Latest Trade News: Giants trade idea grabs Baltimore Orioles’ pitcher after massive disappointment in rotation

Despite all the moves the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers made in the offseason to strengthen their already loaded roster, their Northern California rivals are staying competitive through the first third of the 2025 season.

The San Francisco Giants are currently 31-23, just two games behind in the NL West standings. Their success so far has been largely driven by a solid starting rotation, which ranks fifth in the league in strikeouts (288) and second in fewest home runs allowed (26).

But not every arm in the rotation has lived up to expectations. Jordan Hicks, now in the second year of a four-year, \$44 million deal, has struggled mightily, posting a 6.55 ERA over nine starts. His poor performance led to a demotion to the bullpen, with promising young lefty Kyle Harrison stepping into the starting role.

 

 

Adding to the Giants’ rotation concerns, 42-year-old Justin Verlander has landed on the injured list due to right pectoral soreness and is expected to miss at least two starts.

While Harrison—once the Giants’ top prospect—has the potential to be a long-term solution, the team could use more depth right now to stay in the thick of the division race.

That reinforcement might come from another team sporting black and orange.

The Baltimore Orioles have slid to the bottom of the American League standings and are likely to become sellers unless their fortunes change soon. One potential trade chip is 35-year-old “rookie” Tomoyuki Sugano, who’s on an expiring contract.

A Great Match for the Bay

Unlike many of their recent acquisitions, the Orioles made the right call with Sugano. The veteran Yomiuri Giants star has performed well, posting a 3.07 ERA and a strong 1.02 WHIP.

His main drawbacks have been a modest strikeout total—just 32 in 58.2 innings—and giving up 10 home runs. However, the home run issue could be mitigated in San Francisco. Oracle Park is among the most pitcher-friendly stadiums in MLB, with wide gaps and deep fences that help suppress long balls.

Since Sugano generally limits hard contact aside from the homers, he would likely thrive more in Oracle Park than in Camden Yards, which has once again become favorable to hitters. Even if his strikeout rate remains low, the Giants’ rotation is strong enough to compensate.

For Sugano personally, a move to San Francisco would bring him geographically closer to Japan and pit him in a compelling rivalry against three fellow former NPB stars—Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki—now with the Dodgers.

Better to Be Proactive Than Reactive

While the San Francisco Giants could choose to wait until they’re certain they need another starting pitcher, making a move now would allow them to benefit sooner from a seasoned arm who could boost their chances in the tightly contested NL West.

 

 

Just look at the Dodgers, who managed to win last year despite a battered rotation, or the Phillies, who had internal depth ready when Aaron Nola got injured. Teams with serious postseason aspirations can never have too many pitching options.

Acquiring Sugano likely won’t require a steep price, either. He’s not among the top-tier names expected to hit the trade market, and with the Orioles aiming to reenter the playoff picture next year, they’d probably prefer a borderline major leaguer rather than a high-end prospect.