The San Francisco Giants find themselves in a tricky situation, with their biggest contracts potentially becoming their biggest obstacles. With a 29-43 record and a distant 16 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West, the Giants are in a tough spot. The three infielders, Adames, Chapman, and Devers, are set to earn nine figures over the remainder of their deals, making them difficult to trade without attaching serious value. The Giants' president of baseball operations, Buster Posey, is in a tricky spot, as he cannot include prospects or young Major League talent in a trade to entice another club into taking on a big contract. The Giants' best trade chip might be Luis Arraez, who could have been had by any club this offseason. Arraez, a plus defender at second base, is hitting .324 with a .798 OPS and 26 RBI in 70 games. Left-hander Robbie Ray, who is earning $25 million in the final year of his contract, could also be an appealing trade asset for clubs seeking mid-rotation help. The Giants' ability to trade these players will depend on their willingness to eat some of the salary and attach serious value to them. In my opinion, the Giants' best chance of making a move is to trade Chapman, as he is seen as productive and the Giants might be able to move him without having to pay down his salary. However, the Giants will need to be creative and attach serious value to any of these players if they want to move them and rebuild their team.
