The Rays remain engaged with the Giants in trade talks regarding San Francisco relievers, according to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi. Prior reports have connected the clubs on pitching, though the circumstances have since changed for both organizations.
While the Giants are increasingly a threat to hold pat, owing to a still-ongoing surge, the club continues to discuss sell-side or repositioning swaps with other organizations. The San Francisco organization is facing a tough position with only the Wild Card in play.
Down in Tampa Bay, the movement has been in the opposite direction but the outlook is generally not all that different. The Rays have long since given back the nice lead they staked out in the AL East and will face a tough test just to snag a Wild Card.
Given the respective situations, it’s an intriguing to wonder whether the teams could find common ground on a swap that isn’t a strict “buy” or “sell” for either side. The Giants could relievers to give while their position-player mix (especially in the infield) isn’t exactly laden with sure things. On the other side, the Rays continue to look into pitching while thinking about how best to take advantage of an infield overload.
The Rays’ abundance of infielders at and near the MLB level — with former Giants third baseman Matt Duffy potentially among them if he can finally wrap up his rehab — creates both opportunity and 40-man roster pressure. (That’s not to say that Duffy is a possible trade piece. Morosi mentions Joey Wendle and Michael Brosseau, though only speculatively.) Of course, the depth situation can all change in an instant. The Rays are still waiting to learn more about the status of Yandy Diaz after he fouled a ball off his foot last night.
It’s not really evident at this point precisely which players have been chatted about between the San Francisco and Tampa Bay orgs. Frankly, it’s possible to imagine quite a few different scenarios that might conceivably be of interest. There’s also still a chance that the course of play over the next week will shift the Giants into a selling stance, or even push the Rays away from a buying approach. If both teams attempt to chart a middle course, though, they could make for an interesting match.
No doubt that Duffy has the most value and the Giants would probably welcome the popular player back.
I loved Matt Duffy when he was with the Giants but over what amounts to 3 seasons with Tampa he has played in about 1/3 of their games. Giants don’t need a guy to occupy a spot on the DL.
If they have Solano who is ding a good job in utility infielder role why would they need Duffy? Panik and Duffy is kind of the same player. I don’t see much of a fit for the teams unless its for a young prospect.
Duffy is younger, in better shape and is just a better player. Injuries are my only concern. There’s a reason while Solano hasn’t played in the MLB on a regular basis. He is having a good season though and he’s helped fuel this surge but I’d love to have Duffy back, if the price is right
Better shape, please. He’s constantly injured. Reaquiring Duffy would be dumb. Zaidi is hopefully too smart for that.
Career .285 hitter who puts the ball in play and can play multiple positions would be a dumb acquisition? A guy who’s familiar with the organization and the organization knows the type of guy he is, sounds like something to think about. Everyone gets hurt.
Duffy is CONSTANTLY on IL. Sure, he’s a keeper when healthy. Giants are not in a risk taking position with personnel.
And moving Duffy for Matt Moore was really dumb.
Thanks Bobby Evans.
What doesn’t make sense is Duffy has a bad back. He is injury prone. He also has only 1 year left before becoming a free agent. For a rebuilding team it makes no sense to acquire him.
I get Duffy being a fan favorite I do, but that’s the worst way to run your sports franchise. Yes he’s inherently better than Panik, but that’s not a high bar. He’s oft injured, he will have a year of control left, and is about an average player. Add into that he has yet to step on a mlb field in 19. That’s what you want in return for your front line reliever? The Giants should get significantly more value than that.
Very good points. I didn’t even think about his contract expiring. I put the cart before the horse here. I rescind my wanting Duffy back. Good points everyone (except me). Carry on
Giants appear to be interested in either Joey Wendle or Michael Brosseau.
The Giants should be able to do better than an often injured Duffy that has zero power. Already been down that road.
Nobody said Duffy was being offered. Learn how to read
Seems like an over the top response for a relatively benign comment
Bring it down a notch homie
Zack green could produce a lot more than Duffy and he’s younger. Duffy should be a back-up, not a full time player
I think the Giants would need outfield help. With Longo coming back eventually. Pablo will slide back to a reserve role. Best suited for him. Solono has played beyond great for now. Panik, we need him to pull more weight. He did last night. Slater I thought really was on the ropes of being sent out in a few. But came thru huge. Austin is again on the ropes. With Lester on Wednesday, he’ll get a start to see his value again. But if he can be replaced. I’d go for it. That’s where I make an upgrade on their current roster.
