Five potential trade packages for SF Giants infielder Wilmer Flores

While Wilmer Flores has handled his drop in playing time like a pro, could the SF Giants soon trade the 2022 Willie Mac Award winner?

As SF Giants first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr., second baseman Thairo Estrada, and third baseman J.D. Davis have earned plenty of playing time this year, one proven veteran has fallen down the depth chart. After leading the Giants in games (151), starts (132), and plate appearances (602) last season, Wilmer Flores has barely started half of the team's games in 2023 and has only started in four of their past 10 games.

SF Giants first baseman Wilmer Flores watches his two-run homer run against the Cardinals. (2023) / John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

The reigning Willie Mac Award winner seemed like a core component of the Giants lineup after inking a two-year extension with the team last year. However, less than nine months later, there's a growing case to be made that Flores could find himself on the trade block.

Wade, Estrada, and Davis have essentially secured every day jobs with the Giants this season at Flores' only viable defensive positions. However, the emergence of young infielder Casey Schmitt (Giants #3 prospect) has kept Flores relegated to a bench role even while Estrada has been on the injured list for the past week.

Luckily for the Giants, Flores has remained an excellent teammate throughout the season. The 11-year MLB veteran has not let the drop in his playing time impact his demeanor in the clubhouse.

"It's been a tough spot for him and I respect the professional that he is," Giants manager Gabe Kapler said during his pregame media availability on Saturday. "He hasn't complained about it one time. We haven't even talked about it until I asked him to come in and I shared with him how much I respect how he's approached this challenging situation."

"I'm always ready to play," Flores told reporters after a three-hit performance in Saturday's 4-0 victory over the Orioles. "I take advantage of any opportunity. There are things that I can't control. What I can control is just staying ready."

Even as Flores has adjusted to the part-time role, it seems like he's set to play even less in the near future. Kapler is optimistic that both Estrada and designated hitter Joc Pederson will return from the injured list this week. The Giants gave Flores a pair of starts this weekend at designated hitter against right-handed starting pitchers, a spot that Pederson would normally fill. Unless the Giants option Schmitt, which seems highly unlikely, Flores' only real path to playing time is as the short side of a platoon with Wade at first base against left-handed starters.

Flores is in a similar situation to former Giants slugger Darin Ruf, who was traded to the New York Mets at last year's trade deadline for Davis and a trio of pitching prospects. Facing a difficult 26 and 40-man roster crunch, the Giants are in a position to look for trades.

The Giants are not lacking infield depth in the upper minors either. Despite his struggles in the majors, slugger David Villar has picked up where he left off at Triple-A. Infielder Tyler Fitzgerald (Giants #20 prospect) has handled a promotion to Triple-A well and is hitting .312/.399/.533 with 20 extra-base hits and 14 stolen bases in 40 games between Double and Triple-A this season. Fitzgerald has experience at second and third base, but is also capable of playing shortstop, unlike Flores. So even if the Giants move on from Flores and end up in a situation where their infield is depleted by injuries, players like Fitzgerald and Villar seem like viable depth.

Flores posted a roughly league-average .229/.316/.394 triple-slash with 28 doubles and 19 home runs last season while playing all over the infield. In 148 plate appearances this season, Flores has a .243/.297/.426 line with seven doubles and six home runs. Still, Kapler is confident that Flores could produce like he did from 2016-2021, when he posted a .790 OPS.

"I don't think his performance to date this season is really indicative of what he's capable of," Kapler said. "Maybe earlier in the season when he was raking, that's more of what we've come to expect from Wilmer. There are going to be ups and downs and there are going to be even more ups and downs when you're not getting very regular playing time."

Even if Flores is unable to return to his pre-2022 form, he would be a clear upgrade at at least one spot on the infield for many teams, including the Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago Cubs.

Flores' extension could make him even more appealing to teams. He is making a reasonable $6.5 million salary in 2023 and 2024 and is potentially under team control through 2025 via a unique player/club option. Even if Flores is more of a high-end bench piece, his salary should not be cumbersome to any potential trade fit.

The chances of the Giants replicating the incredible four-player package they received from the Mets for Ruf last summer are incredibly small, but San Francisco should be in position to at least acquire one or two intriguing prospects.

Red Sox 2022 fourth-round pick Chase Meidroth lacks big time upside, but is a hitter with an elite approach that checks a lot of boxes the Giants have targeted. The Giants would probably be eyeing a multi-player return for Flores, but Meidroth's exceptional contact and walk numbers would seem hard to pass on if Boston was willing to part with him.

Orioles prospects Carter Young and Kyle Brnovich both have seen their value dip in the past year, but Young received a seven-figure bonus in 2022 while Brnovich was considered an solid starting pitching prospect and reached Triple-A prior to undergoing UCL surgery. The Giants could look to buy low on their upside.

Mariners 2022 fifth and sixth-round picks Reid VanScoter and Josh Hood have both gotten off to solid, but unexceptional starts to their pro careers. Given how often the Giants and Mariners have made moves in recent years, it seems like an obvious potential fit.

White Sox 2022 fifth-rounder Tyler Schweitzer and 12th-rounder Brooks Baldwin, who the Giants drafted back in 2021, would seem like a reasonable package. Similarly, the crosstown Cubs sixth-rounder Will Frisch and eighth-rounder Mason McGwire would seem to offer similar value.

The thought of Flores donning a different uniform will be disappointing to many Giants fans. Many within the clubhouse and organization clearly feel the same way. However, as the team prioritizes other players, both the SF Giants and Wilmer Flores could benefit from a potential trade.