San Francisco Giants Get Underwhelming Return For All-Star Closer

On Thursday July 31, 2025, right at the MLB trade deadline, the San Francisco Giants traded Camilo Doval to the New York Yankees for New York’s No. 19 prospect Trystan Vrieling, No. 25 prospect Jesus Rodriguez, 3B Parks Harber and LHP Carlos De La Rosa. 

It was one of three trades the Giants made at the deadline, dealing away franchise mainstays Doval, RHP Tyler Rogers and OF Mike Yastrzemski for young prospects. 

It is a clear signal that the Giants are prioritizing their future over competing for the playoffs in 2025. 

Giants’ Return Was Underwhelming 

Giants fans are going to likely be unhappy with the prospects the Giants acquired for Camilo Doval. They have every right to feel upset. 

Earlier in the day on Thursday July 31, 2025, the Giants watched their division rivals, the San Diego Padres, trade the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball, Leo De Vries, for former Athletics closer Mason Miller. 

This had Giants fans dreaming that they could get a top Yankees prospect like George Lombard Jr., Cam Schlittler or even Spencer Jones. 

Instead, they somehow got a better return for Rogers than Doval. Rogers is 34 years old and on an expiring contract. Doval is 27, has two more years of team control, and was an All-Star and the National League leader in saves just two seasons ago. 

In what world should they have gotten a better return for Rogers than Doval? 

That’s not a knock on Rogers or his deal. It is a knock on President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey, who was unable to get the big fish for Doval. It’s hard to believe no teams offered a better package than the Yankees in a desperate reliever market. Even if no one did, why not just keep him and try again next year? 

The one consolation is that the Giants got a young, MLB-ready catcher in Jesus Rodriguez. Jesus Rodriguez is hitting .300 in AAA right now. The Giants should call him up to back up Patrick Bailey immediately. 

Still, an upgrade at backup catcher is not the splash Giants fans were hoping to see if they parted with their fan-favorite closer. 

 Who Could Replace Doval In the Bullpen? 

After parting ways with Tyler Rogers, the Giants had a clear replacement in Jose Buttó, who was involved in the Rogers trade. 

Doval doesn’t have a clear replacement. The Giants have also DFA’d Sean Hjelle and Carson Ragsdale in recent days. So some of the obvious candidates to replace him at AAA are also likely gone. 

Apart from getting another arm in the bullpen, the Giants also have no clear closer. Doval was the primary closer before he was dealt to New York. 

San Francisco could move All-Star RHP Randy Rodriguez to closer. He seems like the most likely candidate with his electric stuff and 1.20 ERA. 

They could also move Ryan Walker back to the closer role. Walker has 21 saves in three seasons with the Giants. 

Mason Black and Trevor McDonald would be candidates to join the bullpen if the Giants pick a player on the 26 man roster to be the closer. 

A dark horse candidate to get the closer role is Hayden Birdsong. Birdsong was very good out of the bullpen to begin the year for the Giants. But then he struggled when he was moved to the rotation and was demoted to AAA Sacramento. He could be recalled and tried in the closer role, he has electric stuff that might work in that role. 

Regardless, the Giants are in for a new look bullpen with Rogers and Doval gone. 

Giants fans, how do you feel about the Camilo Doval trade? 

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