And with Cueto coming back for maybe 7-8 starts. That’s another starter they need… I don’t see alot of movement with them. . . With Bochy’s last year. I know they still need improvement. And the offense will really have to keep it up, if they have any shot. It’s a 55/45 chance of that Right now I think. I hope they don’t sell. Go all in. Bum, The Relievers. Everybody. And if it doesn’t work out. Start more rebuilding in the off-season. Unload what you can. And start again for next season…
But I’m all In for now. If minor upgrades to the offense even more. Hell Yeah… Other teams will be getting better too. Giants have the best pen in baseball…
Dyson for Brosseau? Eh, maybe. Joey Wendle is a lefty bat, but not sure if 2018 was a fluke, or if he was a late bloomer. His numbers this year aren’t very encouraging. Plus, in a trade with Tampa, Giants would probably be forced to eat payroll.
The Rays can afford to take on players.
Stu Sternberg wants the citizens of Tampa to think otherwise (so they’ll build him a new stadium), but he can afford a pretty small salary.
Rays should sell not buy – prepare for next season and hope for better health plus add to bullpen.
Oh, Stuie likes you…..”play for the future”……please forward resume to Rays FO ASAP…….
And please, can we all be adults and stop with this “Team X has an ABBUNDANCE of talent at a certain position”? If you have 4 Mike Trout-s for your outfield, you have an “abundance”. In other words, no team has an abundance anywhere.
Certainly not a team that has guys like Duffy and Wendle et al; more questions than answers in that gang. Ya, you can speculate the answers are positive; could be; probably aren’t.;
Sellll… who?
That’s what last year was for and the year before that and before that, there’s a lot of energy in that clubhouse and if the Rays stay quiet or sell, all that energy will be evaporated. You got a good core your never gonna be 8 games in front of the Yankees and Red Sox, if you want in the postseason this is the only way. Doesn’t matter if it’s this year next year or the year after they are only gonna be a wild card team.
Seems to me that the Giants could part with one reliever to get a prospect. Surely would weaken the pen, but I believe that they still have enough in the BP to survive one arm and allow them to get a decent prospect.
Sort of split the middle between buy and sell and keep it going for now.
With Giants rotation troubles I wouldn’t move a damn thing out of that killer BP
Seems like the Giants are going down the LA route with their rotation. Which is ok. . . 6 or so starters moving in n out. DRod. Menez. See what you have depth wise, at the same time. . . I really like what Pom did the other day. Hopefully fully upgraded over Holland. Who was getting smoked by RH hitters. . .
If they have 7 Deep in the pen. Holy S, Look Out. !!!
Yes, Pom’s BP performance stood out as huge plus, if he can be consistent with it.
Slater may have saved his demotion with that opposite pop last night, Austins on the rops but being RH is saving him.
For how long?
Giants have the second hardest projected schedule from here on out. This GM has 1 loyalty to his family if he doesn’t sell now it pushes the rebuild back at least another year. Is there a guarantee he keeps his job to see the rebuild through ? When all the assets are a year later ?
Yes. That is why he didn’t start the rebuild in the offseason. It’s the beancounter mantra; delay making a decision, then make the decision too late to rebuild followed by a buy-mode on-time. If the last resort fails they are gone. That allows for at least 6 years in the GM position, worst case scenario.
No, his Single A teams are already ripe with talent, and his AAA team has given the big league club plenty of help. People sold this farm system short, but the International picks and pitching prospects are blossoming.
This has nothing to do with the farm system, it has to do with Zaidi trying to hold his position long enough to obtain that extension every GM works toward. Phillies GM got one, Blue Jays GM got one. Nobody is talking about the farm system.
We are talking about when to hit the rebuild with the current MLB players. SF decided to stand pat, which was a “political” strategy for Zaidi to hold his job at least 1 extra year. I’m sure the Giants A-ball players have great potential, but that’s not what we’re talking about.
Rebuilds have everything to do with the Farm System. Where do you think the players come from? You won’t get much in return through trades.
LOL
So trim, this has nothing to baseball and it’s only about adding a year to his contract? He helped build the A’s, then the Dodgers, but you think he’s worried about his tenure.
Why would anyone, going forward, give 2 s***s what you have to say?
Get a clue.
Btw, how your tag is allowed on this site is beyond me.
It should just be trim.
My tag is on this site because moms wasn’t dumb enough to name me Claude. Anyway, I don’t have a pass to your funny farm so I’ll focus on someone else.
Vince – we were talking about a rebuild from the MLB club. Whatever you are talking about is something entirely different. I guess the obvious is lost on you; no kidding rebuilds have everything to do with farm systems. Again, we were talking about what to do with the big club.
If you need extra time to type feel free to take it. We don’t want to rush the slow.
Claude Raymond played for the Expos. I always liked that name. He was a decent pitcher. Your name is not a name. It’s vulgar. Change it. I suggest a catcher’s name.
