Are the Giants Plotting to “Acquire a Right-Handed Power Hitter” in a “Last-Minute Trade”?… Hirauchi, Hagio, and Okada Among Candidates to Be Traded

All the way to a first-round draft pick pitcher…

Just before the Interleague games, former manager Shinnosuke Abe (47) was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence against his family, and since then, the Giants—now led by interim manager Hideki Hashigami (60)—are reportedly planning further roster moves.

“Rumors are circulating in baseball circles that the team is aiming for a new trade right up until the July 31 deadline. The front office has long identified starting pitchers and power hitters as areas needing reinforcement. However, regarding starting pitchers, they have already acquired Shinnosuke Ogasawara (28), who returned to NPB from the Nationals .

They are currently on the lookout for a young right-handed hitter capable of hitting for power. It is said that the players being considered as trade bait include outfielder Yuki Okada (26), in his fifth year out of college; infielder Dai Yuasa (26), in his ninth year out of high school; and outfielder Masaya Hagio (25).“All three possess high potential but are currently languishing without being able to secure a spot on the first team,” said a sports newspaper editor.

So who exactly are they trying to acquire?

“Ryoma Ikeda (22) and Hō Naito (21) of the Orix Buffaloes are being mentioned as candidates.Both have been highly regarded as power hitters and were expected to be future cornerstones of their teams, but they have failed to deliver results. It’s said that if things continue this way, there’s even a risk they could become free agents this coming offseason. They also fit the Giants’ need for a ‘right-handed power hitter,’ and there’s a good chance they could make a comeback in a new environment,” said a Pacific League team official.

The Giants are also reportedly prepared to part ways with a first-round draft pick pitcher.

“That’s pitcher Ryuta Hirauchi (27), who joined the team as the first-round pick in the 2020 draft. His aggressive pitching style and powerful fastball are his strengths, but he has failed to perform as expected and has been named a trade candidate numerous times.However, his release has been put on hold because former manager Tatsunori Hara (67), who valued Hirauchi’s competitive spirit, intervened, and Asia University expressed reservations about the trade.However, since the right-hander will turn 28 in August, it appears the team’s front office is now seriously considering lifting the ban on his trade,” said a Giants source.

Will the negotiations ultimately come to fruition?