On the 2025 MLB commerce deadline, the San Francisco Giants made a transfer that was each painful and sensible, sending longtime outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to the Kansas Metropolis Royals in change for 21-year-old right-handed pitcher Yunior Marte. Whereas Giants followers could also be unhappy to see the longest-tenured participant go away, the entrance workplace deserves credit score for making a forward-thinking resolution — and getting actual worth in return.
Let’s be clear: this was not a simple transfer for the Giants. Yastrzemski has been a fixture in San Francisco since 2019, a grinder who made essentially the most of a late-blooming MLB debut and turned himself right into a revered clubhouse chief and fan favourite. His standout 2020 season, which included a .968 OPS and an eighth-place MVP end, cemented his place within the coronary heart of Giants followers. Over seven seasons, he hit 114 dwelling runs and performed dependable protection in proper area, bringing a gentle presence to the nook outfield.
However that model of Yastrzemski not exists. In 2025, the 34-year-old slashed .231/.330/.355 in 96 video games — barely under common manufacturing total (97 wRC+), even when his splits towards right-handers (118 wRC+) stay strong. With free company looming this offseason and the Giants significantly underperforming, Buster Posey and the entrance workplace needed to swap their preliminary plan.
Giants do away with struggling and growing old Mike Yastrzemski
And promote well, they did. By delivery out Yaz, the Giants not solely cleared room for younger outfielders like Luis Matos, Grant McCray, and probably Marco Luciano, however additionally they netted an intriguing prospect in Yunior Marte.
Marte, ranked No. 20 within the Royals’ farm system, isn’t only a throw-in. The 21-year-old has been spectacular at Low-A Columbia, posting a 2.74 ERA with 79 strikeouts and solely 20 walks over 82 innings. He contains a fastball that touches 95–96 mph with motion, a pointy slider that’s already exhibiting plus potential, and a creating changeup. His supply is fluid and repeatable — traits that time to long-term starter upside. Worst case? Marte initiatives as an influence bullpen arm within the mildew of a Camilo Doval-type reliever, which, contemplating Doval was simply dealt, fills a future want for the membership.
It’s uncommon to land a legit arm with starter potential for a two-month rental of an growing old platoon outfielder. The Giants did simply that. The timing was proper, the return is promising, and so they made room for the following era. That’s the way you handle a roster with one eye on the longer term.
Kansas Metropolis’s strategy right here is more durable to defend. There’s a case to be made that the Royals, who sit simply three video games again within the AL Wild Card, needs to be patrons. However buying Mike Yastrzemski doesn’t actually match that invoice.
Royals get outfield depth, however will the transfer work out?
Sure, their outfield has been downright dreadful — worst in baseball by wRC+ — and the addition of Yastrzemski, a left-handed hitter with a historical past of hitting righties effectively, provides a brief improve. However at age 34 and on an expiring contract, Yaz is nothing greater than a stopgap.
The Royals already acquired Adam Frazier and Randal Grichuk, so that is simply one other Band-Support answer. In the event that they have been severe about contending, they’d be concentrating on a bat with extra impression or an arm with extra management. As an alternative, they despatched away a promising younger pitcher who’s had success in full-season ball — all for a two-month rental.
It’s additionally a bit puzzling from a improvement standpoint. Yastrzemski takes reps away from youthful outfielders who want at-bats — or may’ve been evaluated down the stretch. As an alternative, they’ve added a 34-year-old who, at greatest, provides them modest offensive manufacturing and leaves in November.
This isn’t an all-out blunder — Yaz brings some worth and veteran presence to a crew nonetheless making an attempt to stabilize — but it surely’s a lukewarm transfer with no actual long-term upside. And it value them a pitcher who may develop right into a back-end starter or strong reliever down the street.
The Giants didn’t simply say goodbye to a beloved veteran — they bought excessive and introduced again a younger arm that would impression their big-league roster inside a few years. That’s the way you construct depth and keep aggressive.
Giants: A | Royals: D
For the Royals, it’s a basic case of chasing short-term assist with minimal payoff. Possibly Yastrzemski hits effectively towards righties and provides their offense a raise. However even when he does, it probably received’t be sufficient to swing the postseason race — and definitely not price the price of a strong pitching prospect.