The Giants have been long-rumored suitors for Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, who’s expected to reach free agency in the offseason and sign one of the richest contracts in baseball history. While Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle opines that the deep-pocketed Giants should go after Harper, he casts doubt on the possibility of the soon-to-be 26-year-old superstar signing with them. Giants CEO Larry Baer said this week that the club should “lean more toward the development” side of things in the immediate future, Schulman points out, adding it’s doubtful Harper would select San Francisco over teams in better position to contend immediately. Schulman also suggests that the Giants’ stadium, pitcher-friendly AT&T Park, could work against them during the Harper sweepstakes. It’s worth noting, then, that the Giants’ venue currently ranks 19th among 30 parks in HR factor for left-handed hitters, per Baseball Prospectus.
A couple more notes from the National League…
- Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha is slated to rejoin the team’s rotation during the first week of September, manager Mike Shildt told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and other reporters Saturday. Wacha will first need to get through a Double-A rehab outing on Tuesday, when he could throw 75 to 80 pitches, per Goold. A left oblique strain has kept Wacha out since June 21, before which he made 15 starts and tossed 84 1/3 innings of 3.20 ERA/4.21 FIP ball. Meanwhile, reliever Dominic Leone is also on track to return to the Cardinals early next month, Joe Trezza of MLB.com tweets. The offseason trade acquisition from Toronto landed on the DL on May 5 with a nerve issue in his right biceps – an injury which has prevented Leone from properly following up the excellent 2017 he had with the Blue Jays.
- Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper suffered a setback during a rehab assignment on Wednesday and is “likely” done for the season, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com writes. Cooper has been dealing with right wrist problems since the second game of the season, when the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks hit him with a pitch, and hasn’t played since July 20. With the Marlins having traded former starting first baseman Justin Bour to the Phillies earlier this month, a healthy Cooper perhaps could have made a case for the job heading into 2019. Instead, it appears the 27-year-old’s season will end with a .212/.316/.242 batting line over just 38 major league plate appearances.
adding Michael Wacha? So they prefer to be a third place team again?
Yeah, because Wacha has been horrible before the injury. You one of those fair weather fsns?
Wacha hasn’t even been bad this year he’s way better than Gant
I was making fun of the comment ahead of me.
Why the negativity? Can’t you engage in the discussion without “making fun?” The comments on this site are constantly so negative.
Yeah because they prefer third place is so positive. You bring what you get.
Lol, Wacha was on pace to be an all star before he got hurt. Numbers don’t lie man
Yes he was, and I was proud for him. However, there is that permanent question mark surrounding Wacha. He has some sort of injury each season over the past few years that has put him on an extended period of time. Yes, when he is healthy and right, he is better than Gant. But….if you had to trade one or the other today, which one would have the greatest trade value? Obviously Gant. Younger, throws strikes and no history of prolonged injuries.
I wouldn’t say he is better than Gant just yet…Gant has thrown some great games lately…notice weaver got pushed from the ratation not Gant
As a Giants fan, I’d rather start the rebuild than go after the latest hot free agent – especially since Sabean & Co. have proven over the last 20 years that they’re better at developing prospects than picking free agents. With three rings in the bank, I’m willing to take a couple of losing years to revive the franchise.
I agree. Problem is, Giants won’t accept the fact that attendance would take a hit during a rebuild. It’s a fact that they have to face.
Cubs took serious heat for 2.5 years after Theo arrived…even raised ticket prices to see a 100 loss team. Attendance dropped about 20-30% I think. They came back in droves in late 2014 and now you see what’s happening.
Giants definitely should have tucked away those rings and put their nose to the grind but they didn’t. They were sure they were gold every-other-year. I lived there at that time and the aura of arrogance in that org was obvious.
Attendance at Wrigley never dropped like that.
The Cubs peaked to an average attendance of 40,743 in 2008 and dropped to an average of 32,626 in 2013 — which is ~20% drop but still a very good turnout, especially considering a payroll of $120M in 2008 and only $68M in 2013. The drop from when Epstein joined after the 2011 season was lower, roughly 14% (from baseball-reference.com).
But the Cubs are an example of the best case scenario, both in attendance figures and vaulting into a championship so quickly. While the Giants are probably a similar franchise with respect to attendance and financial wherewithal, I don’t think its an overly fair expectation to think they’ll succeed so quickly.
Thanks for the research! You’re right that it’s an unfair model to follow. I followed all the prospects with Cubs and assumed maybe 2-4 would work out. It’s almost unheard of to hit on every first rounder over 5-6 years.
Point is, Cubs wouldn’t have turned it around with middle-round picks. That’s the dilemma facing teams now and being “competitive” isn’t enough if you want the prime impact players.
I think 3 rings and a modern day dynasty gave them the right to be arrogant. But I do agree, they need a rebuild, and fast. They have the pieces, they just need to pull the trigger
No giants management are knuckles head
Will over pay Bryce Harper and Clayton kershaw
LOL… Won’t get either.
Thank goodness. Kershaw and Harper are both good players, but they’ll require very long contracts and the Giants have enough big contract duds and underperforming veterans that they don’t need any more.
“…are knuckles head” is the best thing ever
This could easily be interpreted as a complement to the non-knucklesheadedness of Giants management.
Lots of power hitters don’t want to play at Willie Mays park. Most are quiet about if. Occasionally, someone will blurt it out (like Adam Laroche).
But mainly, it is evident the Giants competitive window has closed. Even when they made the playoffs in 2016, they were the worst team in MLB in the season’s second half.
Poor Cooper :/ The injury that expedited Mark Teixeira’s retirement. Can any Marlins fan tell me how Garrett Cooper suffered this injury?
Was it a 100MPH FB from Kyle Hendricks, that hit Cooper in the wrist? Dam
I think Teix partially tore his swinging a bat at WBC
Great news for the Cubs!! They have been waiting for the return of Wacha. Too bad there’s only 3 games left, but he’ll probably be back on the DL by then anyway.
Darvish and Chatwood. Lol
And the best record in the NL. You should be thankful it’s not worse right now because it could be. And money to the Cubs is like tissue paper…they print it. The dinosaur has been awakened and Cubs haters need to work on new material.
lol yeah. And they still have the best record in the NL and about to get KB back. Stunning isn’t it? Cubs signed those two knuckleheads and none y’all other teams could take advantage.
I’m not opposed to the giants going after Corbin or even Dj Lemahiue, but Harper in my opinion is just too big a of a contract for us to get into.
“Richest contract in baseball history” for a guy with a 1.2 WAR who’s only had 2 elite seasons. Makes no sense…
I agree. Everyone considers Harper’s fame and potential from when he was a prospect. He is certainly a good player but easily overrated.
Having Wacha back is a very nice arm to have. When you have a pitcher better than your current #5 it’s always a boost. If anyone thinks postseason experience helps in a pennant race, Wacha is also a boost in that regard.
Either way, Cards are in a very good position.
His dog’s name is “Wrigley.” He’s always seen wearing Bulls, Bears, and Blackhawks hats. His best friend is Kris Bryant, and he loves the city of Chicago. I’d say it’s pretty much a no-brainer as to where he’s going.
He also said from the beginning he wants to play in pinstripes and he wears 34 for Mickey mantle. Don’t count your cards too early.
He may hint that way but I’m not so sure they would want him. First, they have Heyward & young, controllable players everywhere. Secondly, something’s weird in DC and who knows if Harper’s partly responsible.
Harper to St. Louis?
We could use a power lefty bat in the center of our lineup.