The Giants were busy ahead of Monday’s 2026 MLB trade deadline as one of the league’s biggest sellers, dealing away seven players total — including one prospect — in five separate moves.
San Francisco is looking toward the future as it trudges through a less-than-stellar 20226 MLB season, and president of baseball operations Buster Posey’s maneuvering brought back a hefty prospect haul to the Bay.
With eight new players in the organization, only two of whom have MLB experience, here’s how experts around the web graded the Giants’ deadline trades.
Luis Arraez, Caleb Kilian trade to Philadelphia Phillies
Giants grade: A
Phillies grade: B-plus
“Arraez was on an expiring deal, and while Kilian was a useful performer in the Giants’ lackluster bullpen, folding him into the trade is more than worth it for a prospect of Marquez’s caliber. Ranked as a top-five Phillies prospect at both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, he’s a 20-year-old righty enjoying a standout 2026 season that includes a 1.68 ERA across two levels. He should be bumped up to Double-A sooner than later. He has a good fastball/changeup combination and above-average command, giving him a low-risk profile that should make him a viable big-league starter. Marquez’s ceiling will be determined by how well he develops a quality breaking pitch that right now his arsenal lacks.
“Meanwhile, Gair, 22, represents exactly the kind of flier you want to take on a player at the deadline. He hasn’t shown up on prospect rankings yet, but his numbers are fascinating, a kind of homage to Nuke LaLoosh from ‘Bull Durham.’ A 6-foot-6 righty who reaches triple digits on his fastball, Gair has struck out 15.1 batters per nine innings over 54 games as a professional but walked eight per nine during that same stretch. His control has ticked up this season, so maybe he could be a future bullpen option in San Francisco.” – Bradford Doolittle
Giants grade: B
Phillies grade: A
“The Phillies needed an infusion of talent, and Arraez provides some diversity for their lineup. His contact-based approach will aid a lineup built around sluggers hitting .250. The Phillies will also have to hope that his recent defensive improvement can continue without the daily tutelage of infield guru Ron Washington. But it’s an obviously useful addition for a team that still believes it can win a title in 2026.
“As for the Giants, the success of this deal may depend on Marquez’s ability to fool hitters with his changeup as he rises through the minor-league ranks. Both Marquez and Gair have been pitching for Class-A Jersey Shore. Gair is already a reliever. Marquez may become one. But he has posted some absurd strikeout numbers, 14.2 per nine innings, against lower-level competition. The changeup may be enough to carry him to the majors as a solid reliever if he can’t stick in the rotation.” – Andy McCullough
Giants grade: B-plus
Phillies grade: A
“The 20-year-old Marquez is thriving in his second year of professional ball, logging a 1.68 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 59 innings at Single A and High A. Ranked as the Phillies’ No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Marquez brings a three-pitch mix that features a nasty 80-mph changeup that induces plenty of whiffs. Marquez steps in as the Giants’ second-best pitching prospect in their organization behind Jackson Flora.
“Gair, a 23-year-old currently pitching in High A, was a 13th-round pick by the Phillies in 2023. He didn’t debut in the minors until last year and owns a career 4.43 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 63 innings.
“Posey hasn’t done much right since the franchise legend took over the Giants’ front office. But getting Marquez into the organization for an expiring contract is a win.” – Tom Dierberger
Giants grade: B
Phillies grade: B-plus
“You’re not going to get a haul for a rental position player who lacks power, and the Giants did indeed not get a haul for Arraez. They did, however, add strikeout potential to the lower rungs of their system with Marquez and Gair. Marquez, a starter who’s quite young for his level, in particular seems promising. It’s also a wise decision to sell for a team that’s buried in the standings and badly needs some long-term upside.” – Dayn Perry
Giants grade: B
Phillies grade: A
“Arraez wasn’t going to command a huge price given that he’s a free agent after this season. I’d say getting a top-five prospect from any farm system is as much of a win as you’re going to get out of this one. It’ll do!” – Charles Curtis
Robbie Ray trade to San Diego Padres
Giants grade: B
Phillies grade: B-plus
“The Giants get the Padres’ No. 7 and No. 11 prospects via Kiley McDaniel’s postdraft update. That sounds impressive until factoring in the lack of depth in the San Diego system. Mendez was already on the Padres’ 40-man roster after a breakout season in 2025. He has a 4.79 ERA in 12 starts at Double-A and just returned after missing more than a month with a sore shoulder. He has been limited to just 35 innings, so it’s hard to get a read on him, but he was an intriguing prospect heading into the season, occasionally touching 100 mph last year. He is a lottery ticket but a fun one.
“So is Hernandez, a 17-year-old Cuban who was the Padres’ top international signing in their 2026 class at $1.4 million. We might never hear from him again, but the Giants turned a pitcher with an expiring contract into two prospects with some high-upside potential. Sure, neither probably gets there, but I’d rather roll the dice on two players like this than three relief pitchers.” – David Schoenfield
Giants grade: A
Padres grade: B-plus
“Robbie Ray’s 2021 AL Cy Young Award remains one of the award’s most notable outliers in recent history, and it’s possible the expectations around him after winning have obscured just how helpful Ray has been when healthy. He’s not in danger of throwing 200 innings, but he was a reliable fount of quality starts in recent weeks, throwing (and grunting) as well as ever. The Padres got a first-hand look at it last week, and it impressed them enough to make a relatively rare intra-division trade. …
“As for the Giants, they somehow trans-mutated the immovable contracts of Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani into two strong seasons from Ray and a pair of prospects, which is an impressive feat already. The quality of those prospects being as high as it is makes the grade one of the easiest so far. Joniel Hernandez is a teenage shortstop bonus baby for the Giants to add to their growing collection, and Miguel Mendez is a high-octane arm in the upper minors (though he’s on a rehab assignment in High-A now), which is exactly where the Giants need depth.” – Grant Brisbee
Giants grade: B
Padres grade: A
“For Ray, one of the top rental starters on the market, the Giants landed a high upside arm in Mendez, albeit one who has missed most of the year with a shoulder injury (he recently returned to game action). Hernandez, 17, is a lottery ticket in the lowest levels of the minors. The Padres gave him a $1.4 million signing bonus as an international amateur free agent in January.
