SF Giants’ middle infield needs get more dire as Brandon Crawford lands on IL

With Brandon Crawford joining Thairo Estrada on the injured list, could the Giants look to acquire middle infield help at the trade deadline?

Less than two weeks away from the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline, the San Francisco Giants were already without their starting second baseman and, now, are missing their starting shortstop, too.

Brandon Crawford was placed on the injured list prior to Wednesday’s game in Cincinnati, the second time this season the 36-year-old shortstop has landed on the IL. The inflammation in his left knee that already cost him time this season will sideline him for at least the next 10 days, likely further narrowing the Giants’ trade deadline focus on help up the middle.

With Thairo Estrada (fractured hand) also out and the Giants getting minimal production from rookies Brett Wisely and Casey Schmitt, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said before the All-Star break that the middle infield was likely to be the team’s top priority at the trade deadline. The loss of Crawford, who has provided timely hitting and relatively reliable defense, only heightens that need.

While Estrada, with 2.6 Wins Above Replacement, according to FanGraphs, has been the Giants’ most valuable player, Crawford has been among their best hitters with runners in scoring position. While he is batting a paltry .207/.285/.333 overall this season, his .353/.382/.529 batting line with runners on second or third amounts to a .911 OPS, fifth-best on the team in those situations.

So durable for the first decade of his career, Crawford had only two prior stints on the IL before he crashed into home plate last June in Atlanta. He banged up his left knee on the play and has been sent to the IL four times since. He also missed time this season with a right calf strain and soreness in his midsection. After never missing more than 24 games in a season prior to last year, has played in 182 of a possible 257 games since the start of last season.

On Wednesday, the Giants started Schmitt at shortstop and Wisely at second base. Added to the roster in place of Crawford, David Villar played third base. None batting better than Schmitt’s .224 (bolstered by a .325 clip in May), the trio of rookies occupied the bottom three spots of the lineup.

Where can the Giants look for help?

Cardinals president John Mozeliak has strongly indicated a sell-off is coming, and St. Louis possesses a few middle-infield options: Paul DeJong and Tommy Edman at less of a cost than Nolan Gorman or Brendan Donovan. The White Sox have Tim Anderson, who’s underperforming this year but has a long track record. Zaidi could look to acquire a package from either team that includes a starting pitcher, Jordan Montgomery or Jack Flaherty with St. Louis, or Lucas Giolito with Chicago.

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Yankees, currently sitting in last place in the AL East, may explore dropping below the third tier of the luxury tax. Would the Giants be willing to take DJ LeMahieu off their hands? The 35-year-old is owed another $45 million through 2026.

The Giants have shown a willingness this season to promote their top prospects quickly, and Marco Luciano is only one step away after his promotion to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday.

Notable

— OF Bryce Johnson was returned to Triple-A Sacramento. He was the 27th man on the roster for Tuesday’s mini double-header.

— RHP Prelander Berroa, the prospect the Giants traded to Seattle last season for Donovan Walton, was called up to make his major-league debut. Berroa, 23, has struck out 69 batters in 46 innings at Double-A this season with a 2.94 ERA. Walton could be another middle infield option as he works his way back from offseason shoulder surgery; he joined Double-A Richmond after the All-Star break.