Should the Giants actually trade Joe Panik?

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesWhen the latest MLB offseason began, Joe Panik’s standing with the San Francisco Giants was entirely unclear.

Much has happened since then, but Panik’s hazy future with the Giants remains the same.

When Farhan Zaidi took over as president of baseball operations, it was fair to wonder if Panik - who was an All-Star so recently - was going to be non-tendered. But Zaidi opted to keep the second baseman around, and the two sides avoided arbitration.

It immediately felt like a low-risk move with a trade in mind. Keep Panik at a low salary, hope he has a decent few months, and then trade him. Quite reasonable. Inspiring, perhaps.

Panik has, indeed, had a decent few…