11:36pm: With several notable names already gone from the relief market, the Giants are “making [a] late and strong push” to land outfielder Jay Bruce from the Reds, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). San Francisco has been variously rumored to be in and out on Bruce in recent days, but it seems that the club is a serious contender for his services at this late stage.
As with Moore, Bruce is reportedly in play for a number of other contenders, including the Dodgers. The power-hitting right fielder is controllable for 2017 by way of a $13MM club option, so he’d represent an asset for next season as well with the Giants set to lose Angel Pagan to free agency.
10:07pm: The Giants are pursuing a deal for Rays lefty Matt Moore, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link). It remains uncertain, he notes, whether San Francisco has the right prospect pieces to work out a deal for the controllable southpaw.
It’s long been unclear just where the Giants’ focus is with the trade deadline nearing. We’ve seen reports connecting the club to starters, relievers, outfielders, and infielders — with the last spot seemingly already covered by the recent acquisition of Eduardo Nunez.
Though the focus has been said to have shifted to the pen, with an eye also on picking up a slugging outfield piece, San Francisco has continued to look into a broad and fluid market for rotation pieces. Moore holds an interesting place in that picture, as he is one of many controllable arms that could be available, but need not be traded by their current teams.
Tampa Bay has been targeted by teams interested in starters because the team is out of the race and possesses a variety of pitchers with relatively lengthy and affordable control rights. While other organizations may be hesitant to deal their better arms, the Rays could do so without compromising their depth.
Still, the price tag won’t be low, and the Giants arguably lack the kind of premium prospect assets that would motivate the Rays. Indeed, the club is requesting a player that is currently on San Francisco’s active roster, per Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area (via Twitter). Infielders Joe Panik and Matt Duffy would be the most sensible fits, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle observes on Twitter, though it should be noted that he is making only an analytical point rather than suggesting either or both have been discussed.
Adding to the intrigue, the Rays are also said to be negotiating on pitching with the Dodgers, who are currently neck-and-neck with their heated rivals in the NL West. There are other contenders in the mix, too, and other pitchers reportedly on the table. Jake Odorizzi and Chris Archer have been those most mentioned, though theoretically Drew Smyly could also be moved.
Moore, who recently turned 27, is perhaps the toughest player to value from that group. He has the talent and contract to be valued quite highly, but has posted uneven results since returning last year from Tommy John surgery. He has posted strong results over his last seven outings, permitting only nine earned runs over 40 2/3 innings in that span, though he registered only a 25:14 K/BB ratio along the way.
On the year, Moore owns a 4.08 ERA with 7.5 K/9 against 2.8 BB/9 over 130 innings. That last statistic is notable, as he has previously struggled to limit the free passes, though ERA estimators aren’t as convinced (4.50 FIP, 4.67 xFIP, 4.41 SIERA in 2016) as the scouts may be that Moore has returned to being a frontline starter. While he isn’t throwing quite as hard as he did early in his career, Moore has restored most of his velocity with a 92.9 mph average on his four-seam fastball.
The early-career extension signed by Moore held out the promise of becoming one of the best contracts in baseball. It hasn’t quite turned out that way, as the cheapest years were marred by injury. But it still holds plenty of appeal: Moore is owed just $5MM for all of 2016, and can be controlled through 2019 through a series of club options that total to just $26MM.
I have always liked Moore, so I hope this doesn’t happen. I hate it when players I like go to teams I don’t like.
Agree Ray Ray. I like him and will hate it if he goes there lol
Good reliever very dependable and experience
But do not give Giants top five prospect
Maybe three mid to low end prospect
Hes a starter..
and he would cost 2 of the Giants best guys
why even take the time to type if that is the result
Seriously? A reliever?
You all think Zach Wheeler could get it done?
Yes because it is 2011.
+1
Not sure I fully get the appeal of the comment. Yeah, I get that Wheeler isn’t a top prospect but an injured MLBer, but this is also the Rays we’re talking about and there is legit (if low) possibility that Wheeler could be as more effective than Moore next year for like $5m less. The Rays are literally the team for whom such a conceit would be the biggest deal.
So yeah no clue if it’s a trade that coukd happen but dismissing it so summarily and blithely is ignoring the conditions of the trade market which is just plain depressing on a site with this site’s title.
The Giants traded Zach Wheeler for Carlos Beltran in 2011.
It was dismissed because Zack Wheeler hasn’t been a member of the Giants organization for several years now.
Good trade but the big problems is non is a Giants hehe
Wheeler is a lot better pitcher then Giants complete pitching staff except mad bum now Cueto has a dead arm
How about Moore for Posey? :D
Not Posey, but Bonds straight up may do it.
1
How about The entire rays team for posey?
Giants shouldn’t do it, remember last year with leake? They traded Adam Duvall who was an all star this year
This is the type of trade i was expecting Mejia to be a piece in…unsure who we have to give up now, fear its one of the top guys.
