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San Francisco Giants: Stock up, stock down
The Giants are currently 47-40, three games behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks and in a heated battle for a wild-card spot. Ranking top 10 in both runs scored and ERA, the Giants have struggled as of late, losing seven of their last 10 games. With the need for upgrades to be a serious contender, it will be interesting to see if the Giants become buyers before the trade deadline.
Here are the Giants trending up and down in 2023.
Stock up
Patrick Bailey, catcher: Drafted in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Bailey looked as if he would be stuck behind 2018's second-overall pick Joey Bart for years to come. But with Bart having struggled at the plate and then going on the injured list, Bailey was the next man in line for a shot.
A career .251 hitter in the minors, Bailey has made the most of his debut in the MLB with a .302/.336/.512 slash line to go along with 16 XBH and 26 RBI he is looking like the future for the Giants behind the dish.
A Giant homer from Patrick Bailey! pic.twitter.com/Er4rmZZaMJ
— MLB (@MLB) July 1, 2023
The switch-hitting 24-year-old will look to continue his strong play for the Giants in the second half of 2023.
J.D. Davis, third base: Acquired at the trade deadline from the New York Mets last season, Davis is quietly enjoying his best season as a big leaguer for the Giants in 2023.
Hitting .282 with ten home runs and 45 RBI, Davis has also been one of the better third basemen in the National League. While his defense has been a little below average, his bat has helped mask some of his defensive limitations.
An unrestricted free agent in 2025, Davis could be due for a multi-year extension with the Giants to be a stop-gap while they find their third baseman of the future.
With that RBI double, J.D. Davis is up to a 132 wRC+ on the year, which leads all qualified NL third basemen by a comfortable margin. Spencer Steer (118 wRC+) is the next closest to Davis.
— Jeff Young (@BaseballJeff1) June 24, 2023
Stock down
Sean Manaea, pitcher: After six seasons in Oakland, Manaea was traded to the San Diego Padres last offseason. While with the Padres he struggled mightily, going 8-9 with a 4.96 ERA while giving up a career-high 29 home runs in 158 innings pitched.
This offseason as a free agent he signed a two-year, $25M deal with the Giants with the second year being a player option. That contract looks like a mistake in hindsight, Manaea is currently 3-3 with a 5.49 ERA while being relegated to spot starts and bullpen duties totaling 57.1 innings.
Manaea will need to improve if he wants to get another shot in the Giants' rotation in 2023.
Joey Bart, catcher: Drafted as the heir apparent to Buster Posey in 2018, Bart has not had the career most in the Giants organization envisioned.
In 158 games played across four seasons in the majors, Bart is slashing .223/.293/.342 with only 29 XBH and 37 RBI in 448 at-bats. While his numbers in the minors have been respectable, they have failed to translate to the big-league level.
With the emergence of Bailey and the solid play of Blake Sabol also behind the plate, Bart may be running out of time to prove himself.
He could be in need of a change of scenery in 2023, With the Giants needing a few upgrades maybe they could find something beneficial for both sides as the trade deadline inches closer.
More must-reads:
- Alex Cobb, Giants shut out Mariners
- Logan Gilbert spins complete-game shutout, Mariners top Giants
- The 'Most postseason home runs' quiz
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