San Francisco already has sent group of promising prospects like shortstop Marco Luciano, left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison and outfielder Luis Matos to offer the Nationals. That core of young talent was competitive with what the Padres, Dodgers and Cardinals have to offer.
But acquiring more minor-league talent at the deadline for players like Rodón and Joc Pederson, both on expiring contracts (as Rodón will likely decline his 2023 player option), and including them in a trade for Soto would give president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi a few more chips to work with instead of sending the franchise’s entire future to Washington and leaving Soto with little young talent around him.
The Giants might not be contenders this season, but Zaidi is not one to host a complete fire sale of the roster. Trading away pieces like Rodón and Pederson to beef up the team’s Soto offer would be a crafty move, and one San Francisco fans would welcome if it means the Bay would land baseball’s brightest young star.