That’s Giants tradition unless you are Timmy mad bum you have to prove yourself at other team watch the Giants will trade Tyler Beedee another stupid trade Tyler Beedee can throw at 93 with control and 97 wild
Fox, Coonrod, Garcia, Crick, ptbnl for Moore, colome
Unless the ptbnl is arroyo the Giants take that immediately. But the Rays wouldn’t do that.
No colome. Rays wont trade their best bullpen piece who is controllable for 3 years.
Giants don’t have the prospects to get Matt Moore. It would take high level prospects that it took the cubs or Indians to get Chapman and miller respectively.
Matt Moore hasn’t done anything since 2013. I wouldn’t give up high level prospects for him.
The other 29 GMs are in a disagreement with you. I wonder what team you run?
Then the giants won’t get him.
Got him
Not sure if you caught on but he had Tommy John surgery. Which keeps you out for quite a while and once back often another long while before you return to about the pitcher you once were. But plenty of pitchers go through it and can get to being good and valuable again. He’s basically shown himself to be healthy and rounding into form.
Mine of will just keep Giants pitching prospect
Matt Moore is good don’t get me wrong
But Bobby Evans think he is a Ace. A game changer. Hahaha very funny
I disagree with you I think Moore is a game changer. A guy who gives at least 6 innings and an 3 era is a game changer for the Giants who need pitching.
When I said game changer I mean ace number one starter or at least number two does any one of you Rodger Moore is a number two or better??? Hoops I mean Matt. Not Rodger. Hehe
The Giants had 5 (now 4) in the top 100 prospects. That’s not including Andrew Susac because of his big league time. Most scouts and baseball people say he could start for most teams in the mlb. He’s been injured, but finally starting to hit.
I wouldn’t have minded seeing Duffy traded for a controllable young SP now that they have Nunez through 2017 and Arroyo possibly being the 3B of the future. But then I looked at Moore’s numbers this year and last. Not the best deal.
Hopefully before 6am with other Trades. Susac,Arroyo and others get it done.
The thing about Matt Moore is that even if his numbers aren’t great, his contract is so good that he’s very valuable. He’s basically free for the rest of this year and locked up for the next 3 at $26M, less than $9M a year. That’s a bargain even if he’s mediocre. If he plays even a little bit like he’s capable of, that contract has insane value. And he has started to play better of late as he’s gotten farther away from TJ.
Agreed. He’s a pretty valuable guy. Still has upside at 27, and even if he doesn’t improve, he’s a quality inning eating #3 on a good contract.
This is more “let’s get him so LA won’t” – Dodgers should offer Puig
Why would the Rays want Puig? But I agree that the Giants are probably only doing this to drive the price up on the Dodgers.
Rays don’t want that pig
Matt Moore has pitched like a decent #2 for the better part of the season. 2.39 ERA in his last 9 starts. Hes finally getting healthy
I like any of the three potential Rays starters – Moore, Archer, Odorizzi – in AT&T Park. Get those guys out that concrete bandbox in St. Pete and into the fresh air and big alleys of San Fran, they immediately become better pitchers.
Duffy for Morre. Straight up. Rays get heir apparent to longoria at third and can play him at short and second as well. Duffys numbers are brought down by an unlucky Babip but has a high hha. Unlucky I think.
Morre gives the Giants another starter. While Nunez can man 3rd next year and then arroyo in 2017.
I don’t know if the Giants will do that though.
I don’t know if Duffy straight up is enough in this crazy pitching market. Probably will take Duffy, Susan, and a kicker. Maybe the Giants add Fox and the Rays add Boxberger to make it more palatable for the Giants. They need a back end bullpen guy as well. Colome probably isn’t going anywhere while he is cheap unless someone makes a Miller/Chapman type offer.
I don’t know though. The Rays could really like Duffy’s 2015. Where he earned 6 out of 20 roy votes.
Your crazy and that wont happen.
Real crazy huh.
Duffy is an alright player, but he isn’t the right piece unless the Rays have intentions to trade Longoria. Longoria is a borderline future HOF and has more remaining control than Duffy. Would be very, very surprised to see a trade like this play out.
Love Matt Duffy, but if he and Andrew Susac get it done. the Giants should jump on it. The combination of Nunez and Gillsapie probably provide similar production offensively (although definitely not defensively) and Susac is rounding into form and blocked at the mlb. level.
If the Rays are willing to do Moore and Colome, then Duffy, Susac, Beede or Bickford, Jalen MIller, and one of the Giants bullpen prospects that throws 100. From a long-term perspective, the Rays are getting the future at 3B, a starting catcher, a mid rotation starter, a toolsy 2B, and high leverage reliever.
Like I said Bobby Evans think Matt Moore is an ace a game changer
Don’t get me wrong Mr Matt Moore you are very good pitcher but you are not an ace sorry
Bobby Evans traded away most of the good prospect at least a solid number three starter
I was wondering why Susac hasn’t been mentioned more often. A good, decent hitting catcher that had the bad luck to be injured — and then have the rookie taking his place shine. Great trade value in my eyes!
Will Giants fan. Season over the entire team is pathetic
Can’t pitch can’t hit can’t run can’t bench can’t score
Can’t trade oh boy