The San Francisco Giants have been relatively quiet this offseason, but behind the scenes, things might be heating up-especially when it comes to bolstering their infield. According to reports, the Giants are in active discussions with the St.
Louis Cardinals about a potential trade for All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan. And if the buzz is to be believed, San Francisco isn’t the only team in the chase.
The Giants’ front office, now led by Buster Posey, knows they’ve got work to do. After finishing 12 games behind the division leaders in the NL West, the team needs reinforcements-particularly on offense.
One area under the microscope is the infield, where production has lagged. That’s where Donovan comes in.
Donovan, fresh off his first All-Star nod, is drawing interest from multiple teams, but the Giants and Mariners have emerged as frontrunners. The Cardinals, now in a rebuilding mode under a new front office, are reportedly open to moving some of their more established players-Donovan included-for the right price. And that price looks like it could be steep.
Sources indicate that San Francisco has discussed a return package that includes two of their top organizational prospects: infielder Gavin Kilen and left-handed pitcher Carson Whisenhunt. Both are highly regarded within the Giants’ system and would represent a significant investment in Donovan’s upside. According to reports, the Cardinals are looking for at least two top-tier prospects in any deal involving Donovan, who has attracted interest from more than half the league.
And it’s not hard to see why. Despite dealing with injuries this past season, Donovan still managed to post a 2.7 bWAR over 118 games, while slashing .287/.350/.422 with a 119 OPS+. That’s steady production from a versatile player who can move around the diamond and get on base at a high clip-exactly the kind of profile that fits what San Francisco is looking for.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, are coming off their third straight season without a playoff appearance. With a new leadership group steering the ship, they’re looking to reset. Trading Donovan-while not an easy call-could net them the kind of young talent that helps lay the foundation for the future.
But Donovan isn’t the only name linked to the Giants this winter. Starting pitching remains their top priority, and they’ve already begun laying the groundwork on that front.
According to MLB Network’s J.P. Morosi, the Giants met with free agent left-hander Framber Valdez during the Winter Meetings in Orlando.
Valdez, who spent eight seasons with the Astros, is widely considered one of the most accomplished arms on the market this year.
The two-time All-Star has logged over 900 innings in the past five seasons, with a career ERA of 3.20-numbers that speak for themselves. He’s a proven workhorse and a playoff-tested pitcher, and the Giants are clearly doing their due diligence. Valdez has also met with the Mets and Orioles, so competition will be stiff.
In short, the Giants may have been quiet so far, but don’t mistake that for inactivity. Between the Donovan trade talks and their pursuit of a frontline starter like Valdez, this could be a pivotal offseason for San Francisco.
The pieces are in motion. Now it’s a matter of whether they’re ready to push the chips in.
