Heliot Ramos return to force Giants hand at MLB trade deadline

PHOENIX — With Heliot Ramos’ return, the Giants’ roster is more or less back to where it was when the season began.As in: More square pegs for circular holes.Make no mistake: the homegrown 2024 All-Star is a welcome addition to a lineup that, despite showing signs of life, still averaged only three runs per game over its latest home stand.“It’s just good to have him in the locker room and the dugout because he’s full of energy,” manager Tony Vitello said of Ramos’ return after missing 37 games with a quad strain.And yet, his presence only makes the rookie manager’s job more complicated.When Ramos landed on the injured list in the middle of May, there were already positional logjams being sorted through.

In a way, it acted as a blessing in disguise of sorts.Casey Schmitt took up left field, giving Vitello an easy way to get their most productive bat into the lineup everyday.Same deal with Bryce Eldridge, who hasn’t had to sit much while splitting duties between first base and designated hitter with Rafael Devers.And consider Jung Hoo Lee and Luis Arraez, who not only keep hitting — both among the top three hitters in the NL by batting average — but also look increasingly comfortable in the field.Inserting Ramos into the picture could amount to adding oil to water — it won’t mix.Vitello said it himself while gaming out the likeliest scenario to incorporate the power-hitting but defensively challenged 26-year-old outfielder, whose 102 wRC+ and .731 OPS trailed only Schmitt and Arraez among San Francisco’s roster at the time of his injury.“I don’t think that would be our first choice defensively,” the manager said.

“But on any given day, I could see it being our first overall best choice.”Vitello got one gimme in Ramos’ first game back Sunday, opting to sit Eldridge, a rookie left-handed hitter, against one of the game’s fiercest southpaws in Chris Sale.That opened up the DH slot for Ramos, who didn’t play many nine inning...