The Cardinals are reportedly open to trading right-hander Carlos Martinez and outfielder Tyler O’Neill by the July 31 deadline. However, they’re not “aggressively” shopping either of those two or outfielder Harrison Bader, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. On the other hand, they plan to “explore interest” in righty Michael Wacha, according to Goold.
Martinez, the most notable member of the bunch, is someone the Cardinals at least took offers for at last year’s deadline, per Goold. But because Martinez assumed the reins as their closer last month when Jordan Hicks underwent Tommy John surgery, the Redbirds aren’t as willing to consider moving him this season. The former (and possibly future) starter had been eminently effective in a full-time relief role until his past few appearances, having allowed five earned runs on seven hits and three walks across three frames in three outings this week. He now owns a 3.80 ERA, albeit with a far better 3.18 FIP, in 23 2/3 innings on this season. The hard-throwing 27-year-old has picked up seven saves on nine tries and posted 9.5 K/9, 3.8 BB/9 and a superb 64.5 percent groundball rate.
For St. Louis, there’s no imminent threat of losing Martinez, whom the club signed to a five-year, $51MM extension entering the 2017 campaign. He’s controllable through 2023 via two club options, and will play for a reasonable $11.5MM salary in each season through 2021.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals could watch Wacha walk in free agency during the offseason, which helps explain their amenability to parting with him now. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak did tell Goold the Cardinals don’t “see anybody on the current roster that we’re looking to move,” but Wacha has fallen from grace this season. The once-promising Wacha has logged a hideous 5.42 ERA/6.15 FIP with 7.27 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 78 innings, and has lost his spot in the Cardinals’ rotation multiple times. Considering the way Wacha has performed in 2019, his $6.35MM salary looks steep.
Thanks in part to Wacha’s struggles, the Cardinals’ starting staff has come up short of expectations thus far. Aside from Dakota Hudson, they don’t have a single hurler with double-digit starts and a sub-4.00 ERA. Even Hudson’s 3.59 ERA is accompanied by a subpar K/BB ratio and a shaky 5.13 FIP. With that in mind, Goold writes that St. Louis has “evaluated” Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner, the top rental starter who could move wind up changing teams before the deadline. However, with the Cardinals on his eight-team no-trade list, Bumgarner would be able to turn down a move to St. Louis.
The Cardinals’ outfield, meantime, may have two long-term building blocks in O’Neill and Bader. Their presences look especially important with Marcell Ozuna set to hit free agency after the season and Jose Martinez not being a viable defensive option in the grass. O’Neill, 24, has been a solid offensive producer since debuting last year, having slashed .275/.314/.502 (115 wRC+) with 14 home runs. He has, however, fanned in a massive percentage of plate appearances (39.2) and drawn walks at only a 4.5 percent clip. It’s also worth noting an impossible-to-sustain .405 bating average on balls in play has buoyed his numbers.
O’Neill won’t even reach arbitration until after 2021, while Bader’s scheduled to start the process at the conclusion of the 2020 season. The 25-year-old Bader was a 3.5-fWAR player in 2018, his first full season, owing to above-average offense and tremendous defense. While Bader remains a star in the field (8 Defensive Runs Saved, 9.4 Ultimate Zone Rating in center this season), his output with the bat has plummeted. He’s hitting a mere .207/.325/.361 (82 wRC+) with six HRs and five steals in 247 PA.
Although there are causes for concern with regards to O’Neill and Bader, it appears they’ll remain in place through the deadline. But Mozeliak informed Goold, “We don’t know where we need to go to change our team.” No matter what the Cardinals do change by month’s end, they’ll try to stop their playoff drought from reaching four years. Despite a lukewarm 50-47 record, they’re very much in the race, trailing a wild-card spot by half a game and the NL Central-leading Cubs by 3 1/2.
I hope they shake things up. Bumgarner would be a huge addition. Hopefully sign him longterm. They need a dominating guy in the rotation.
If they did make a splash move for a starter who would they pursue Stroman,Bumgarner or Bauer?
Bumgarner – if we got anyone else we would have to give up significant pieces and we are not “one pitcher away” from a WS or possibly even a playin game … so why gamble what few prospects we have right now .
