan Donovan of the St.
Louis Cardinals. According to reports, San Francisco is in a tight race with the Seattle Mariners to land the 28-year-old infielder, who’s coming off an All-Star season and has quietly become one of the most consistent bats in the National League.
Donovan’s calling card? Steady production.
He’s hit between .278 and .287 in each of the last four seasons, with OPS numbers hovering in the mid-.770s. That kind of reliability is rare, and it’s exactly what the Giants need in a lineup that’s lacked continuity.
In 2025, he posted a 2.7 bWAR over 118 games-solid output for a player with two more years of club control and a $2.85 million salary.
The Cardinals, in the midst of a rebuild, are reportedly seeking multiple top prospects in return for Donovan. That’s a steep price, but for a team like the Giants, which is trying to reestablish itself as a playoff contender, it might be worth the cost.
At this point, San Francisco has made it clear: second base is a priority, and they’re not sitting on their hands. Whether it’s the glove-first, local-hero potential of Hoerner or the steady, versatile bat of Donovan, the Giants are exploring every avenue to upgrade a position that’s been a weak spot for too long.
The question now is whether they’re willing to pay the price-because both players are going to cost them. But if the Giants want to break their postseason drought, these are the kind of moves that can help turn things around.