MLB insider lists SF Giants as potential landing spot for two outfielders
The SF Giants are in a position to be aggressive buyers at this year's MLB trade deadline. MLB Network's league insider Mark Feinsand detailed 10 potential trade candidates who have recently improved their stock. He listed the Giants as the top potential fit for both New York Mets outfielder Tommy Pham and Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger.
Mets outfielder Tommy Pham celebrates a double against the SF Giants. (2023)
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Bellinger signed a one-year, $17.5 million contract with the Cubs this past offseason and has had his most productive campaign since he won the National League MVP in 2019. Bellinger has hit .302/.357/.518 with 13 doubles and 11 home runs in 59 games alongside elite defense in center field. With the Cubs well out of postseason contention and Bellinger likely slated for free agency, a trade seems likely.
It's worth noting that the Giants were reportedly "in pursuit" of Bellinger at one point last offseason before he signed with the Cubs and obviously has a lot of history with San Francisco's top decision-makers. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler both worked for the Los Angeles Dodgers when Bellinger was a young star with the team.
With all that said, more advanced numbers are skeptical of Bellinger's resurgent season. While he has cut his strikeout rate significantly compared to his ugly past two seasons, he is also hitting the ball hard at the lowest rate of his career, which suggests he may have benefited from a lot of unsustainable good luck in the first half.
Pham signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Mets last offseason and is similarly enjoying his most impressive season since 2019. Pham is hitting .271/.345/.476 with 14 doubles and nine home runs in 70 games. Defensively, though, Pham has almost been entirely limited to left field.
Despite Feinsand's suggestion, neither Pham nor Bellinger seem like good fits for San Francisco. The Giants' outfield is already crowded with Mike Yastrzemski, Michael Conforto, Austin Slater, and top prospect Luis Matos all in the fold alongside rookie Blake Sabol. Moreover, corner outfielder Mitch Haniger has a chance to return from the injured list in September. It's unclear if Pham or Bellinger are noteworthy upgrades over any of those players.
Moreover, adding Pham to San Francisco's clubhouse seems like a particularly dicey proposition given his history with SF Giants designated hitter Joc Pederson. Pham notoriously slapped Pederson in the face prior to a game last season over a dispute involving a fantasy football league.