Bum would allow you to still shoot for the playoffs, wouldn’t cost nearly as much and you have a chance at extending him.& he’s a lefty
Bauer
The last thing the cards need to do is deal out yet another huge contract to a guy on the wrong side of 30
How many really good guys on the south side of 30 are available for contracts and how many of those guys are left handed ? We’re not talking about the Dexter Fowler of outfielders – we’re talking about an elite playoff pitcher/world champion with a career ERA of like 3.10
I would be happy with a Mad Bum signing and extension – in fact, I would love it . Just as much as I loved and will continue to Love the Goldy sign and extension !
Bum is the type of move you want to avoid as 1) with no trade will have to give up more and extend him. Let’s not be nostalgic here and he’s not even our legendary guy. It’s either Bauer or Stroman also we have multiple trades with both teams as well as can supplement their needs. Blue Jays have been interesting in reacquiring Lane Thomas plus both pitchers have control. Bauer wouldn’t be at 30 mil right away either. Maybe like a Mikolas deal which we can afford. It’s starting pitcher and LHP and maybe a bench bat. This team has a lot of promise here.
We arnt one pitcher away from our problems being fixed – so why give up what it would take to get Stroman or Bauer ?? Our core is old and not producing anymore, we have a handful of awful contracts and we lose Ozuna at the end of the year … our AA and AAA teams are both below .500 and I believe our farm is ranked number 25 after the draft this year …we need to build on our young guys that just started the MLB this year through Gormans group …
Yeah but remember we don’t bring up all our minor leagues we just need a few gems we have a surplus of 3B and OF who are good and Carlson is the one we have to protect as well. Our contracts aren’t bad I wouldn’t judge Goldy as bad he will still put up 30 HR and believe will improve as he’s a hitter. Carpenter is going on a rehab and is healthy for once so it will be good for him to get his swing back which he was getting close to. We are in 3rd place with 3.5 games out. And yes one pitcher would make a difference as it would push someone to bullpen as well. Ozuna being lost isn’t a loss yet as we don’t know what we will do yet although they want to give the youth a chance which than means $ gets spent to help in other areas. We are much closer than you think even with our obstacles this year we are still in it.
Never said goldy was a bad contract – I’ll defend his contract for as long as I have to.
Carp can’t hit, Molina can’t hit, dexter isn’t worth 17 mil a year, Mikolas was a bad extension, Wong can’t hit, Bader can’t hit, Hicks is under the knife —- I don’t know where to stop …. I don’t know how the entire core being old, just not good or both with high costly contracts is closer to be really good than I think ?? I don’t think that screams “one pitcher away”
I know that we have one really high prospect at 3rd base, one pretty high for Catcher and one decent prospect in the OF …. no one else is even close to being a top 100 prospect right now.
Jeez, so sassy
And for the record, I Blame MO for the last 4 years .
I don’t hate the Cardinals, I watch every game.
I said trade Carp last year when we had the chance.
And I am was referencing offense, not defense … in fact, offense is the complete opposite subject than defense.
Moron is a strong word for a guy with a keyboard 🙁 boooo
Carpenter seems to be hurt just enough to put him on the 60 DL since Edmon and Munoz are bringing a little life back to the Cards offense.
Walls17. Try selling that POV to the Astros. Looks like Verlander has been a very solid upgrade to their rotation and he was well on the south side of 30 when they signed him. I agree some guys are not good investments, particularly those with only a year of good output — like Mikolas. I think a guy like Kluber or Syndergaard might be worth an offer, especially one that is loaded with performance incentives.
Because he’s been dominating with the Giants!
He’s not dominating he’s giving innings but he’s not having a CY young season he’s aged and also with his past injuries I would rather go with the youth and control
Bummer has talent but a poor attitude. Not a good addition to a rotation which is the teams weakest link. We have 3 weak starters and a couple of on again off again rookies filling out the 4&5 spots. They don’t need “a starter”. They need 3 of them, they have known this most of the season and haven’t gone after any quality starters despite a good supply of them around MLB and a really flush bank account and a very loyal fan base. Will a 4th straight year of missed post season play be the straw that breaks up the loyalty of their base? I would think so. It appears that the owners going to remain on the sidelines no matter how long the team plays poorly as long as the fans continue paying top dollar with sellouts to see mediocre play.
They should only trade Cmart and Oniel with a large, long term return … Cmarts trade value isn’t nearly as high as it could be at the end of the season – but if they get a great offer now, I wouldn’t turn it down.
Hi. Super frustrated Cards fan here.
