6:52pm: Pence is not in the deal that will send Moore to the Rangers, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Shea and colleague Henry Schulman (Twitter links) add that, while Pence is not currently being dealt and has not been asked to waive his no-trade clause, it’s likely the Giants are trying to move him.
5:55pm: The Giants are nearing a significant swap that will open up payroll space, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). The pact will involve either or both of lefty Matt Moore and outfielder Hunter Pence.
Details of the arrangement — including the prospective trade partner — aren’t yet known. But Shea says a deal is in place pending physicals, so it certainly appears that a move of some kind is imminent.
While the Giants embarked upon a major effort to land high-priced star Giancarlo Stanton earlier in the offseason, there have been rumblings that the club may shift gears given how things have shaken out thus far. While there’s still no reason to believe that a rebuilding effort is afoot, the Giants may attempt the difficult task of improving their competitiveness without going past the luxury tax line in 2018.
Moore, 28, is owed just $9MM this year and can be controlled for 2019 through a $10MM club option (otherwise he’ll be owed a $750K buyout). That’s not the bargain it once seemed likely to be, but sill seems a reasonable price for a youthful pitcher. While he struggled to a 5.39 ERA in 2017, Moore’s peripherals were within his usual range, he was much more effective in 2016, and he has been at full health of late.
The respected Pence, meanwhile, fell off drastically in 2017 after a long run of well-above-average production at the plate. Over 539 plate appearances, Pence managed only a .260/.315/.385 slash line. He is set to earn a hefty $18.5MM in the final season of his contract, which seems a fair bit more than he’d command on the open market. Of course, there’s still value in a hard-working player who might be seen as a rebound candidate. But it’s important to note that Pence enjoys full no-trade rights and has become a Bay Area fixture.
Howard-NY13
Mad bum? Haha I’m jk
emt tim
interesting…
Thronson5
Very! As a Dodgers fan I’m always very curious to see what this team is doing and this intrigues me. Wonder what the trade is.
Joe Kerr
I know it’s really risky to make predictions on these boards but I’m gonna guess Matt Moore and a prospect/maybe some $ for Avi Garcia
Priggs89
I was thinking Sox too. Maybe it’ll help get them a better prospect in an Avi trade than they could’ve otherwise…
BusterMove
My head says please be both, my heart says “please not Pence.”
dynamite drop in monty
Can’t see many teams knocking down he door for a mediocre offensive force for 19 million.
BusterMove
Me neither, so my heart is hopeful you’re right. Lol
gmenfan
Giants would benefit from it being Pence. As much as he’s beloved in SF, losing out on Stanton was the last shot to avoid some form of a rebuild. And if this is to go after Martinez, they should flip Belt too because that’s where Martinez is destined to be playing in a few years.
cody_8399
as a cards fan would not mind pence if we didnt get ozuna. if he can get healthy he is still a impact player!
imindless
5 years ago….
Triteon
5 years ago we were talking about how good he was in 2009….
kcusgnikcufsregdod
You can have Pence for Gruchek
Triteon
Hard pass, but thanks.
extremecardinalsfan
Nah, I would rather have Grichuk
floridapinstripes
If they move Pence I smell a JD Martinez deal after this.
dirtyd27
I hope that’s the smell is literally anything but that one
pantherfan73
McCutchen? Didn’t they talk to the bucs in case Stanton wasn’t coming?
floridapinstripes
why would they deal for a player with one year on their contract when they are more than one move away from contending again?
baseball365
Moore and Pence are owed $27.5mm for 2018 so it’s a steep sum.
I’ve felt Headley would play well there, so maybe that from the Padres.
timyanks
going to st louis, with belt, for grichuk and flaherty and gomber
kaido24
keep dreaming
Triteon
Team might be right, players are wrong.
kaido24
no need for pence. plenty of better outfielders
EndinStealth
I front see the Cardinals having any interest in Pence.
EndinStealth
*dont
Cardsfanatik
Cardinal’s have less than zero use for Pence.
Jean Matrac
As a Giant’s fan I absolutely love Pence, but I agree, he makes zero sense for the Cards.
extremecardinalsfan
lmao
chuck r
Yeah right you wish.
The Morning After Pillar
Just shooting from the hip here but the Blue Jays have said they’re after another starter and a corner outfielder.
I’m probably wrong though
BrewCrewDS
who the heck wants this crap?
Christopher_Oriole
Orioles? They’re looking for a SP, and a corner outfielder. Not sure on the details of Moore and Pence’s contracts, but they could be a fit.
dimitriinla
Pence bats right and they I need a lefty — plus his contract is way too steep for them to take on in light of losing Manny.
