With the Aug. 1 trade deadline getting closer, the Giants are considering acquiring outside help for their outfield, bullpen and starting rotation, reports Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). They won’t make a panic move for a right-handed-hitting outfielder, tweets Schulman, which comes as no surprise for a 43-26 team that holds a seven-game lead in its division.
San Francisco’s outfield took a significant hit earlier this month in losing right fielder Hunter Pence, who could be shelved until at least August after undergoing surgery on a torn hamstring. With Pence temporarily out of the equation, the Giants have been relying on Gregor Blanco, who has followed up a few solid seasons in a row with an uninspiring .260/.329/.353 line in 169 trips to the plate this year. Brewers star Ryan Braun, whom the Giants have been connected to since Pence went down, would be a clear upgrade over Blanco offensively. However, the Braun-related discussions the Giants and Brewers had didn’t advance beyond a preliminary stage. The Giants are also potential suitors for Cuban free agent Yulieski Gurriel, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported Saturday. The 32-year-old Gurriel – a second baseman/third baseman – might be able to step into the outfield, per Rosenthal, after the right-handed batter slashed .335/.417/.580 with 250 home runs in 5,491 combined plate appearances between Cuba and Japan.
[Related: Updated Giants Depth Chart]
On the reliever front, the Giants’ top four innings leaders – Cory Gearrin, Santiago Casilla, Hunter Strickland and Derek Law – have each performed well this year. All four are righties, though, which would help to explain why the club was mulling the pursuit of dominant Yankees southpaw Andrew Miller as of earlier this month. The Yankees remain in the thick of the American League playoff race, so it’s debatable whether the Bombers would move Miller if they stay in the hunt. In the event the Yankees do make Miller available, he’s likely to draw plenty of interest from contenders. Thus, the demand for his services could price the 31-year-old out of the Giants’ range.
San Francisco’s rotation, meanwhile, doesn’t call for a Miller-esque acquisition – not that a starter of his caliber is likely to be on the market, anyway. Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija have excelled this year, giving the Giants an enviable top-of-the-rotation trio. And while the overall numbers for Jake Peavy and Matt Cain aren’t pleasing, they have mostly served as usable back-end options since beginning the season in brutal fashion. Cain went on the disabled list earlier this week with a hamstring strain, however, and it’s unclear how much time he’ll miss. In his absence, the Giants are turning to Albert Suarez – who allowed three earned runs on five hits (including three home runs) and two walks in 4 2/3 innings of a 6-4 win over the Rays on Saturday.
I can see in a minor deal Ogando going to the Giants and keeping Jenkins in the Bullpen gor the rest of the year.
That’s one way to make sure Ogando doesn’t continue giving up long one’s.. Send him to another home park where HR’s go to die. Then? It won’t help his wildness issues any as he’s still walked nearly a batter per inning this season, on top of given up a h/9..
No.. Ogando is of no use, unless to perhaps some Indy level team.
So Arroyo, Beede and garcia for braun and will smith the giants get the bat and the elite lefthanded bullpen pitcher they want and the brewers get the giants 2 best prospects plus a solid catching prospect… It may cost the giants a bit more than these 3 to land both braun and smith but i think this is the floor of what the brewers would accept.
Ugh I hope they don’t trade Arroyo and/or Beede. Giants farm system is not strong/deep enough to give up either one of those guys.
I also don’t like The rest of Braun’s contract at his age, seems like he’ll inevitably decline in production (offense and defense) very soon. No way he can sustain the numbers he’s putting up now.
They’d be best served to wait until Pence returns and mix and match with Parker/Blanco/Tomlinson in the interim.
They should go after Hill and Will Smith though. It’s no secret they very badly need one more horse on the mound and a shut down reliever, and it’s more of an urgent need than another OF IMO.
Pass. Much rather limp by until Pence returns than clear out the farm for a deal like that.
The Giants would be better off targeting Chapman. As a rental he’ll cost less than Miller and the Yankees might be willing to move him even in they’re still in the race a month from now. Miller will be costly and I don’t see the Giants having the right pieces to get Miller that other teams couldn’t top.
You think we can get Chapman without giving up Arroyo or Beede? I think it’s definitely going to take one of those guys.
I get Chapman’s a reliever/rental but if the Yankees sit tight at the deadline and hold on to him there would be a 100% chance he receives a qualifying offer. Thus, Giants would basically need to give up a prospect of that caliber or else the Yankees have no reason to the pull trigger on a trade.
I get the sense the Giants will just make very marginal additions for help in the bullpen, it’d be hard to see a flashy, high-profile trade take place with their lack of minor league depth
Screw Chapman….. Who can afford him….. Miller is under contract ….. A much better move….
Yanks don’t need Arroyo as they have Gregorious and one of their best prospects is a SS. (Mateo). Beede is nothing special. Yanks can do a lot better for Chapman or Miller.
I would stay away from Braun….. His best years are behind him….. Go after Miller
Going after a big contract is not in the Giants MO. Plus they shy away from anyone with a PED history.
I am surprised they haven’t picked up Carl Crawford for league minimum and just seen how he goes. My suspicion is that they would want him to spend some time at AAA and he might be holding out for a team to guarantee him a fast track to the bigs.
Also I’ve seen comments that some people have said that Crawford is a toxic clubhouse presence, SF wouldn’t take a guy like that. Anyone know if there is any truth to that?
How about that Cuban that hit 500 last year
One of the stupid things Giants could do is Trade Duvall for Leake; oh wait that already happened. After a DL stint he is now a Cardinal and Duvall has 20 HRs Mid June.
Let’s not do another stupid thing.
However need to go for a package deal of multiple players coming in, rather than one player from Team A and another from Team F.
Joey Gallo (he ain’t playing in TEX, and where does he play? Mazara, Choo, Desmond, Beltre and DH have him blocked).
Jake Diekman 32 games 26IPs 31ks 1.35 ERA
And give Beede and Crick or something like that.
Rather not give up Arroyo, I don’t think he will play at SS; at AAA he will be moved to Centre, with Crawford manning SS.