Martinez needs to be in a starting role, even if they have to cap him at 4 or 5 innings max to keep him healthy. He’s a groundball expert in the age of the home run and can also flat out blow a fastball by dudes. Using him as a band-aid in a bad bullpen is like the X-Men delegating Wolverine to a vegetable chopping role in the kitchen.
Anybody who has been watching the Cardinals for the past two years knows it’s the complete lack of run support and timely hitting that need to be immediately addressed. None of the moves on that end so far have worked.
Also, maybe a fresh voice as hitting coach, but I’m guessing Albert is too close to Schildt to be fired right now.
Well said!!
Not really well said, it’s like neither of you read the article above or Goolds article today. I trust Goold because him and Hummel report facts and are logical because they both follow the Cardinals. Also you can’t stretch him because if you realized Martinez and his shoulder was an issue this year we are using him in relief because 1) no Hicks and we need him there 2) healthy Martinez in any capacity is better than him injured again which starting has done. 3) he will follow a hardcore training in offseason to see and also may be shopped again although Hicks may not be back until all star break next season
Hicks won’t be back till September
ASDFGH
I enjoy reading both of those writers but both defended Matheny and Carp way past the point where it made sense. Mikey inherited a well run machine from LaRussa and oversaw their defense slip into AA quality while he seldom put down the hammer with guys who didn’t produce. He also burned through every good reliever they had and Carp hasn’t earned his pay in many years aside from that hot streak of 6 weeks last year. His defense has always been weak at best with a weak arm, limited range and a stone glove. He does not hold a candle on defense or offense to the rookie Edman. ..or Munoz.
There is no reason to fire Albert. Players wear the failures of this season. There is enough talent to contend, players arent getting it done.
Teufelshunde4…
Just saying, a different voice can make a huge difference. it seems like the team approach at the plate isn’t working this year. It doesn’t have to mean that Albert isn’t doing a good enough job; sometimes things just get so stale and unproductive that simply a different approach can revitalize a club. I’m thinking of when Schildt stepped in for Matheny, although in that case we ended up sitting out the postseason anyway.
Half a season and it’s not Albert or the message it’s a combination of youth learning and some of our veterans overcoming some obstacles in the changing lead. Also we are doing better with strikeouts as well. Man you better hope this isn’t how your bosses act with morale and maybe your job was expendable
Today is a good example. 14 strikeouts, 11 of them off of Anthony Desclefani, and stranding runners at 3rd with less than 2 outs. It’s been like this all year.
Dude. Name-calling not necessary. Get yourself together. We’re having a discussion about baseball. You might be on the wrong forum. There’s no need to be disrespectful.
Ben,
The Cards had very good offense and fair starting pitchers last year. Their defense and base running was single A quality. Shildt cleaned that sloppy play up but now their offense stinks and the rotation is in the tank. These guys seem to find ways to lose.
If they think O’Neill and Bader are cornerstones for the future, they are sorely mistaken.
Nothing was said about them being cornerstones. Not every player on a team is one. Most are support or role players.
Just like every fan base needs it hateful trolls like Nick Stevens who have a bias to everything and yet don’t read the facts!
3rd place 3.5 games out, get your garbage out of here incel Nick Stevens
Oh joy! SAMF learned to insert punctuation. You’re such a cute apologist for the Cardinals. 3.5 games out in 3rd place, in the worst division, is such an accomplishment. Has Mo set you up with direct deposit?
that worst division is possibly going to have three playoff teams
That tells you all you need to know about how bad baseball is. The NL has 2 very good teams and the other 13 are mediocre to pathetic.
I don’t want to get too caught up with semantics, but both are referred to as “long-term building blocks” in the article. That’s not far off from calling them “cornerstones.” Either way it’s a stretch to think either could be players upon which a foundation could be built. Although early, neither has shown to be anything more than a serviceable role player, at best. They are the type of players who are added on top of the “building block” players.
No way man first of all Baders WAR last season was absurd, his defense is stellar and if he can learn to adjust in hitting in his rare chances he can improve and wants to keep learning. Oneil since we brought him up SAVED a few of those games. Not saying they are cornerstones but remember you didn’t READ Goolds article I DID stop putting words into his mouth. Role players yes but they are still progressing and learning.
You can afford to have the Baders of the world playing in a position like center – even Wong hitting like dong playing at second … but if your going to make the playoffs, that can be your only two weak spots … and we have a lot more holes than just those two spots .
