As the second half of the season kicks off for the San Francisco Giants, the competition for a playoff spot in the National League is intensifying.
Although the Giants have had a strong season so far, they still don’t have a guaranteed playoff spot in the NL. They are currently trailing behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres in their division, and other teams across the league have also been performing well.
The race for the NL Wild Card spots is going to be exciting heading into the fall, and San Francisco hopes to be in the mix.
Despite making a major trade earlier this season, the Giants may need to make more moves to stay competitive, as other teams are also expected to strengthen their rosters.
Rafael Devers should provide a boost to the lineup in the second half, but the team still faces a gap in its starting rotation.
While Robbie Ray and Logan Webb have been outstanding, additional reinforcements are necessary to solidify the staff. With every game carrying significant weight, an upgraded rotation could be just what the Giants need to make a playoff push.
With plenty of options set to be available, one appealing one that has some risk, but upside as well is Baltimore Orioles starter Zach Eflin. Here is a hypothetical trade proposal that could get the job done for San Francisco.
Giants Receive: Zach Eflin
Orioles Receive: Josh Bostick, Jacob Bresnahan
With the Orioles struggling in the American League, they are expected to be sellers as of now, with multiple veterans that they could look to move.
Eflin is an interesting name to monitor, with the right-hander currently on the injured list. Like for most of Baltimore, it has been a challenging year for the right-hander. He has had two separate stints on the injured list and some ineffective production when on the mound.
Even though 2025 might not be going well, Eflin was an impact addition for the Orioles at the trade deadline last year and could be for a contender once again.
San Francisco is fortunate that they don’t need to add an ace, but the right-hander could provide them with a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher who has the potential to pitch in a playoff series.
That is currently an area that they are lacking in, with Justin Verlander being a bit of a disappointment this campaign.
While sending two pitching prospects to the Orioles is a steep potential cost, Eflin could be a game-changer if healthy.
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