MLB writer explains why Giants top pitching prospect is teams most 'intriguing' trade chip

As has so often been the case during their successful runs this century, the San Francisco Giants' strong start in 2025 has been a product of their great pitching. 

Their bullpen currently leads MLB with a 2.32 ERA, over a half-run lower than the second-place New York Mets. Four different relievers have an ERA under 2., including Randy Rodriguez, who leads the team with a 0.61 mark to go along with a remarkable 43/3 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Camilo Doval, who has returned to All-Star form and recaptured the closer’s role. The starting rotation, meanwhile, has been led by former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray and ace Logan Webb, who leads MLB with 2.12 FIP. 

The Giants certainly have a pitching staff that can contend with the best of the National League, but their offense has not been up to par. After a red-hot start, Jung Hoo Lee has slashed .238/.283/.340 over his last 39 games, which has put the spotlight on the other weak spots in their lineup. The team has received little production from the catcher, first base, second base and shortstop positions, with Willy Adames (.584 OPS) in particular being a massive disappointment. The performances of Matt Chapman and Helliot Ramos have kept the offense afloat, but they still rank 18th in Major League Baseball in runs scored and in the bottom five in both average and OPS. 

All signs point to the Giants using their pitching depth to upgrade their offense, and MLB.com’s Maria Guardado believes Carson Wisenhunt could be their most intriguing trade chip. 

“The pitching-rich Giants have several young starters they could dangle to try to land an impact bat at the Trade Deadline, though Whisenhunt -- the club’s No. 2 prospect -- will likely be among the most coveted, since he possesses one of the best changeups in the Minors,” Guardado wrote. 

The Giants' second-round pick in the 2022 draft, Wisenhunt has shown tremendous progress in his third full year in the system, cutting his BB/9 from 4.6 to 1.9. Yet with young starters like Landen Roupp, Hayden Birdsong, and Kyle Harrison already enjoying varying degrees of success at the big-league level, it might make sense for the Giants to capitalize on the 24-year-old Wisenhunt’s strong start at Triple-A and flip him for a middle-of-the-order bat like Marcell Ozuna or Ryan O’Hearn. 

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