It’s all about how a team is built and who it’s built around —- for the next two years it’s Carp, Molina, Fowler, Wong, and possibly Ozuna with a QO … so it is what it is …. is that good enough to win? Maybe …. but I don’t that we sell off the pieces that will take these guys spots in a year or so
Nick,
You’re pretty negative on these rookies. Without them, we’d have been well under 500 last year and been at best in 4th. Ditto this year. Bader hit decent last year and is stellar on defense and with his on base speed. O’Neill has improved dramatically with his K/BB ratio and he now lays off sliders he can’t hit. He’s also one of the fastest guys in the NL. I’d say both have more upside than negatives. I would consider trading either of them as part of a deal for a proven starter which is our worst weakness.
The Cardinals can sell but they can’t buy. Problem is they won’t and your seeing a team go the path of the NY Mets. When a GM says they “Don’t know what to do” or “don’t see anyone on their current roster” they’d move. You’ll be a third place team for a long time.
I’m proud that Mozeliak finally removes all doubt and admitted he didn’t know what to do to make this 2019 team a one game playoff contender!!! Shoot, we’ve all known that since Astrogate was first revealed!!!!!
Cardinals are willing to trade Michael Wacha because he is not very good at baseball…
Go out and trade for Voit. Add Lynn to the rotation in a trade and let’s go ahead with our annual reunion with Matt Adams. We need a lefty starter so trade for Marco Gonzalez and pick up Rosenthal and skins him into the….. waaait a minute.
hahahaha
How bout it Oriole fans….
Intrested in a Mancini/Fry deal to the Cards centering around a O’neil/Ponce De’leon/Knizner/lower-prospect swap?
It’s time for a monster in-season acquisition for the Redbirds to engage in especially with the division up for grabs.
Drugs are bad, mkay.
You want to jettison the future catcher with 6 years of control for a corner OFer and a lefty reliever?
Mancini is a good player, but corner OFers are easy to find.
Dope huh? First off, you act as though AK is the equivalent of Johnny Bench so get off your high horse! If anything, he strikes me as a ever so slightly above average hitter & average receiver at best so calm down Skippy.
Second, if you haven’t noticed, the Cards haven’t had too many outfielders in the last 5 years who just go out there quietly & consistently produce like Mancini has which is so badly needed in this lineup all the while coming from someone just entering their prime at still a fairly young age.
Third, if you balk at what Paul Fry has produced from a statistical standpoint on a bad team, you’re the one who’s trippin’ dude cause the way you just so casually dismissed the notion, shows just out of touch you are but I digress.
I don’t ride horses.
So you’ve evaluated Knizner just the opposite of paid scouts have, based on his 18 PAs and 5 games started? Even “ever so slightly above average hitters” for catchers are hard to come by, especially if they are competent receivers.
I’ll stick with my corner OFers are easy to find analysis.
Few relievers are dependable year to year.
Again, Knizner is the future behind the dish for the Cards and good catchers are much harder to find than what you want to trade him for.
I dismissed your trade suggestion so easily, because…well…it was just that easy.
Sincerely, Skippy.
I’m sure you ride something else quite proficiently but I’ll just leave it at that.
Next, here’s what MLB pipeline thinks about AK which ironically is in line with what I suggested…Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 30 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50| Overall: 50
Wow, that’s just downright irreplaceable lol not to mention your “ironclad” statement about AK being the heir to the Molina throne, well we heard that about a certain receiver who’s out in Arizona now so look where we’re at.
Moving on, if QUALITY corner outfielders are so easy to find, explain the revolving door? Rhetorical question of course for that you have no logical retort based on your original POV which is clearly ignorant & factually incorrect but consider the source.
Onward… I could proceed, but I’ve already wasted far too much time on you & your delusional perspectives so with that, have a good one!
Sorry cy…but no way on that trade
Sounds to me as if you waste time on baseball, seeing as you know so little.
As far as insinuating i’m gay, nice 3rd grade comeback.
lol wow
The heat has fried your brain if you think you can get Bumgarner without giving up significant pieces.
Yes, that was laughable wasn’t it?
2 mid level prospects is all he will get —-
significant prospects are top 50 prospects . They may get one too 100 but not much more than that.