“San Francisco assumed risk (Mendez’s injury, Hernandez’s proximity to the majors) to get considerable upside. That’s a nice bit of business for a team having a disappointing season. Mendez’s shoulder injury is enough to bump this from an A to a B. Shoulder trouble can be nasty business.” – Mike Axisa
Giants grade: B
Phillies grade: B
“This is about what they could expect for a 34-year old two months from free agency. Mendez is a 23-year-old right-hander already on the 40-man who posted a 1.78 ERA in the lower minors last year before getting hit around in six Double-A starts. Neither he nor Hernandez are headliners.” – Kristie Ackert
Heliot Ramos trade to Yankees
Giants grade: B-plus
Yankees grade: C-minus
“Ramos has a career bWAR figure of 3.6; he’s not that hard to replace. In meantime, you get the Yankees’ No. 8 prospect according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel in the 6-foot-7 Lalane, who has come on strong this season after battling back from shoulder problems. He has a fastball that reaches the high 90s and scouting grades that suggest average or better command. He’s a nice get for Buster Posey and his staff.
“Meanwhile, what a whirlwind it has been for Kent, who last week was watching his father, Jeff, being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Like his father, Kaeden is an infielder with solid across-the-board tools, though none particularly stand out. Now, he’s joining the organization his father chose to represent on his Hall plaque.” – Bradford Doolittle
Giants grade: A-minus
Yankees grade: C
“Heliot Ramos can be a bit of a frustrating player. When he hits the ball, he hits it hard, with expected outcomes that exceed the majority of big league players.
“The issue is that he doesn’t hit it often enough. The 26-year-old outfielder strikes out too much, hardly walks and isn’t a great defender. But the Yankees need offense. They rank in the bottom half of baseball in OPS and hits, and are outside the top 10 in runs scored. Their current lineup is missing Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger.
“The Yankees are giving up two of their top 13 prospects, including 22-year-old lefty pitcher Henry Lalane and Kaeden Kent, son of recent Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Kent. That’s a steep price for Ramos, who has posted just 3.6 career WAR since first getting called up in 2022.” – Sam Blum
Giants grade: B-minus
Yankees grade: B
“Clearly, Ramos’s trade value was fairly low, so getting two more pieces – including their fourth pitcher in this deadline haul – wasn’t bad. Kent, 22, is putting up decent numbers at Class A Hudson Valley, with 22 doubles and six homers and a .792 OPS, though he’s roughly league average age for that level.
“Lalane, 22, was signed as an amateur free agent in 2021 and finally reached high A Hudson Valley this year, at 22. He’s had the most health and success this year compared to all previous seasons, with a 2.78 ERA across two levels and 98 strikeouts in 77 innings. It’s likely the Yankees would have lost him to Rule 5 draft or minor league free agency in coming winters.” – Gabe Lacques
Giants grade: B
Yankees grade: C
“The Giants have salvaged a disappointing season with a strong trade deadline in a seller’s market. In recent weeks, Lalane has again looked like one of New York’s top pitching prospects after years of shoulder injuries. Kent is nothing like his father. He’s a contact-over-power hitter from the left side of the plate. Both Lalane and Kent are in Single-A. For Ramos, a player who seemed to be playing his way out of San Francisco, it’s a solid return for the Giants.” – Mike Axisa
Erik Miller to Boston Red Sox
Giants grade: C-plus
Red Sox grade: D
“OK, here’s the deal: I don’t really think Mayer is that good. I get it — he was the No. 4 in 2021. He was ESPN’s No. 4 prospect heading into the 2025 season. In 114 games in the majors, though, he has hit .223 with a .278 OBP. He had some good minor league numbers but never great ones. He’s supposed to be a good defensive shortstop, but the Red Sox moved him to second base to accommodate a clearly declining Trevor Story. Even if that was deference to a veteran, it says something. Mayer’s defensive metrics in the majors, even at second base, have been below average. His arm strength is below average and his speed is only average. Oh, and he has been injury prone (he’s on the IL right now).
“Even with all that … this is a no-brainer for the Giants. If you can turn a relief pitcher into a starting middle infielder, you do it 100 times out of 100. Mayer hasn’t played enough to write him off yet as a hitter and he was at least showing some improvement this year in his approach, although the results weren’t good. He’s still young. Willy Adames looks done as a shortstop, so maybe Mayer gets an opportunity there, or maybe he’s a second baseman. The Giants will give him an opportunity, and even if he turns into a 2-WAR player, that’s a win.” – David Schoenfield
Giants grade: A
Red Sox grade: B
“[Marcelo] Mayer is a big name more than anything right now. He’s had injury issues for years and hasn’t hit in the big leagues when healthy. That said, the Giants are one of the worst teams in baseball and flipping a reliever to buy low on a young player who not too long ago was one of the best prospects in the game is a savvy move. It may not work out, but it’s worth the dice roll. There’s a much better chance Mayer is part of the next contending Giants team than Miller.” – Dayn Perry