The 2025 MLB trade deadline started with a bolt of optimism for San Francisco Giants fans. On June 15th, they acquired one of the best hitters in the game Rafael Devers, shocking the baseball world as they breathed down the necks of the first place Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants were 41-31, just 2 games behind LA for the lead in the NL West. Two nights later, Devers would make his Giants debut, going 2-5 with an RBI in a 3-2 home loss to the Guardians. Since Devers donned the orange and black, the Giants are 13-24 and have dropped from two games behind the Dodgers in the West and the second Wild Card spot, to nine games behind the team down south and six games behind the trade crazy Padres for the final playoff spot. The Giants sudden crash has left behind a familiar feeling: uncertainty, frustration, and another case of wait ’till next year. But after President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey pulled the rip cord with a number of trades on Thursday, is there sense of hope that these new Giants can reverse a trend of years fighting to make the playoffs only to run out of gas in the second half of recent seasons?
A recap of the Giants trade deadline day and one of the craziest deadline days in MLB history.
Doval to the Bronx
The Giants saved their best for last when former All-Star closer Camilo Doval was shipped to the New York Yankees right at 3 PM PT.
The return?
• (#23) Jesus Rodriguez (23), a catcher/1B with big power but questionable contact, AAA 5 HR 41 RBIs, .317 BA, .839 OPS
• (NR) Parks Harber (24), a corner infielder with a massive arm and raw tools, Nearly 24 and in A ball.
• (#17) Trystan Vrieling (24): A right-handed starter with mid-rotation upside; AA Somerset 1-2 4.50 ERA
• (NR) Carlos De La Rosa, a 17-year-old DSL lottery ticket who throws gas, Yankees signed him in April 2025, 5’11 175.
Let’s be honest: this wasn’t the blockbuster return fans wanted for a fireballer, though rollercoaster ride Camilo Doval. It’s a quantity move, not a quality one—at least for now. But as always with prospects, it’s a dartboard throw. Sometimes you give up Zack Wheeler for Carlos Beltran, most of the time whoever gets the star, wins the trade.
Rodgers to the Mets = a Win?
If there’s a silver lining, it’s this: the Giants got strong marks around the league for the Tyler Rogers trade with the New York Mets. It’s not easy to part with one of the most unique arms in baseball but the return reaction was real:
• HP José Buttó
• Age: 27
• MLB Ready: Yes
• Profile: Mid-to-back-end rotation arm
• Stuff: Sits 93–95 mph with his fastball, solid changeup (his best pitch), and an improving slider.
• Scouting Notes: Buttó has been up and down with the Mets the last couple of years. He throws strikes, competes well, and profiles as a durable innings-eater—think long reliever or No. 5 starter. He doesn’t have dominant stuff, but he’s useful and could help the Giants’ staff right away.
⸻
RHP Blade Tidwell
• Age: 23
• Level: Double-A
• Profile: Power starter with upside, ranked among Mets’ top 10 prospects
• Stuff: Fastball touches 97, big sweeping slider, decent changeup
• Scouting Notes: Former second-round pick with real upside. Struggles with command at times but has a starter’s build and arsenal. If the control sharpens, he could be a mid-rotation starter. Worst case, he becomes a late-inning power arm out of the bullpen. High ceiling, medium floor.
⸻
OF Drew Gilbert
• Age: 23
• Level: Triple-A
• Profile: High-energy center fielder, former Astros first-rounder
• Hit Tool: Compact left-handed swing, quick hands, good barrel control
• Scouting Notes: Known for his intensity and “gamer” mentality. Not huge power, but hits the ball hard and uses the whole field. Above-average speed and strong defense in center. Could be a starting-caliber MLB outfielder as soon as 2026, if not sooner, especially with the trade of Yaz to the Royals.
Yaz Out, Matos Time?
As if the day wasn’t chaotic enough, 20 minutes after the 3 PM PT deadline, news broke that the Kansas City Royals had acquired Mike Yastrzemski. After 790 games in orange and black, Yaz is gone.
He always seemed to be caught in a tug-of-war between fan adoration and frustration. He’d flash power, hustle, and big moments, but just as often disappear for weeks at a time at the plate. It was a love-not-so-love relationship, and his departure feels bittersweet.
In return, the Giants get Yunior Marte who was having a breakout year at Single-A, logging a 2.74 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 79 strikeouts in 82 innings, albeit as an old-for-the-level 21-year-old. But this trade is about something else: opening up right field. It’s likely Luis Matos’ time unless the newly acquired Gilbert shows something. Does Matos just need regular at bats like some Giants fans think or is he the dreaded 4A player?
What about moving Verlander or Ray?
Here’s the frustrating part. While the Giants did make some moves, they didn’t go far enough. Justin Verlander is on an expiring deal and with his post season resume even at 42, he likely had suitors. He hasn’t been great, but his team has let him down at the plate a number of times this season. Robbie Ray has one year left and I get they need a number two starter next season, but Ray could have brought back a solid haul and pitching will always sign in San Francisco in the offseason. Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen, Framber Valdez, just to name a few and with the prospects Ray could have brought back, some could have been used to bolster the rotation. Both had value. Both are still Giants. In a deadline where everyone was moving everybody, why not move a couple more veterans and give this thin farm system a boost? It’s one of the worst systems in baseball. If it was better, it would have provided help when the Giants needed it this season and it never came through. They needed to fortify it more for the future.
James Tibbs Is Now a Dodger
Remember James Tibbs? The Giants’ first-round pick last year, traded to Boston in the Rafael Devers deal? He was flipped today to the Dodgers for pitcher Dustin May. Tibbs will probably become a Max Muncy like pain the ass to the Giants, Because of course he will.
Everyone Else Went Nuts
The Padres, the team the Giants are (were?) chasing for the final Wild Card spot, traded 10 of their top 30 prospects in a blockbuster day that included acquiring A’s flamethrower Mason Miller. They gave up Leo De Vries, not just their top prospect—but the #3 prospect in all of baseball. The Padres aren’t big market and GM AJ Preller has never won anything, but at least the Padres always swing for the fences. The Giants could use a touch of that bravado.
The Twins traded away 10 major leaguers, including sending almost-Giant Carlos Correa back to Houston to play third. How do you even have 10 players worth trading and still be that bad Minnesota?
Meanwhile, the Yankees loaded up on relief pitching (hello, Doval) and former Tampa Bay infielder Jose Caballero, literally changed dugouts mid-game from the Rays to Yankees. The Mets fortified their pen, as did the Phillies in the battle for the NL East, the Mariners made aggressive moves to go for it with Geno Suarez, Josh Naylor and some bullpen arms, the Rangers took Giants killer Merrill Kelly out of the National League West.
Names That Stayed Put
Lots of rumors. Zero movement. Steven Kwan, Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Mitch Keller, Luis Robert Jr., Zac Gallen, Joe Ryan, Dylan Cease, MacKenzie Gore, Marcell Ozuna. All rumored. All still in place. But the rest of the league? Absolutely chaotic.
Bottom Line
The Giants’ moves were necessary. This is a team that’s flatlined for six weeks and now faces a brutal truth: they’re not in the same class as the contenders.
The Padres just reloaded. The Dodgers are the Dodgers. The Mets, Phillies, Brewers, and Cubs are all comfortably ahead and honestly better. That’s likely the six playoff teams from the National League this season. If you’re a now sub .500 team with the worst record in baseball the last month and a half making mental and physical errors like the Giants are, fielding a lineup full of underachieving hitters and backed by a bottom-tier farm system, it’s time to reset, again.