This team has been lost for several years now. As a Redbird fan it is tough to watch an Offense not hit. Peek at the Mariners stats…if our SP had that type of support at times…. I’m kinda at a loss. Martinez needs to go, he has talent but he also has several sides to him. I’m just waiting for the complete breakdown and sidewalk sale of our vet players..
An awful lot of negativity for a team that has won 88,83, and 86 games the past 3 years and sits 3 1/2 games out of first in the division. The Cubs have a brutal schedule the last 44 games, and that does not include their upcoming 9 game trip through San Francisco, Milwaukee, and St. Louis, followed by 3 against Milwaukee. The season is far from over. So what should the Red Birds do? A right fielder who hits from left side with thump would help. And a left-handed handed starter and reliever would solidify the rotation and pen. They then could platoon Martinez, same in center with Bader and Fowler. Ozuna returns soon, or he could be part of a deal, with Wacha and O’Neill. But to win the division they must get production from DeJong and Goldschmidt. I have more faith in their All-Star short stop. Goldy looks lost at the plate I hate to say. So the management is in a bind. If it were only chasing the Wild Card I wouldn’t be so eager to make additions, but it is the division that is in reach, and that makes all the difference.
I agree with all of this. They don’t have just one area of need, but the division is right there waiting so just do it already
@spudchukar Other than STL and MIL (and one set against WSH), the Cubs play the rest of the season against teams that are sub .500. While the Cards have to go through Houston, Dodgers, Oakland, Colorado, and Arizona.
Cards still have a much easier schedule. While the Reds and Pirates feed into the sub .500 category, they will be tough games.
How many playoff wins the last 3 years? I see you’ve bought into the Cards philosophy of being “competitive” hook, line and sinker.
Wonder if the rangers would trade mazara for Jose Martinez and Sosa. Mazara is left handed and plays right. Martinez is right handed, and Texas cant hit lefties.its been a huge weakness for Texas. Throw in sosa cause who cant use a speedy utility guy
Spudchucker,
83, 85, 87 wins aren’t far above a losing season. 81 is the break even point. Thats very poor results from a team with this much talent. To Shildts everlasting credit, the embarrassing sloppy defense and even sloppier base running of the past 4 years we became used to under Matheny has greatly improved. What bothers me is the on again/off again offense that generally produces only against weak teams. The rotation generally stinks …even against weaker teams. How many of them have ERA’s under 4? How many have W-L records better than 500.? I think our BP has won more games than our starters. With the money this team has why can’t they take advantage when true winning pitchers like Verlander, Keuchal and Sale become available? Then our F.O. does nothing. — if they do, it’s a well kept secret. If they don’t turn this mess around our amazing fan support has to eventually dry up.
Is there a batting coach? The number of taken strikes is huge. Seems that taking two strikes has become the norm. Bader is as good a center fielder as I have seen in a long time (flood, Edmonds). His approach at the plate is dreadful. Wong is the same way. Great defense, needs to just get on base. Neither are home run hitters. With that speed they should scratch their way on and be a disrupter on the bases. Does no American League team want Martinez or Carpenter. Neither can field and are a detriment.. The defense with edman is as good defensively as any on the the infield. He is going to be a real asset. Frustrating team to watch, but still in the running.
Bader has improved his plate discipline tremendously this year; he just isn’t making a lot of contact. If someone can help him make more consistent contact and shoot for line drives, he can turn into a solid offensive contributor. Totally true about the defense, too. With the D and baserunning, he’s a minimum 2-war player/year. Wong, I would have no idea what to do with him at the plate. He’s a uniquely frustrating hitter.
Lngcards. Couldn’t agree more. A guy like atom Edman with range, a good arm and a fine glove and an even mediocre bat are highly sought after. Now we have come up with a gem who can also hit with pop from both sides. He’s a defensive keeper anywhere on the infield. He’s already saved at least 4 games with defensive jewels in a limited number of games. Now we’ll be getting Carp back off the IL soon and who do we expect will be back on 3rd base as soon as he returns? A 34 year old who’s weak on defense everywhere we play him (more so at 3rd than anywhere else) and a guy so weak on offense that his rookie replacement is hitting 60 point better.. it’s unfortunately a rhetorical question. Naturally we’ll play the non performing guy who’s being paid 20MM a year. That’s one reason why we have been out of the post season for so long.
Cards are still my pick to win the NL Central. Hope they make some solid moves before the end of the month. Might light a fire under Goldie, Bader, Flaherty, Fowler and a few others. I really expected a lot more out of those four.