Christopher_Oriole
Good point. I was thinking maybe they’d take two bad contracts (Moore/Pence) for one (Trumbo) and a prospect.
fathead112805
This has Texas Rangers written all over it unfortunately
ldfanatic
As an Astros fan, I hope so.
gmenfan
Bingo ! Moore to Texas
fathead112805
They’ve been infatuated with him for years
extremecardinalsfan
Good call, unfortunately.
fathead112805
Yea , another lefty …yippee
preauto
Arrieta or Darvish?
matthew102402
I wonder. Matt Moore to Mariners? More of a fly ball pitcher, than groundball. They can afford 9 million for this year, a team option for next. Also, Dipoto gets the starters that are coming off not so great years because they’re cheaper, so I think Matt Moore fits it perfectly.
matthew102402
Edit: He’s going to the Rangers, and this is why I’m sitting on my couch instead.
charles stevens
Can Hunter Pence play cf?
matthew102402
If the GM who acquired him wanted to lose his job, yes.
charles stevens
I don’t watch many Giants games. Lol
JoeyPankake
He can barely play right at this point.
LADreamin
Pretty sure he can barely play RF, so it’s doubtful.
Jean Matrac
He would probably play an average to slightly below average CF in a park that didn’t have a huge area to cover That’s exactly what he played last season in RF at AT&T, which is one of the largest and more difficult RFs in MLB. Plus, it would also depend on him being healthy.
Houston We Have A Solution
Giants claim preston tucker
ldfanatic
Would be a mistake. He can’t play defense.
baseballnerd20
How about the Phillies? Need starting pitching and have no real payroll obligations. Can use Pence as a 4th OF and he would be a great mentor for the kids. Altherr gets traded for more pitching with Hoskins going to the OF.
Long Duc Dong
Heard the Dodgers were the trade partner
darthrader66
Matt Moore to the Pirates
Frank kemble
Phillies or orioles. Perfect for the phillies who dont have a lefty. 9 mil this season and 10 next year on an option. But the orioles also need pitching and have some money to burn.
Yankeepatriot
Mystery salary dump huh, probably trying to make room for a star player
Kevin 23
They were willing to trade for Stanton, they don’t need the room to sign anybody.
panickingcalmly
They probably would’ve cleared payroll if they’d acquired Stanton.
justinept
Wouldn’t be shocked if Matt Moore was headed to the Cubs. The need for a starter is there. He’s relatively inexpensive. And Maddon and Hickey have the organizational juice to vouch for him.
JoeyPankake
So Pence is willing to waive his no trade, eh. Thanks, man. That’s a class act right there.
Kevin 23
Pence has a full no trade clause so I would think Moore is who is involved.
gmenfan
Or Pence sees the writing on the wall and wants one more shot at winning elsewhere.
paulnewman
What is the value in picking these guys up?
extremecardinalsfan
There isn’t any in my opinion.
Dodgethis
While star players are needed for a teams core, it’s the “other guys” that win championships and fuel playoff runs. It’s the guys that do what’s unexpected that make the difference. Plus, we can dream up perfect rosters and ideal fits all day, but the reality of trying to get any player to come to any team is that you usually don’t get what you want, so you make what you can get work.
paulnewman
Matt Kemp?
Padres2019ha
Pads will take Pence and Moore and the contract along w Ramos and Arroyo. We’ll also take ellsbury and his contract for Torres, Adams, and Frazier
Priggs89
Don’t worry. You guys apprently will have your own albatross contract soon enough – $20mil/yr for “team spirit leader” Hosmer.
Padres2019ha
Haha touché. But when above average relievers are getting $8-$9mil per, $20 mil for an above avg position rah rah player is a good deal
mark0817
This has Toronto written all over it
EndinStealth
The only teams that make a small amount of sense for Pence are Baltimore and Texas. But even then only if Moore goes with him. I don’t think San Fran moves Moore by himself. He alone would not free up excess salary.
extremecardinalsfan
At this point, it just seems like the Giants should look into a rebuild.
EndinStealth
Teams that have money don’t really need to rebuild. They should shed a few bad contracts and then sign more. Only lower funded teams need to do rebuilds.
extremecardinalsfan
Cubs and Astros went through rebuilds. I think they had plenty of funds. I just don’t get where the Giants are going right now.
geg42
The Giants picked up Moore’s option this year. I wonder if they had a trade in mind when they did that or if they’ve had s change of plans. I
panickingcalmly
I wonder if SF is trying to acquire Greinke and Pollock from Arizona…
Dodgethis
If AZ will trade Pollock to the giants, I think they would gladly absorb greinkes entire contract. Not sure what AZ would want in return though.
Z-A 2
Calling the Phillies…. this would be a good way to use their wallets. Add a few prospects in there and take the 37M over 2 years.