Scouting the Hot Stove League: Hitter Trade Targets

 The Giants need to add at least one hitter, better yet two, in this year's Hot Stove League.  Trades are notoriously hard to predict but here are some players who may be available per MLBTR.  We will limit the positions to 1B/DH, 2B and RF as the Giants seem set at other positions.

Brendan Donovan UT(Cardinals).  DOB:  1/16/1997.  B-L, T-R.  5' 11", 210 lbs.  MLBTR Projected Arbitration Salary $5.4 M(controlled through 2027).  .287/.353/.422, 10 HR, 8.2 BB%, 13.0 K%, 515 PA.  

If there is one player the Giants could acquire who solves most of their positional player problems in one move, it's Brendan Donovan.  Can play a better than decent 2B and OF, though has been limited to LF.  Hits well enough to DH.  Doesn't add to any logjams because of his versatility.  Maybe adding his excess value to a Sonny Gray trade makes Gray's value deficit more palatable?

Brandon Lowe 2B(Rays).  DOB:  7/6/1994.  B- L, T-R.  5' 10", 190 lbs.  10.5 M club option for 2026.  .256/.307/.477, 31 HR, 6.9 BB%, 26.9 K%. 553 PA.  

More of a power hitter than Donovan but Buster Posey might balk at the K rate.

Jarren Duran OF(Red Sox).  DOB:  9/5/1996.  B- L, T-R.  6' 1", 205 lbs.  $8 M club option for 2026, arbitration controlled through 2028.  .256/.332/.442, 16 HR, 24 SB, 8.6 BB%, 24.3 K%, 696 PA.

BoSox have a logjam in the OF and could be looking to unjam with a trade or two but will be looking for a lot in return.  Trade discussion would likely start with Bryce Eldridge, but the Giants would get a darn good player for at least 3 years in return.  Can play all 3 OF positions but mostly played LF.

Wilyer Abreu OF(Red Sox).  DOB:  6/24/1999.  B-L, T-L.  5' 10", 215 lbs.  $8 M club option for 2026, arbitration controlled through 2029.  .247/.317/.469, 22 HR, 6 SB, 9.6 BB%, 24.2 K%, 417 PA.  

Similar player to Duran but more of a true RF which may make him more attractive to the Giants and he has 4 years of arbitration control vs Duran's 3.  Again, trade talks would start with Bryce Eldridge.

Steven Kwan OF(Guardians).  DOB:  9/5/1997.  B-L, T-L.  5' 8", 170 lbs.  MLBTR Projected Arbitration Salary $8.8 M controlled through 2027.  .272/.330/.374, 11 HR, 21 SB, 7.9 BB%, 8.7 K%, 693 PA.  

Super high contact guy with little power.  Highly rated defensive LF.  A challenge trade for Heliot Ramos might make some sense here for both teams.  

Taylor Ward OF(Angels).  DOB:  12/14/1993.  B-R, T-R.  6' 0", 200 lbs.  .228/.317/.475, 36 HR, 11.3 BB%, 26.4 K%, 663 PA.  MLBTR Projected Arbitration Award $13.7 M control through 2026.

1 yr rental power bat.  Buster may not be keen on the K's and low BA/OBP.

Jo Adell OF(Angels).  DOB:  4/8/1999.  B-R, T-R.  6' 2", 215 lbs.  .236/293/.485, 37 HR, 5.8 BB%, 26.4 K%.  

Perennial trade candidate who never gets traded.  It's even a joke on many baseball-oriented websites.  Another raw power bat with low BA and high K's.  Maybe not Buster's cup of tea?

Adolis Garcia(Rangers).  DOB:  3/2/1993.  B-R, T-R.  6' 0", 205 lbs.  .227/.271/.394, 19 HR, 13 SB, 5.1 BB%, 24.7 K%, 547 PA.  MLBTR projected salary $12.1 M controlled through 2026.

Outstanding defensive RF but bat has fallen of dramatically since 2023.

Randy Arozarena OF(Mariners).  DOB:  2/28/1995.  B-R, T-R.  5' 10", 185 lbs.  .238/.334/.426, 27 HR, 31 SB, 9.0 BB%, 26.9 K%, 709 PA.  MLBTR Projected Salary $18.2 M controlled through 2026.

Nice power speed combination.  More high K's.  

Triston Casas 1B(Red Sox).  DOB:  1/15/2000.  B-L , T-R.  6' 4", 244 lbs.  .182/.277/.303, 3 HR, 9.8 BB%, 24.1 K%, 112 PA.  MLBTR Projected Salary $1.7 M controlled through 2028.  

Got off to a slow start mostly due to bad BABIP luck then went down with a ruptured patella tendon.  

Jake Burger 1B(Rangers).  DBOL. 4/10/1996.  B-R, T-R.  6' 0", 230 lbs.  .236/.269/.419, 16 HR, 3.2 BB%, 24.7 K%.  

Streaky hitter with some power.  Doesn't take walks but strikes out a lot.  Not much here to tempt Buster.

J. J. Bleday OF(A's).  DOB:  11/10/1997.  B-L, T- L.  6' 2", 205 lbs.  .212/.294/.404, 14 HR, 10.5 BB%, 26.5 K%, 344 PA.  MLBTR Projected Salary $2.2 M controlled through 2028.  

Former first round draft pick who lost his starting position last season.  Regressed from a strong 2024.  Maybe worth a flyer as a cost-controlled bounceback candidate if the trade cost is not too high. Again, K's are an issue.

Alek Thomas OF(D'Backs).  DOB:  4/28/2000.  B-L, T-L.  5' 9", 175 lbs.  .249/.289/.370, 9 HR, 7 SB, 4.5 BB%, 26 K%, 469.  MLBTR Projected Salary $2.2 M controlled through 2028.  

Once an elite defensive CF.  Bat never developed and his D metrics have regressed.  Not much here to favor over Drew Gilbert.

Nick Castellanos OF/DH.  DOB:  3/4/1992.  B- R, T-R.  6' 3", 203 lbs.  .250/.294/.400, 17 HR, 5.4 BB%, 22.6 K%, 589 PA.  Under Contract 1 yr/$20 M.  

MLBTR thinks Castellanos has played his last game for the Phillies and will either be cut or traded.  Phillies would have to eat most of his contract in a trade or take a bad contract back.  Might be a nice 1 yr, RH DH option for the price but doesn't hit LHP's any better than RHP's.  

Christian Walker 1B(Astros).  DOB:  3/28/1991.  B- R, T-R.  5' 11", 208 lbs.  .238/.297/.421, 27 HR, 6.3 BB%, 27.7 K%, 640 PA.  Under Contract 2 yr/$40 M.  

Pricy but the Astros have a logjam and might be willing to pay down salary obligation.  Longtime thorn in Giants side when he was with the D'Backs.  K rate ballooned with Astros.

Comment:  There are several players in this list who make attractive trade targets for the Giants.  Brendan Donovan in particular seems like a perfect fit but that's true for a lot of teams.  He won't come cheap unless he's traded in a package with Sonny Gray to get the acquiring team to take on more of Gray's contract.  A straight up challenge trade of Ramos for Steven Kwan would put Buster's ballpark fit theories to the test. But then Buster would still need to find a RF.