The Giants indeed made the blockbuster trade deadline deal fans were clamoring for, acquiring former NL MVP Kris Bryant from the Chicago Cubs just minutes before 1 p.m. PT, the team announced Friday.
In exchange, the Giants will send prospects Alexander Canario and Caleb Kilian to the Cubs. So what are the Giants giving up to bring in the powerful bat of Bryant?
Canario was the Giants’ No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline, a 21-year-old outfielder who has spent 2021 playing with the San Jose Giants in Low-A. Canario is slashing .235/.325/.433 over 65 games in San Jose this season with nine home runs and 29 RBI. Canario also has been much better since June 1, hitting .277/.350/.503 with 11 doubles and seven home runs (h/t Baseball America’s Josh Norris).
Kilian was the Giants’ No. 30 prospect by MLB Pipeline, a 24-year-old right-hander who has spent time in both High-A and Double-A so far this season. After going 3-0 with a 1.25 ERA in 21 ⅔ innings for the Eugene Emeralds in High-A to begin the season, Kilian swiftly was promoted to the Richmond Flying Squirrels. In 11 Double-A starts this season, Kilian is 3-2 with a 2.43 ERA.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
MLB Pipeline currently projects Kilian to make his MLB debut in 2022, with Canario’s anticipated arrival just a year later.
Canario was considered somewhat expendable leading up to the trade deadline as he is on the Giants' 40-man roster but remains down in Low-A.
RELATED: Giants acquire slugger Bryant in blockbuster trade with Cubs
The Giants were able to bring in a top-line bat while holding onto the organization’s core top prospects, something Farhan Zaidi and the front office certainly have to thrilled about.
San Francisco Giants
Find the latest San Francisco Giants news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
It will be a few years before we know who truly won this trade, but as of now, the Giants definitely weren’t losers on this transaction.