San Francisco Giants Trade Options: Ranking Their 4 Biggest Trade Needs

While the San Francisco Giants have been hovering around .500 for the majority of the season, it has become clear which positions they need to address before the July 31 trade deadline.

However, the first question that Brian Sabean, the general manager of the Giants, and the rest of the organization's front office personnel must ask themselves is if they'll be buyers or sellers once the deadline rolls around.

At this point, it's way too early to tell. We are only 35 games into the season, after all.

However, there are some early indicators that the Giants, like the past few years, will be buyers in the trade market.

First of all, they currently sit at second place in the NL West, six games behind the surging Los Angeles Dodgers.

Second of all, the injury bug is still running rampant throughout the clubhouse, as Brian Wilson, Pablo Sandoval and Freddy Sanchez have all spent an extended amount of time on the disabled list this season.

So assuming that the Giants do indeed decide to bolster their roster before the deadline, here's a list of four positions they'll need to address, as well as some possible trade candidates at each position.

4. Right Fielder

Oh, how the San Francisco Giants miss Carlos Beltran.

I'm sure when Brian Sabean looked up Beltran's stats and saw that he was hitting .298 with 13 home runs and 32 RBI with the St. Louis Cardinals, he probably fell into a rage and started banging on the keyboard of his brand new MacBook Pro and then proceeded to throw it against the wall.

At least I hope Sabean is upset that he let Beltran walk, because two years at $26 million for a right fielder who's leading the NL in home runs sounds like a deal to me.

However, Beltran is no longer with the Giants. They are now stuck with Gregor Blanco and Nate Schierholtz in right field, who are nothing more than above-average fourth outfielders on a playoff-contending team.

And while Schierholtz and Blanco aren't necessarily hurting the team when they're in the game, right field is a position that must produce offensively, especially for a team like the Giants that struggles mightily to put runs on the board.

Possible Trade Candidates (RF)

Nick Markakis has been mentioned in many trade scenarios for the past few years, simply because he's the best hitter on the Baltimore Orioles, a team that hasn't won too many games recently. However, that doesn't mean the Orioles are looking to trade him, especially when they're currently in first place in the AL East. Shocking, isn't it? But if the Orioles fizzle out approaching the trade deadline, the Giants should at least kick the tires and see if the Orioles are interested in parting with their 28-year-old slugger.

Cory Hart, the right fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers, was on the Giants' radar in 2010. Could he still be two years later? He does fit the bill for exactly what the Giants need—a power-hitting right fielder who would come at an affordable price.

Shin-Soo Choo is struggling at the plate this year with the Cleveland Indians, but don't let that mislead you. Choo is a five-tool player who would thrive batting sixth in the lineup and patrolling the spacious grounds of right field in AT&T Park.

3. Shortstop

It's still too early to deem the Brandon Crawford experiment a complete and utter failure, but all indications thus far have led us to believe that the Giants need to upgrade the shortstop position.

Crawford has made some flashy plays in the field, but he has also cost the team by failing to make the routine plays, as evident by eight errors this season—which is the second-most in the league.

The only reason why the Giants were reluctant to crown Crawford with the starting job at shortstop was because of his glove. He has a below-average bat and has yet to prove to opposing pitchers that he can lay off the changeup in the dirt.

If Crawford continues to struggle in the field, the Giants need to find a replacement.

Possible Trade Candidates (SS)

Alexei Ramirez is one of the most underrated players in baseball. He's currently batting .192, but that doesn't represent the caliber of player that he is. At a position that isn't deep with talent, Ramirez is one of the few shortstops who can play defense and hit for some power. If the Chicago White Sox are willing to field offers for Ramirez, the Giants should try to reel him in.

Jed Lowrie, the shortstop for the Houston Astros, is another option the Giants can explore. He wouldn't be much of an upgrade over Crawford, but he's much more of a polished hitter and can hold his own in the field. I would rather be patient with Crawford and let him develop a little more, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if Lowrie was the starting shortstop. He wouldn't cost the Giants much either.

2. Second Baseman

Freddy Sanchez's future with the Giants for this year and beyond is uncertain to say the least, especially after he suffered another setback this weekend.

Sanchez has been trying to make the switch to third base because the throwing angle from third to first base is easier than throwing from second.

However, on top of his shoulder problems he's been battling since last year, Sanchez's back has been flaring up lately, and he will have an MRI exam to learn more about the injury.

The Giants have been shuffling between Emmanuel Burris, Ryan Theriot and Charlie Culberson at second base this year, none of which really scare any opposing pitcher in the league. The Giants were willing to bite the bullet and play these players until Sanchez made his return, but now the Giants might need to improvise and look for help outside of the organization to fill the void at second.

I never thought I would said this, but I think the Giants really do miss Mike Fontenot.

Possible Trade Candidates (2nd)

Orlando Hudson has Brain Sabean written all over him, as he's a veteran player who was once good, but is now at the tail end of his career. He's also a gamer, so you know Bruce Bochy wouldn't be opposed to the idea.

However, he's hitting only .209 this year with an on-base percentage of .254. The Giants might be better off sticking with Burris at second base until Pablo Sandoval comes back from the DL, and then stick Joaquin Arias at second.

However, there is something that Sabean loves about veteran middle infielders—Ray Durham, Omar Vizquel, Edgar Renteria, Miguel Tejada, Orlando Cabrera—which leads me to believe that Hudson will be a Giant sooner or later.

Love it or hate it, it will happen.

1. Hard-Throwing Relief Pitcher

The San Francisco Giants bullpen had been suspect at times this season, but they have turned it on as of late and done a brilliant job preserving the lead when the Giants have it late in games.

However, the bullpen was not only a strength of the Giants during the past two years—especially in 2010— but one of the cornerstones of the team. The starting rotation got all the publicity, but the bullpen was lethal with Brian Wilson, Sergio Romo, Javier Lopez, Santiago Casilla and Ramon Ramirez pitching in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

This year has been different.

Ramirez was traded to the New York Mets during the offseason, and Wilson went down with an elbow injury at the beginning of the season.

Not only did losing those two pitchers undermine the bullpen as a whole, but it changed all of their roles that they had grown accustomed to over the past two years.

Casilla has done a tremendous job acting as the closer this year, so the Giants will unlikely look to trade for an established closer. Also, trading for a player with a closer tag will automatically drive up the price.

And Casilla is currently the only power arm in the bullpen, as Romo, Lopez, Clay Hensley and Steve Edlefsen all do not throw very hard at all.

Look for the Giants to trade for a reliever or two, specifically a right-handed pitcher who throws heat.

Possible Trade Candidates (RP)

Grant Balfour of the Oakland Athletics would be a great fit for the San Francisco Giants bullpen. He had a 2.47 ERA last year and had a K/9 of 8.56. He has a curve ball, slider and a fastball, which travels around 92-93 MPH. And best of all, it wouldn't cost the Giants much to pry him away from the A's.

Tom Wilhelmsen is another hard-throwing righty from the Seattle Mariners who the Giants could be interested in. His fastball travels in the mid-to-high 90s, and has a cutter to keep the batters honest. He's only pitched in the majors for two years, however, because he has been suspended for testing positive for marijuana twice.

The list of possible relievers to trade for is endless, however, so don't be surprised to see the Giants trade for a reliever you've never heard of.