The San Francisco Giants might be in the market for a first baseman this offseason, but many top options have already been snapped up. One bold move they could consider is signing free agent Pete Alonso while trading away top prospect Bryce Eldridge.
Such a move would represent a decisive break from the era of former president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, who was let go after the 2024 season and replaced by franchise icon Buster Posey.
Zaidi’s tenure saw the team draft Eldridge in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft. The 6-foot-7 Virginia native has immense potential, showcasing his power and offensive skills by reaching Triple-A as a 19-year-old this past season.
However, it’s possible that the new regime doesn’t value Eldridge as highly as Zaidi’s team once did.
SF Giants could definitively end the Farhan Zaidi era with this move
In a recent MLB Trade Rumors live chat, writer Mark Polishuk addressed a reader’s question about the possibility of Pete Alonso signing with the San Francisco Giants. With Paul Goldschmidt joining the New York Yankees, Christian Walker signing with the Houston Astros, Carlos Santana heading to the Cleveland Guardians, and the Diamondbacks trading for Josh Naylor, Alonso stands out as the last significant first-base upgrade on the market.
Polishuk offered an intriguing perspective on the Giants pursuing Alonso: “Signing Alonso blocks Eldridge unless the Giants got really creative and flipped Eldridge as part of a trade. It wouldn’t be the first time a new front office moved a top prospect drafted by their predecessor.”
If the Giants were to sign Alonso and trade Eldridge, it would be a bold decision. They’d be committing a substantial contract to Alonso and banking on his power production holding up into his 30s—no small risk in a pitcher-friendly ballpark like Oracle Park. However, this scenario feels unlikely. While Alonso would add excitement to the middle of the lineup, the Giants likely won’t want to make such a hefty financial commitment. Moreover, Eldridge has shown great promise in the minors and could develop into a key piece of their future.
That said, Eldridge could fetch a strong return in a trade. The Giants might leverage him to acquire a starting pitcher if they’re hesitant to spend over $200 million to land someone like Corbin Burnes. Alternatively, they could aim to upgrade their outfield with a more consistent bat.
There’s also the risk of holding onto a prospect too long, as the Giants learned with Joey Bart and Marco Luciano. Bart’s struggles diminished his trade value, and Luciano no longer commands the same return he might have before the 2024 season.
Still, signing Alonso and trading Eldridge doesn’t align with the Giants’ current trajectory. The team is focused on cultivating a homegrown core, with Eldridge as a potential centerpiece. Furthermore, Alonso’s long-term contract would represent the kind of risk Buster Posey, as the Giants’ decision-maker, appears hesitant to take. Posey seems more intent on building sustainable success rather than overhauling his predecessor’s plans. For now, keeping Eldridge seems like the best path forward.
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