"That the Giants are in the market for help at second base is well known at this point, but ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that San Francisco has been particularly "aggressive" in its pursuit of late, with recent talks regarding a pair of NL Central standouts: Nico Hoerner of the Cubs and Brendan Donovan of the Cardinals. Both were known targets for the Giants already, but it's notable that they're ostensibly ramping up their efforts to make a deal happen."
"Giants second basemen were among the least-productive in all of baseball in 2025, hitting a combined .217/.273/.343. The resulting 73 wRC+ (indicating they were 27% worse than average at the plate) ranked 27th in the majors, leading only the Angels, A's and Rockies. Tyler Fitzgerald led San Francisco with 233 plate appearances as the team's second baseman, followed by Casey Schmitt (193), Christian Koss (137) and Brett Wisely (43)."
"Either Donovan or Hoerner would stand as a major upgrade. Both will play next season at 29 years old. Both are established contact hitters with defensive versatility, although the presence of Matt Chapman and Willy Adames on the left side of the infield would lessen the Giants' need to take advantage of that positional flexibility. Donovan, who agreed to a one-year deal worth $5.8MM to avoid arbitration last week, is controlled through the 2027 season."
"Donovan figures to be the more readily available of the two in trade talks. The Cardinals are in the early stages of a multiyear rebuilding effort under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. They've already shipped out and Willson Contreras in separate trades to the Red Sox, and they've been fielding interest in lefty JoJo Romero while also wor"
San Francisco has intensified efforts to acquire a second baseman, engaging in talks for Nico Hoerner and Brendan Donovan. Giants second basemen produced a combined .217/.273/.343 line and a 73 wRC+, ranking 27th in 2025. Tyler Fitzgerald, Casey Schmitt, Christian Koss and Brett Wisely logged the most plate appearances at second and were below average offensively at that position. Donovan and Hoerner, both 29 next season, offer contact hitting and defensive versatility. Donovan is under team control through 2027 after a one-year $5.8MM deal; Hoerner is owed $12MM in the final year of a three-year, $35MM contract. Cardinals appear more likely to trade Donovan amid an early rebuild.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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