A Year After His First Deadline, Posey's Giants Are Selling Again
With San Francisco sitting at 47-65, Buster Posey is again trading veterans for prospects, and last year's deadline deals offer a mixed early return.
By Mei Ling ·
For the second straight year, Buster Posey is moving veteran players for prospects as the trade deadline arrives. Luis Arráez, Tyler Mahle and Caleb Kilian have already been sent away, and at least half a dozen other Giants could follow.
It is not the path Posey or anyone else in the organization expected. The seven-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion took over baseball operations from Farhan Zaidi hoping a run of bold moves would lift a middling team into contention. Instead, the club has regressed. At 47-65, the Giants are in a position where the future has to take priority over the present.
A look back at how Posey and general manager Zack Minasian handled last season's deadline shows a mixed picture so far. In the first deal, the Giants sent top setup man Tyler Rogers to the Mets for outfielder Drew Gilbert, right-hander Blade Tidwell and reliever José Buttó.
On paper the return looked strong. Gilbert and Tidwell were well-regarded prospects, and Buttó carried a 3.74 ERA across 74 career games with the Mets. But Buttó struggled after arriving in San Francisco and is out for the season following April surgery to remove a blood clot in his arm. Gilbert is a solid defender, though his .681 OPS is below league average and he projects as a fourth or fifth outfielder.
Tidwell may have the best chance to help the Giants win down the line. He has spent most of 2026 at Triple-A but should get an opportunity in the rotation after this year's deadline. If he does not hold up as a starter, he could open next season in the bullpen, where a high-90s fastball might make him a high-leverage arm.
The Yankees sent four prospects to San Francisco for closer Camilo Doval, who struggled in New York and was traded to Pittsburgh on Saturday. Carlos De La Rosa and Trystan Vrieling may never reach the majors. Jesús Rodríguez could become a useful right-handed utility bat once the Giants stop treating him as a potential third catcher.
The standout is Parks Harber, a former undrafted free agent hitting .377 with a 1.058 OPS in 14 games since moving up to Triple-A. At 24, he could earn a full-time role. Whether he can challenge Matt Chapman at third base next season is doubtful, but a corner outfield spot may be possible.
Posey also completed a last-minute trade sending Mike Yastrzemski to the Royals for right-hander Yunior Marte. Since a midseason promotion to Double-A, Marte has struggled, with opponents hitting .266 against him. He is still starting, but his clearest route to the majors may be in relief. He commands his fastball well and can touch triple digits, and if his slider or splitter develops into a plus pitch, he could eventually help the bullpen.
Source: The San Francisco Standard
