Zaidi: Giants to be ‘aggressive’ at trade deadline

Jun 5, 2023, 10:20 AM

PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 15: Farhan Zaidi, President of Baseball Operations for the San Francisco Gia...

(Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

Although it has been an up-and-down start to the San Francisco Giants’ 2023 season, there is already a clear goal for the organization ahead of August 1st’s Major League Baseball trade deadline:

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“We think we have everything we need to compete within the walls of our clubhouse,” Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said to MLB Network Radio’s Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette’s “Front Office Show.” “But the trade deadline is a long way away. Injuries can happen, other things can happen.

“As we approach, it’s really a goal of ours to be in the playoffs this year. So, I think we’ll be aggressive when we get to [to the deadline].”

Farhan Zaidi #Giants just told us on the Award Winning #FrontOffice Show @MLBNetworkRadio that he visions them to be aggressive at this year's trade deadline to try and get them into the playoffs.

— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) June 4, 2023

After falling to 17-23 on May 14th, San Francisco has posted a 12-7 record over its past 19 contests to bring themselves within 5.5 games of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Giants are in a solid position to compete for one of the National League’s three Wild Card spots thanks to MLB’s expanded playoff format. As of June 5th, San Francisco is just 2.5 games behind the third spot with plenty of season to be played.

“When we look at our team, we think it’s a pretty deep team,” Zaidi continued. “We’ve worked really hard on our depth. We’ve worked really hard on creating a layer of younger depth where, when we have injuries, we can go to Triple-A Sacramento and bring guys up. That’s been a theme for us.

“And that’s what our hope is as we need reinforcements, or even as guys are banging the door down, that the improvement comes from within.”

The Giants have received contributions from young up-and-comers Casey Schmitt, Blake Sabol, and Patrick Bailey to aid a lineup that has experienced some injury trouble over the season’s opening months.

With Thairo Estrada set to return from the injured list on Tuesday, San Francisco will add another impact bat back into its lineup, but Zaidi and the Giants’ front office will likely be in the market for pitching help come trade season.

DeSclafani remains confident in his command after dishing out a season-high three walks today pic.twitter.com/diVxQqCV6A

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 4, 2023

Outside of Alex Cobb (2.71 ERA) and Logan Webb (2.85 ERA), San Francisco’s starting rotation has struggled to find consistency thus far in the season.

First-year Giants pitchers Sean Manaea (5.89 ERA) and Ross Stripling (7.24 ERA) have yet to be impactful, as the Giants hold an 8-13 record this season when the two have taken the mound.

San Francisco is in the mix for the Wild Card and within arms-reach of the National League West title, meaning that Zaidi and the front office will have some busy days ahead as we move into the summer months.