Martinez should bring a nice haul if Cards move him. He’s still relatively young and is thriving in the closer role. Acquiring team gets several years of control plus the option to keep him in the pen or stretch him out as a starter next year.
If I was the Cardinals GM I’d call the Phillies. They have a number of good hitting prospects. I really like Adam Haseley (OF) their #1 pick in 2016.
I think a guy like Josh Reddick would fit nice in the cards lineup. He would be someone that would inject some life and aggressiveness into the clubhouse and he is a left handed hitting right fielder although he is 32 making about 13mil per year.
mo admitted he has no clue
Mozeliak saying that he doesn’t know where to go with this team is plausible. The man has done nothing since taking over for Walt Jocketty. He’s giving out bad contract after bad contract. Then they’re going to let Ozuna walk, who is their best outfielder to make room for a light hitting Centerfielder in Bader. Mozeliak is a joke and DeWitt needs to fire him.
*Best hitting outfielder, yes – lol
BUT he’s probably a decent outfielder at best with the arm of a of a 9 year old boy.
His arm is getting better each day and it’s clear that they’re missing him in the lineup right now. Oh and your weakest throwing Outfielder always play LF.
He has to hit a double cutoff to get it to 2nd base on a ball hit in front of him.
Hope he keeps hitting 35-45 bombs a year to make up for that awful arm, otherwise he will be an AL player for the rest of his career.
Cardinals are 13-7 when Ozuna does NOT PLAY
Correlation does not imply causation.
There are a lot of moving parts and it’s pretty obvious that not having Ozunas bat in the lineup is not why they have been winning more games. Edman, improved stretch from their pitching staff, Carpenter not being on top of the lineup, fairly weak schedule are all real reasons
Rooting for a deal with Giants or Tigers. Boyd and Greene would be expensive but needed.
Bumgarner only wouldn’t be the lifesaver for this John Mozeliak constructed club. However, with Carpenter on the IL, the Cardinals have played better with rookie Edmon at second for all glove no hit Wong and Munoz at third. They still have too much money in Goldschmidt to set him, SO…they need a consistent .300 hitter who doesn’t strike out much. Ozuna will help the hitting side on his return. Plus, his mistakes in the outfield will be hustling mistakes. Not non-hustling mistakes such as Fowler’s examples.
You can complain all you want to, but it ain’t gonna make one bit of difference. Despite what the Cardinals say, they have no intention of improving this team at the trade deadline. As long as you & I and the other 40,000 fans fill their stadium, there is absolutely no incentive for them to improve. They have found the organizational “sweet spot,” sitting just above .500 to create fan interest and hope and keep the StL faithful in attendance and streaming to Ball Park Village to buy overpriced burgers, and a TV deal worth billions
And lining the pockets the the DeWitt family
Please don’t misunderstand…I want the DeWitt family to be successful. I just want them to be true to their word and do what they say there’re gonna do and to stop “raping” the loyal fans of StL!
Expect she Expected with the Cardinals!!!! John Mozeliak will not bring an Impact player or pitcher to the Cardinals this July!!! The man is predictable!!! Or….is he just incapable? Or… Since Astrogate, other GM’s and President of Baseball operations…his peers….just don’t want to deal with him??? Either way, here comes a 4th year of not even a one game playoff position. It’ll never happen on his watch again!!! Plus, it will take years after he’s gone to correct the amount of dead money he has created for the Cardinals!!!
With the run the Giants have been on and the tear that Bum himself has been on it’s going to take a kings ransom to pry him from SF. He’ll take a home town discount to stay there for sure. At this point trading bum might be a bad decision for the Giants and I’m shocked that I just typed that
Reading some of the excellent comments here, it seems no one has commented on Giants pedigree. To say the team is over achieving is true, but at this juncture, they have as good a chance as anyone to win a wild card. At 17-4, every team would in MLB would be considered an overachiever.
Pitching and defense has been the Giants M.O. as they remain the only team to win 3 titles in the 2o teens. Right now they have one of the best bullpens in the big leagues. They only need to ask their starters to go 5 innings, and the deep bullpen can take it from there. As the season wears on, this gives them an obvious edge. The up the middle defense with Posey, Crawford, Panik, and Pillar is as solid as it gets. The Giants vets have been there before, and this is another obvious advantage.
Consistent pitching and defense wins when slugging doesn’t.