SF Giants are threatening to beat Mariners to 2 cherished infield targets

It has been a while since we've had any concrete updates on the Mariners' pursuit of a middle infielder. Last we heard, St. Louis was asking for an aggressive return package for Brendan Donovan and Seattle was expressing interest in Nico Hoerner, but nothing solid has materialized. Although either one would bring meaningful value to the lineup, it looks like the front office is trying to take it slow and steady to avoid a disastrous overpay.

So far, the patience hasn't bitten them yet. Their pursuit of Ketel Marte failed to bear fruit, but that's because no one was able to match the asking price the Diamondbacks were seeking before they took him off the market. A similar situation is allegedly unfolding with Donovan as the Cardinals reassess how badly they want to move him. The hype around a potential Hoerner trade has just gotten started, but the entrance of another serious suitor for both players may turn up the stove.

The San Francisco Giants are reportedly interested in pursuing both Brendan Donovan and Nico Hoerner

As per ESPN's Jeff Passan on Tuesday, the Giants are suddenly hot after Donovan and Hoerner as they seek a second baseman:

Other than a few small minor pitching acquisitions, the Giants have done little to make their roster as competitive as their heated rivals. While the Dodgers signed Edwin Díaz and are in hot pursuit of Kyle Tucker, the Giants' largest free agent contract issued was a two-year, $22 million deal to Adrian Houser. However, this means that acquiring one of these middle infielders could be the move of the offseason, incentivizing them to go all in.

The Giants were already named as one of the front runners for Donovan along with the Mariners back in December, but it's hard to see what they could offer in the way of prospects. Their farm system was considered average last year and they have just two players among MLB's Top 100 prospects: Bryce Eldridge (No. 12) and Josuar Gonzalez (No. 82). This pales in comparison to the Mariners' seven prospects on the same list, but San Francisco could be more willing to spend prospect equity on big league talent.

At the very least, the presence of another suitor pushes the demand up, which will subsequently increase the Cardinals' or Cubs' asking price. If they do end up striking a deal for one of the players, it could make Seattle look very smart or overly passive depending on the size and quality of the prospect haul.

The Mariners don't necessarily need a second baseman and for all we know, Cole Young could turn out just fine. He was ranked the No. 37 prospect in baseball at one point and he showed flashes of greatness during his rookie season. If things don't work out with him, Seattle still has Ryan Bliss on the depth chart with Michael Arroyo waiting on the wings. But if the team wants to make the most out of their current competitive window, they may have to sacrifice more of their future.

The organization clearly doesn't want irrational exuberance to drive their roster construction decisions and they're doing the right thing by holding off. The Giants can and will make a serious push for Hoerner and Donovan, but it seems like Seattle won't go any further if the price isn't right.