The San Francisco Giants are searching for an upgrade at first base — and don’t have much time left to find one.
Much of the issue has stemmed from the Giants not wanting to add until they can subtract. However, the other 29 teams and free agents have used this leverage against them.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report believes LaMonte Wade Jr. could still be traded before spring training starts, and he lists the Reds as a potential candidate to acquire Wade.
“Wade would give the Reds an option to DH, play first base or left field,” wrote Kelly. “He’s got some pop, and would likely benefit from getting to play his home games at Great American Ball Park, a drastic upgrade for a hitter over Oracle Park. His best skill, though, is that he gets on base, with 138 walks since the start of the 2023 season. Adding that type of piece makes sense for just about any lineup, particularly one with uncertainty at three positions he could potentially fill.”
Trading for Wade from the Giants would make a lot of sense for the Reds, who have struggled to find a true first baseman since they moved on from Joey Votto. Adding Wade would give new manager Terry Francona some stability over at first base.
Let’s take it a step farther, though. If the Reds traded for Wade, what could a deal look like?
- Cincinnati Reds acquire: 1B LaMonte Wade Jr.
- San Francisco Giants acquire: RHP Julian Aguiar (Reds No. 11 prospect in 2024), cash considerations
Wade is entering his final year of arbitration and set to make $5 million in 2025. Even for a smaller-market team like the Reds, it’s a very reasonable salary. His market value is set at $7.2 million currently, so it would be expected that the Reds try to sign him to an extension before he enters free agency.
The Giants would receive Julian Aguiar, who started the 2024 season at Double-A Chattanooga and ended it by making seven starts with the Reds. Home runs and walks were Aguiar’s issue in the big leagues in a small sample size, but those are certainly areas he could fine tune in Triple-A Sacramento.
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