San Francisco’s front office is staring down a tough decision with top prospect Bryce Eldridge. Do they keep the 21-year-old slugger as a future cornerstone, or trade him to patch up a growing need for pitching?
With Rafael Devers now locked in at first base and Eldridge’s shaky MLB debut still fresh, the Giants have a lot to weigh. They’re torn between his long-term potential and the pressure to strengthen the rotation for 2026.
Who Is Bryce Eldridge and Why He Still Matters to the Giants
Eldridge isn’t just another prospect—he’s been a central piece of the Giants’ rebuild since they drafted him in the first round back in 2023. Even after a rough first taste of the majors in 2025, he’s still one of the most intriguing talents in the system.
A Top-20 Prospect With Big-Time Power
At 21, Eldridge has already become a consensus top-20 prospect in baseball. His minor league numbers back that up.
Across 102 games in the upper minors, he smashed 25 home runs and posted a .260/.333/.510 slash. There’s obvious impact here, and he’s got room to get even better.
Scouts and analysts can’t stop talking about his raw power. When he hits the ball, it jumps off the bat—just a different sound and look compared to most hitters. That’s the kind of pop teams are desperate to find these days.
The Strikeout Problem That Clouds His Ceiling
But it’s not all sunshine. Eldridge’s 30.8% strikeout rate at Triple-A is a real red flag.
He struggled to make consistent contact in the minors, and his brief stint with San Francisco in 2025 made those issues even clearer.
So the front office has to gamble: can he improve his pitch recognition and swing decisions enough to let that power shine? If he figures it out, you might have a true middle-of-the-order bat. If not, he could end up as another high-power, low-contact guy that big-league pitchers know how to handle.
Devers’ Arrival Complicates Eldridge’s Path
Normally, you’d just pencil Eldridge in at first base and let him develop. But things changed when the Giants landed Rafael Devers, who’s now locked in at first for the long haul.
Roster Fit and Lineup Flexibility Now in Question
With Devers holding down first, Eldridge’s path is suddenly blocked. That’s a headache for a few reasons:
The Devers move didn’t make Eldridge expendable, but it sure complicated things.
Why the Giants Are Listening on Eldridge Trade Offers
San Francisco needs pitching—badly, and soon. The front office wants to boost the rotation this offseason, but they’re hesitant to hand out another massive, long-term contract to a veteran arm.
High Price Tag: Only for Frontline, Controllable Arms
The Giants aren’t exactly shopping Eldridge, but they’re open to including him in the right deal. And by “right,” they mean controllable, high-impact starters who can anchor the rotation for years.
Some of the names linked to San Francisco include:
That’s the kind of return it would take for the Giants to move Eldridge. Anything less, and they’ll just hang onto the power bat they’ve been grooming since draft day.
Market Interest and the Mariners, Red Sox Angle
The Mariners and Red Sox have both shown interest in Eldridge. Seattle’s cooled off a bit after re-signing Josh Naylor to cover first base.
Boston still looks like a logical suitor—always hunting for impact bats, and they’ve liked Eldridge since the draft. But unless a team’s willing to give up a true top-of-the-rotation arm, these talks are more curiosity than anything else right now.
The Giants’ Balancing Act Heading Into 2026
San Francisco is walking a narrow beam. They can’t ignore their pitching deficiencies, but they also can’t just toss aside one of the organization’s most gifted hitters.
Eldridge represents both a future middle-of-the-order anchor and one of the club’s best trade chips. If the right pitcher comes along, the Giants might decide that giving up long-term offensive potential is the price for finally stabilizing their rotation.
If not, they’ll probably double down on Eldridge’s development. Maybe his power bat just feels too valuable to move—blocked position or not.
Here is the source article for this story: Giants Could Make Bryce Eldridge Available In Trade Talks
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