San Francisco Giants Trade Speculation: 5 Best-Case Scenarios

Jeff Keppinger is the most recent addition to the Giants lineup.
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The White House trip is over.

Now the trade deadline is approaching.

The San Francisco Giants are enjoying a successful 2011 season, but there needs to be movement by the deadline if the Giants plan on adding a big hitter or defensive upgrade to their lineup.

The majority of trade talks surrounding San Francisco include Carlos Beltran. However, other teams are on the hunt for the slugger as well and a trade to the Giants is nowhere near certain.

Giants' management has some additional ideas about what they're willing to give up and what they will fight to keep, but—in my opinion—these are the five best-case scenarios for the Giants trades.

Ramon Hernandez

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Hank Schulman tweeted that Ramon Hernandez was not on the trading block. However, management isn't exactly the type to share every thought process with the press.

If the Giants were able to offer enough to trade for Hernandez they would be adding an experienced catcher with a .303 batting average.

Best case scenario: The Reds choose to rely on Ryan Hanigan and promising prospect Devin Mesoraco. They have the catching depth to deal Hernandez. They send him to San Francisco in exchange for the Giants picking up the rest of his contract as well as sending either a pitcher or prospect back to Cincinnati.

Hernandez would be a great fill in for the rest of the 2011 season until Buster Posey comes back.

Hanley Ramirez

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Hanley Ramirez hasn't been a major part of the trade rumors but his name has still been mentioned more than once. 

The Marlins have said that they will not trade Ramirez despite his slow year. The 27-year-old short stop is hitting .245 this season with a career average of .307. Jeff Conine says if it were up to him, the Marlins would deal Ramirez.

Best case scenario: Florida agrees with Conine and decides to trade Ramirez. The Giants are able to get him for a couple of prospects. The Marlins aren't looking to upgrade at any particular position so the prospects could help them later on. Ramirez heats back up after a change of scenery and becomes the bat San Francisco needs.

Ramirez would be great for San Francisco because of his bat and the fact that he is already signed through 2014. He wouldn't be a rental player, and he could become a staple part of the Giants' lineup for several years.

Colby Rasmus

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Colby Rasmus is another name who is apparently off the trading block. However, Joel Sherman noted that an AL official told him the Cardinals are shopping the outfielder. Rasmus is arbitration eligible next season, and is a talented young player with 11 home runs and 40 RBI on the season so far.

Best case scenario: The Cardinals really are shopping Rasmus. They trade him to the Giants for prospects or a reliever. He fits right in and does extremely well as the spark plug in San Francisco's offense. He becomes another young player who will help keep the Giants in playoff contention for years to come.

While Rasmus is clearly no Carlos Beltran, he is under team control until 2015 and will therefore have a longer impact for less cash. He's also much younger, giving him more time to develop as a player.

B.J. Upton

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Jon Heyman tweeted that the Giants are showing strong interest in B.J. Upton. It would make sense for Upton to come to San Francisco and, as Heyman puts it, "fits their big park" as a "shutdown CF."

The Rays plan to trade Upton by Sunday. The 26-year-old is under team control until 2013 and is batting .229 with 15 homers so far this year.

Best case scenario: The Giants take on Upton's contract and give up a prospect in exchange for the outfielder. Upton comes to San Francisco and continues to excel both offensively and defensively in his new ballpark.

B.J. Upton can be seen as an alternative to Carlos Beltran for several reasons: He's cheaper, younger, and under team control for more than the next two or three months.

Carlos Beltran

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Save the big name for last.

The Giants have been connected to Carlos Beltran for a while. Rumors continue to swirl, but the question remains if the Mets and Giants can see eye-to-eye in a deal for the slugger.

The big problem in forming a deal has been that San Francisco is willing to take on Beltran's contract but doesn't want to give up their prized prospects. New York would rather keep part of the contract in exchange for said prospects.

Best case scenario: The two teams come to an agreement. The Giants take on the majority of Beltran's contract while also giving up a talented—yet not as untouchable—prospect such as Francisco Peguero. Beltran comes to San Francisco completely improving their lineup.

The Beltran deal comes with positives as well as negatives. While the Giants would get their offense they so desperately need—Beltran is currently hitting .289 with 15 home runs and 65 RBI—they will lose at least one great prospect in return for a two or three month rental player.

If management wants to focus on this season more than future ones, though, Beltran's the answer.