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As a group, the Giants\u2019 high-priced infield of third baseman Matt Chapman, shortstop Willy Adames, second baseman Luis Arraez and first baseman Rafael Devers has\u00a0underperformed this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rick Scuteri\/Associated Press<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not a quiet rebuild going on,\u201d president of baseball operations Buster\u00a0Posey said about the direction of the floundering Giants during an interview on\u00a0KNBR on Thursday morning. \u201cWe\u2019re still trying to win.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stephen Lam\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n
Giants second baseman Luis\u00a0Arraez, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason, has shown dramatic improvement this season in the field and at the plate, making him a logical trade candidate if the season continues to spiral.<\/p>\n
Carlos Avila Gonzalez\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n
The San Francisco Giants<\/a> limped home this week with a 20-30 record. A very large sample size informing us exactly who they are:<\/p>\n So where do they go from here? Do they tear it down, as much as they can? Or do they keep hoping things somehow turn around?<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Though theoretically not completely out of contention \u2014 hey, miracles and 20-game win streaks can happen \u2014 this is looking more and more like one more forgettable season. Another 162-game season of mediocrity, or outright disaster, with everyone, from ownership to the president of baseball operations to the newbie manager to his staff to the high-salaried veterans all failing to perform well in their jobs.<\/p>\n Only Casey Schmitt,<\/a> Luis Arraez<\/a> and Ron Washington get gold stars.\u00a0<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n A year ago, the Giants were 29-21, in second place in the NL West and just two games out of first. They were kind of gritty, a little gutsy, and promising enough to prompt Buster Posey<\/a> to pull the trigger on an enormous trade just three weeks later, bringing in Rafael Devers.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n This team is the exact opposite. They are not gritty, not gutsy, instead wallowing in fourth place, 11 games out and saved from the worst record in the National League only by the lowly Colorado Rockies.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n What happens now? Does Posey make another big move, unloading what he can and going in \u2014 as much as possible \u2014 on development?<\/p>\n It seems to be the logical course, though there\u2019s only so many moves to make. Fans may clamor for the team to unload Devers or Willy Adames,<\/a> but what team is going to take on those contracts? What could the Giants get by trading such veterans when their value is at its lowest?<\/p>\n Still, there are possibilities. The Giants could trade Robbie Ray,<\/a> their only left-handed starter and a player who has value to a contending team. They could also \u2014 and we hate to say this because he\u2019s been the most compelling thing about this team \u2014 trade\u00a0Arraez, who has been nothing short of brilliant with both his bat and his defense. He signed a one-year contract with the Giants, betting on himself, and will clearly earn a much bigger deal in the offseason.<\/p>\n<\/a>
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