Giants general manager Bobby Evans expects to be able to trade minor league right-hander Clayton Blackburn after designating him for assignment yesterday, writes Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. Baggarly tweeted after the DFA that trade interest in Blackburn has been constant over the life of the winter, and he speculates within his column that the Giants may already have the framework of a deal in place.
As I noted at the time Blackburn was designated, it seems quite likely that another club would have interest in striking up a deal to land the 24-year-old. Long touted as one of the Giants’ top 10 prospects, Blackburn took a step back in 2016 with a 4.36 ERA, 6.7 K/9, 2.3 BB/9 and a 46.8 percent ground-ball rate in Triple-A, but he posted a league-leading 2.85 ERA in 123 1/3 Triple-A innings back in 2015.
Overall, Blackburn has a strong minor league track record, having logged a 3.30 ERA, 8.0 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in parts of seven professional seasons. The righty still has two minor league options remaining, so any club that acquires Blackburn can option him to the minors without first having to expose him to waivers.
While Blackburn’s stock may have slipped with last year’s lackluster results, it’s not surprising that an optionable 24-year-old with 262 1/3 reasonably successful innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League would generate interest. Blackburn won’t return an elite prospect or much help to the Giants’ Major League roster, one wouldn’t think, but this is the type of MLB-ready depth piece that the Mariners, Cubs and Orioles have stocked up on in recent months. The Mets, of course, have sustained multiple injuries on their pitching staff already, though there’s little sense in speculating too heavily as to where Blackburn could land, as it’s easy to make the argument that any club could use some additional upper-level rotation depth.
Prediction
Refsnyder for Blackburn.
I’d say Mason Williams (if he is to go to the Yankees). Refsnyder unfortunately cannot play D anywhere. Giants would have no use for him. He’s a good contact hitter, but has Zero power and can’t really field at all.
Honestly either would be an overpay unless the yanks got something else. He just got DFAd so the Giants have to make a deal to get anything at all for him. Yanks or any other team has the leverage. Look at what the Royals got for Alec Mills from the Cubs or the Mets got for Verritt from the Os as the type of return to expect.
@GareBear: The Giants don’t have to make a deal, so there isn’t that much leverage. The Giants can simply put him on waivers if they’re not happy with any offers. If he’s waived the entire NL gets a shot before it’s the NYYs turn. Since multiple teams seem to have either interest and/or need, the Giants are in a good position.
The Giants largely have to trade him. Or get surrender value for him.
But, with multiple suitors, they have plenty of leverage.
He’s on the MLB version of Craig’s list, taking the best offer.
And it was Johnny Barbato who has been DFA. Not Mason or Refsnyder.
White Sox, be in on this.
This feels like a move the Padres should make. They could probably plug him right into the ML rotation
What “of value” prospect should they surrender?
Any middle reliever, basically. Giants need arms. Maurer, Stammen…
Or why not Jankowski? The glove plays right away, and he can run, but he’s not really a starting outfielder in the major leagues. He strikes out 30+% of the time and has zero power. He would immediately be the best Giants defensive outfielder.
There’s a piece written by Andrew Baggarly about how Blackburn bounced back from the loss of his brother. It’s very moving and I highly recommend it. I wouldn’t mind having my Mets pick him up as depth. I wish him the best of luck and hope to see him in the majors soon.
While the Mets have a lot of depth (admittedly nicked up by injury), you can never have too much depth. I wouldn’t mind if the Mets made a play for him for cash or maybe a fringe player/PTBNL. I agree with GareBear’s Verrett comparison, which I think is fair.
I didn’t see where they had DFA’d Blackburn. That’s a really odd move, but the Giants know pitching, that’s for freakin’ sure.
They’ll be after an outfielder who can hit. Someone’s 5th OF or a blocked AAA guy with a bat.
They did it when Posey hit the 7-day concussion DL, and added Federowicz. Not sure why they didn’t try to DFA Trevor Brown, since he’s hurt anyway. Plus they added Melvin Upton and Drew Stubbs recently as depth moves so I don’t think they need another ML-ready 5th OF unless it was somehow a clear upgrade.
Middle relief is the need fellas
Padres have plenty of middle relievers, veterans like Stammen, Maurer, Cahill and Friedrich although the latter two are injured. I’d take the possible upside play of a guy like Blackburn over some middle relief arms. It makes some serious sense for san Diego.
If the Giants feel they need RP, I have to imagine they would have DFA’d Orlando Calixte instead of Blackburn – they have multiple other guys who could fill out the Sacramento outfield if he got claimed, with Upton and Stubbs on their way
Realistically, Okert and Osich (both needed lefties) are already on the 40 man and just waiting their calls up. They also have guys like Matt Reynolds, Albert Suarez, Ryan Webb, I believe even Bryan Morris stashed away somewhere… Trading for a RP with the intention of calling him up to the majors merely results in another DFA happening in a day or so for no reason as the guy they would be getting will not be as good as the pool of internal options they have
As the article points out, the Giants may already have the ground work in place for a trade. If so, it would certainly explain the choice of Blackburn over Brown, Calixte, etc.
How about Blackburn for Drew Hutchison? Any chance the Giants want to eat that deal for some odd reason?
interest is earned
Why didn’t they just option him if he has two left?
He had already been optioned to Triple-A.
Their problem was needing a 40 Man roster spot.
My guess is the Giants would want the best available prospect. Seeing as they’re already against the 40 Man limit.
If you want, post a team you think your team should offer for him.
My guess is that the Baby Bears don’t bite very aggressive.