Though the Giants did pick up some infield help in Marco Scutaro earlier tonight, the Giants are focusing on relief pitching given the high cost of a big hitter, reports Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. He cites Matt Belisle, Rafael Betancourt, Brandon League, Chris Perez and Francisco Rodriguez as a few of the names linked to San Francisco and "if there’s a guy who has experience pitching in the later innings and he’s now on a second-division team, you can bet the Giants are looking into him," Schulman writes.
The Giants aren't the only team who are looking into the arms race as we head towards the trade deadline. Here are some more pitching-related rumors…
- James Shields' recent struggles haven't been due to trade speculation, the right-hander told media (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times). Rays manager Joe Maddon feels that Shields will still be with the team after the deadline.
- Maddon and executive VP Andrew Friedman shared a "guffaw" over a rumor that the Rays would send Shields to the Angels in exchange for Garrett Richards and Howie Kendrick, according to MLB.com's Bill Chastain. Friedman said he's still not sure how the Rays' deadline strategy will evolve.
- The Orioles are looking to add a starter moreso than a position player, executive VP Dan Duquette tells reporters (including MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli). Duquette said other teams have shown interest in Baltimore's own pitching depth in the majors and minors, and Ghiroli speculates that the O's wouldn't deal a young arm without getting a Major League-ready starter in return.
- In response to the latest Felix Hernandez rumors, a Mariners source tells ESPN's Buster Olney (Twitter link) that "Felix will be a Mariner." The M's have been adamant that they have no intention of trading their ace despite looking at a long-term rebuilding plan.
- Through Angels GM Jerry Dipoto said his team was probably done trading after acquiring Zack Greinke earlier today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter) reports the Halos are looking for a reliever to share late-inning duties with Ernesto Frieri and Scott Downs.
- Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated looks at the three tiers of starting pitchers available at the deadline.
Kyle
One of the most talented pitchers in MLB continues to waste away.
CrustyJuggler
I’m sure if a team over-payed or came with a legit offer, Seattle would listen. What a GM says for public consumption can’t be taken as the be all end all.
LazerTown
He agreed to the contract, otherwise he would have been a free agent this past offseason.
notsureifsrs
safe to say he didn’t expect the team to stay this bad. seattle’s future looked brighter at the time he signed that extension
Coper Nickle
He has said time and time again that if he isn’t with Seattle that’s due to the Manager and not his decision and that he want’s to remain a M for the rest of his career.
notsureifsrs
so has just about every player ever that left in free agency when the time came
Tony Matias
Most M’s fans (not me) have always said the same thing about Felix and unfortunately can’t see an upside to a potential trade. I couple years ago Ichiro said he was going to retire a Mariner and low and behold.. look how that ended. Players change, as do their wants.
Coper Nickle
Yes, Let’s trade away a 26 year old ace that want’s to stay with the team he started with for a bunch of prospects makes a lot of sense! Why don’t you go root for another team if you want to be a farm team?
Tony Matias
Thank you for validating my statement.
Coper Nickle
Your very welcome sir.
Coper Nickle
Except that Felix signed an extension when he could of become a FA sooner and always says he will be a Seattle Mariner. You will look silly when the FO signs Felix to a 140M+ deal.
Terrence Ireland
Can we make another post saying how much we’re not going to trade Felix? 😐
Kingmojo101
trade felix to the marlins for stanton,bell and prospects
Rangers4Life
I’m not sure Marlins trade Stanton even for King Felix. Stanton is more valuable imo.
jwsox
Honestly (take the Kenny Williams and white sox hate out of it) if the white six
Offered saladino-Mitchell-Molina-Castro-jones or reed who do you guys think they could get??
Coper Nickle
Yes! This means there gearing up to extend Felix!!!! Then all this trade nonsense can go away and guys like Rosenthal and Morosi can actually go write about something useful.
Angel Rosa
Why hold on to King Felix? Articles have been written that he doesn’t really increase fan attendance significantly. Mariners are not contending any time soon.
Coper Nickle
Lol Felix will never be traded he will be signed to a 140M Dollar extension.
Richard Janvrin
Richards and Kendrick?! I like Richards, not Kendick. Kendrick is set to earn $4.5M, $8.75M, $9.35M, $9.5M in 12, 13, 14, 15, respectively. After year 2, they’d probably look to trade him due to finances and by that time, he can block trades to 4 teams.
I love Richards and that’s about it. I doubt they trade him now after acquiring Greinke.
Shields, if traded, will end up in Texas. Reason being Texas wants to keep up with Anaheim.
They have some really good prospects. I would have to think Profar is untouchable. What about Perez/Martin? To much? Maybe, but they want to win now. Shields has struggled, but he has pitched 200 + IP since 2007 and, is on pace to reach that again.
I like the Braves too, especially Teheran and Delgado.
Most likely, though, Wade Davis could be traded.
Any way you cut it, we need offense, and bad.
I read in the Chicago Tribune that the Cubs should offer Soriano, LaHair and $22M for Pena or Scott, Chris Archer and another 2 prospects. Would the Rays do that? Would give them power, LaHair is a cheap 1B option and can play OF, too.
In my opinion, the Rays need to trade Shields, Davis, Scott, Molina, Pena, Upton.
Robert_Risteen
Why would Tampa trade archer back to the cubs