The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching at 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday and the Giants find themselves in the top National League Wild Card spot, three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.
This could be viewed as a pivotal deadline for the Farhan Zaidi-Gabe Kapler regime, as the Giants are trying to avoid missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.
In a recent trade deadline notebook, MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand reported that the Giants are “seeking middle-infield help, per sources, touching base with the Royals about Nicky Lopez and the Cardinals about Paul DeJong.”
The Giants have been patching things up at shortstop this year while Brandon Crawford has played in 64 of 103 games dealing with a knee issue. Second base has been something of a revolving door with players like Thairo Estrada, David Villar, Brett Wisely and Casey Schmitt each getting time there this season.
Lopez or DeJong wouldn’t move the needle in a big way for the Giants.
The 28-year-old Lopez has played mainly at second base (34 games) and third base this season (27 games) while posting a .213/.322/.284 slash line with no homers, 13 RBIs, 71 OPS+ and 73 wRC+. Lopez is known for his defense, as he was named to MLB Statcast’s 2022 All-Defense Team last year.
DeJong, who is about to turn 30 on Wednesday, is slashing .237/.303/.422 with 13 homers, 32 RBIs, a 96 OPS+ and 100 wRC+/ while playing 78 games at shortstop. Neither guy is a slugger, but DeJong has the better offensive profile.
The Giants ended up in no-man’s land at last year’s deadline as Zaidi didn’t make any splashy moves. San Francisco would like to avoid a repeat of 2022, when the squad finished 81-81.
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