‘Very challenging market’ for trades
Yes, the Giants need a shutdown reliever. But they could use further roster help as the Aug. 1 trade deadline nears.
They could use offensive depth.
With right fielder Hunter Pence, second baseman Joe Panik and third baseman Matt Duffy shelved, the lineup is at less than full strength, and the front office has discussed scenarios to beef up various parts of the roster. Not just the bullpen. “Whatever the needs are at the deadline, you have to react to them and reflect on them,” Giants general manager Bobby Evans said. “The reality is, there’s nothing on the market that’s better than Pence, Panik and Duffy coming back. That’s our focus.”
The main focus at the deadline is finding a closer who won’t just deepen the bullpen but would provide a significant upgrade to take pressure off other relievers and starters as well.
Evans called it “a very challenging market.” Other contenders are seeking bullpen help, too, and there are limited available relievers who’d be considered drastic upgrades for a Giants bullpen that already has several proven pieces in place.
“That’s a credit to the bullpen, but the market is not incredibly full of difference makers,” Evans said. “We’ve got to be mindful of that. It creates a supply and demand issue as well.”
Jake Peavy and Matt Cain have two more starts apiece before the deadline, but Evans said adding a starting pitcher isn’t on the front burner even after Cain struggled Wednesday in his first start since June 13.
In fact, Evans blamed himself for Cain’s misfortunes. Cain gave up five runs in 21⁄3 innings in Boston — the Red Sox are the majors’ biggest boppers — in the wake of a rough outing with Class A San Jose at Lancaster.
“Really, it’s my fault. As the GM, I should have kept him on rehab at least another start,” Evans said. “It wasn’t fair to begin with, especially with a flyball pitcher. In many ways, I didn’t do him any favors. I take responsibility for that.
“At the end of day, we need Cain to be Cain. He was close before the (hamstring) injury. He’s not going anywhere. He’s in our rotation. If he scuffles and we need to give him a break, you react to that. We will have to keep the Fenway start in perspective and see how he does in his next start.”
So with the rotation in place and with Evans open to adding offensive depth — he doesn’t seem to be crying out for the Jay Bruce/Ryan Braun type — the main drive is finding a reliever to at least coexist with Santiago Casilla, whose up-and-down season has been marred by five blown save opportunities.
The Giants are in the Bronx this weekend, home of elite relievers Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman, each of whom would cost a bundle, especially Miller. Among the next tier: the Phillies’ Jeanmar Gomez and David Hernandez, the Brewers’ Jeremy Jeffress and Will Smith, and the Angels’ Huston Street.
The high level of the team’s financial investment — adding free agents Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Denard Span and extending the contracts of Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt — would suggest the Giants will have a “go for it” mentality at the deadline.
But Evans also sees it from another angle. He said the team’s success in the first half is what has prompted management to be all-in on improving the roster.
“I don’t think there’s ever a trade deadline where you’re ‘in the hunt’ that you don’t make a vigorous effort to improve your club,” Evans said. “I don’t care what year it is or what your investment is. I don’t think there’s ever a year you’re not going to respond to the performance of your club, especially with how well they have played.”
Chapman dilemma: You OK with Chapman, Giants fans?
The lefty reliever who tops 100 mph as easily as Madison Bumgarner tops 90 mph would make a difference in the Giants’ pursuit of another even-year championship, but a cloud accompanies Chapman after he violated baseball’s domestic violence policy.
He wasn’t arrested or charged but was suspended 30 games to start the season.
Could the Giants welcome the same guy whose trade to L.A. over the winter was nixed by the Dodgers after the incident was reported?
Well, they’re not eliminating the possibility, so fans can judge for themselves. It should be noted the Giants know more details after the matter was investigated, and apparently the incident didn’t automatically halt their interest.
Perhaps Chapman would come more cheaply than teammate Miller, not just because the suspension might have damaged Chapman’s value but because he’s a twomonth rental and Miller is signed through 2018 at a team-friendly price of $9 million per year.
Chapman was toxic at one point but has been well received by Yankees fans, which brings back memories of Barry Bonds, who was despised by fans at stops around the majors but not in San Francisco — proof that fans are willing to forgive so long as their guy produces. Kent support: Sunday is Hall of Fame induction day for Ken Griffey Jr., who received a record 99 percent of the vote, and Mike Piazza, who got 83 percent.
Down on the list, 16th in the voting, was Jeff Kent at 17 percent. “That’s pitiful. You can quote me on that,” his old Giants manager, Dusty Baker, said last week.
In 2000, the maiden season of Pacific Bell Park, Kent won the MVP award over Bonds, and it helped Kent’s case that Baker said he was more deserving.