New Giants Trade Rumors on 'Expiring Contracts and High-Price Players' for MLB Deadline 2026

Faced with the strong possibility of missing the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, the San Francisco Giants are entertaining the idea of trading several veteran players on their roster prior to the Aug. 3 deadline.

Per ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the Giants will be prepared to engage in talks for their "expiring contracts and high-price players" barring an extended run of success that gets them back in the playoff mix in the coming weeks.

Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey explained to Rogers they plan to be "open-minded" about anything that might present itself.

"I think we're going to have to be open-minded," Posey said. "Based on today, June 13, unless things really turn around, we're going to have to be open-minded and consider a variety of possibilities."

The Giants enter play on Friday 16.5 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and 7.5 games out of the final wild card spot. Their 31-43 record is better than only the Colorado Rockies in the National League.

One problem the Giants could face is their big-money contracts may not be very appealing to other clubs. Rafael Devers will make $28.5 million every year from 2027 to '34. Willy Adames' salary goes from $13.1 million this season to $31.1 million annually over the next five years.

Matt Chapman, who is signed through 2030, might generate some interest because his defense at third base gives him a high floor even as his offensive production starts to dip as he enters his mid-30s.

Devers' 107 OPS+ is on pace to tie 2020 for his second-worst in a season. Adames is slugging .434 with 13 homers in 72 games, but his .274 on-base percentage 44 points worse than his career mark.

Logan Webb might be the most attractive trade candidate because he is under contract through 2028 with $18 million salaries in each of the next two years, but Rogers noted he is "unlikely" to be moved.

The right-hander led MLB in innings pitched in each of the past three seasons. He currently owns a 3.46 ERA in 75.1 innings this year.

Robbie Ray, Luis Arraez, Tyler Mahle and JT Brubaker are the only Giants players with an expiring contract. Ray, Mahle and Brubaker have struggled to consistently throw strikes this season, making their value murky.

One NL scout told Rogers that Oracle Park also makes it difficult to properly evaluate pitchers.

"Their home stadium is still a pitcher's park," the scout said. "Look at some of their road splits. I'm not sure I would take anyone outside of Webb."

Arraez could easily find his way to a playoff contender because of his knack for putting the bat on the ball. He's hitting .326/.360/.453 in 316 plate appearances.

The Giants' farm system isn't bad, but it's not so loaded with talent that you can see the path to contention coming soon. None of these potential trade candidates will bring back a huge haul, though they could try to enhance the return by including some money to pay down salaries.

San Francisco's .419 winning percentage is on pace to be its worst since going 64-98 in 2017. The franchise has made the playoffs just once in the past nine seasons.