Giant’s Bryce Eldridge Could Hit the Trade Market
But here’s the twist that could shake things up for San Francisco: Eldridge’s name is floating in trade conversations. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle notes that the Mariners and Red Sox have shown real interest in the slugger. It remains unclear whether Seattle’s appetite persists now that Josh Naylor has re-signed and locked in first base for the next five years. Still, the Mariners could potentially deploy a first-base and designated hitter platoon that includes Naylor and Eldridge, much like the Giants are planning to pair Devers and Eldridge in 2026.
Top prospect Bryce Eldridge, who debuted with the Giants in 2025, made a brief, ten-game appearance that didn’t spark big results. Despite a modest showing, Eldridge is widely viewed as a foundational piece for San Francisco’s offense moving forward. Earlier today, though, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Eldridge isn’t completely off-limits in trade discussions as the front office heads into the Winter Meetings.
That warning doesn’t guarantee a trade will happen. It’s uncommon for teams to shut the door entirely on every trade possibility; most front offices are open to listening on virtually any player. Still, a prospect with Eldridge’s pedigree doesn’t often hit the market. The 21-year-old was San Francisco’s first-round pick in 2023 and is widely regarded as a top-20 prospect in baseball. He slugged 25 homers in 102 minor-league games this season, posting a .260/.333/.510 line across Double-A and Triple-A. At 6’7” and 240 pounds, Eldridge has rare raw power that would intrigue any lineup.
There’s no shortage of curiosity about adding Eldridge to the middle of a lineup, and that includes the Giants themselves. Yet Eldridge has notable flaws. He struck out 30.8% of the time at Triple-A last season, raising questions about his ability to consistently make contact against MLB pitching. Even with that concern, it’s worth recalling that San Francisco acquired Rafael Devers in midseason to anchor their future at first base for the next decade. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Giants could fit Eldridge into their plans, but doing so would lock in a long-term first base/DH arrangement and reduce roster flexibility.
Eldridge’s fit with the Giants’ post-Devers roster, plus the team’s stated goal of avoiding long-term contracts this winter as they upgrade the pitching staff, makes Eldridge a logical trade candidate. Still, many fans and analysts argue for keeping a rare, highly promising bat with plenty of service time ahead. A recent MLB Trade Rumors poll asked fans whether the Giants should hold onto Eldridge; roughly half said yes, with a sizeable minority advocating for a trade only if it brings in another impactful bat for 2026.
That said, acknowledging Eldridge isn’t strictly off the table doesn’t mean a deal is imminent. The Giants could be willing to move Eldridge only for a top-tier player, such as a controllable ace, should the right opportunity arise. Rumors have floated names like Hunter Greene or Tarik Skubal as potential targets who might not be readily available in trades themselves. Rubin’s reporting suggests the Giants’ level of involvement could hinge on the specifics of this winter’s market, which remains fluid.
Even with those big names in play, several enticing trade targets are circulating this winter. Players such as Edward Cabrera, MacKenzie Gore, Freddy Peralta, Kodai Senga, and Mitch Keller have been discussed as possibilities, though the Giants would likely part with Eldridge only to land a true impact arm to complement a rotation that already features Logan Webb and Robbie Ray but could use reinforcements.
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