Giants’ Jeff Kent motive behind Heliot Ramos trade to Yankees revealed
New York Post · RC · trust 37/100
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The California Post on Google The San Francisco Giants’ decision to trade Heliot Ramos to the New York Yankees comes with obvious baseball consequences—and an unexpected family connection.
When the deal is finalized , San Francisco will receive pitcher Henry Lalane and infielder Kaeden Kent. The latter is the son of newly inducted Hall of Famer Jeff Kent , whose most productive seasons came in a Giants uniform.
The familiar surname makes for an intriguing homecoming, but Kaeden’s production offers the stronger explanation for why San Francisco wanted him included.
Kaeden Kent of the New York Yankees bats during a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Tampa, Florida. (Diamond Images) Diamond Images/Getty Images The 22-year-old is ranked as the Yankees’ No. 13 prospect by MLB Pipeline and has batted .302 with a .359 on-base percentage and .433 slugging percentage for High-A Hudson Valley. Before suffering a finger injury, Kent had climbed among the South Atlantic League leaders with 67 hits while playing shortstop, second base and third base.
New York selected Kent in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft after three seasons at Texas A&M. As a junior, he hit .279 with a .398 on-base percentage, 13 doubles, 13 home runs and 49 RBIs. He also helped the Aggies reach the 2024 College World Series Final, batting over .400 during the tournament.
Jeff believes his experience in New York helped prepare his son for the pressure surrounding the Yankees.
“I think one of the reasons why they like you is because they believe that you can handle this because of the experiences that I’ve had,” Kent recalled telling his son. He added that the Yankees seek players who can “mentally survive in that town.”
San Francisco Giants former second baseman Jeff Kent gestures before the game against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Imagn Images) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect “And I think Kaeden can do that,” Kent said.
Scouts have questioned whether Kaeden’s arm will allow him to remain at shortstop, but a move to second base would carry obvious symbolism.
Jeff hit 351 of his 377 career home runs as a second baseman, the most in MLB history at the position. He also won the 2000 National League MVP award during six seasons in San Francisco.
There is no indication the Giants acquired Kaeden merely because of his father’s history with the franchise. His production, plate discipline and versatility make him a legitimate prospect.
Still, a trade sending Ramos to the Yankees and bringing Jeff Kent’s son into the Giants’ system gives the deal a remarkable full-circle twist.
Unlock full access to Post sports columnists and newsletters Mark Cannizzaro The long-instilled trait that has second-year Jets star making good on Aaron Glenn’s hunch Ethan Sears Mauricio Pochettino’s return is a colossal US Soccer win — under one condition Joseph Staszewski Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins’ stellar Shield tribute helps WWE deliver vastly improved SummerSlam Night 2 Already a subscriber? Log in. See All SeatGeek Yankees St. Louis Cardinals at New York Yankees Aug 03 2026 | Get Tickets St. Louis Cardinals at New York Yankees Aug 04 2026 | Get Tickets St. Louis Cardinals at New York Yankees Aug 05 2026 | Get Tickets Atlanta Braves at New York Yankees Aug 07 2026 | Get Tickets Atlanta Braves at New York Yankees Aug 08 2026 | Get Tickets See All Games Sports Podcasts
Read the original at New York Post →
Open in TruthVane →