Do people really think Zaidi is worried about his job less than 8 months after taking over one of the worst teams in baseball? Both he and the Giants ownership group knew that it was going to take many years to rebuild the farm system and big league roster. This season is just a sneak preview of what he could potentially do without all these bad contracts
So you’re saying she named you Trimreaper? Difficult delivery for her?
So you’re saying your mom names you trim reaper? Difficult delivery?
Nice double comeback. Thoughtful. Not sure if the 2nd attempt was any better. Anger will get you nowhere. I don’t like leaving children alone but I see I’m not helping here. Moving along….
Change ur tag
Ok well they only got 2 Top 100 prospects so they are a ways off whether you see it or not
They’ve got 4. Luciano, Bart, Ramos. And bishop. And more will probably follow this offseason, like Canario, pomares, and labour.
Webb and hjelle also. And maybe even Sandro Fabian. He’s coming back well off a injury. Giants will have plenty top 100 come next season. To add to the 4 they have current. Seth Corry keeps it up he likely will make it too.
He did start the rebuild in the winter. Where do you think some of the current contributions came from? He couldn’t do much besides dumpster dive because of the heinous contracts to multiple players. He made acquisitions that were available. Some worked, some didn’t. The guys collecting 15-25M a season need to get it done. I’m not sure what else he was supposed to do. Zaidi has done a good job but he’s still hamstrung by the multiple bad contracts.
Thanks Clark. No he didn’t. Obtaining Kevin Pillar isn’t a rebuild. At least you could have argued Zaidi was still going for it this year and I could have somewhat bought.
Nice comment about Duffy above. When he can play 140 games back to back seasons we’ll take him seriously. Until then….
Fair enough regarding Duffy. Pillar was acquired after the first series of the season I believe. And I totally agree with the fact pillar is not part of a rebuild. He was more a stopgap for this year. What should he have done in the off season to speed this up? Get a bunch of old free agents and go back over the luxury tax? I’m glad they didn’t get Harper. There was only so much he could do based on the team and financial obligations he was handed
Good question Clark. It was interesting to read Giants fans buying into the idea they were in on Harper. When I mentioned that they weren’t going over the tax I got destroyed for saying it.
All I can say is what I’ve seen from ex-A’s exec JP Ricciardi in Toronto, and Cleveland beancounters they currently have. Zaidi’s approach is eerily similar at this point. He may bring analytics to the table but there’s more at-play. Maybe he made the right call? SF is certainly not out of it at this point. To you point there may not have been a move to make. I know I would have been calling about Bumgarner, Longoria, Belt, Crawford, bullpen guys. Shark was probably not tradable. Hard to give up Posey but dealing Belt would give Posey 1B. That’s the best I can do.
You make absolutely no sense Trim. He has all the time in the world to strategically rebuild this team. Sell all your pieces off too quickly and you either get bad returns, or have to pay off huge contracts. People like Pillar are stopgap for the talent coming in 2021/22.
Good points, but we as fans have absolutely no idea what was being offered. Would you trade Belt in the offseason for some scrub Single A players when you have hopes of possibly Belt having a big year and get more for him at a later date? It’s a gamble.
If they were more transparent with who and what is being offered in return, I’d be more comfortable being an armchair GM and voicing my opinions on who should be traded and when.
Yeah, he was in a bind and in order to move any of the guys you mentioned they would’ve had to eat a lot of the contract or take a bad contract in return. Not sure what teams would’ve been interested in those guys either, based on recent track record. They don’t really have the core anymore and that’s why this run will be hard to sustain for a length of time without making some wholesale changes to their talent level, athleticism and age. They gotta get younger. I still would move Smith If you can get someone to offer an enticing young player. They’re in a tough spot. If he sells the bullpen off, it will be hard to remain competitive this year. If they don’t, are we back to square 1 next year? Bart, Ramos, Luciano etc are probably 2021-2022 arrivals. Next 9 days going to be interesting
You just made my point. He has all the time in the world to rebuild the team. He’s using all that time. That’s an Oakland tactic. He’s using it, right or wrong, and he will get that extension regardless of performance. Thank you.
I think you’re thinking way more about some vague extension way in the future far more than Zaidi has…
You know he could be making tons of money doing any number of different things…
Have you read his backstory?
He’s never gonna have to worry about making money, he’s a dang genius man
He seems to be motivated by creating successful baseball teams, which he has been amazing at so far, and which leads to contracts and extensions and money galore.
So why would he wait to make his team good again?
How has he not already blown your theory out of the water with the team’s success this year? You realize that contradicts your idea that he’s trying to draw out a rebuild, no?
Also, there’s no need to be rude, can we just have a civil conversation on the internet?
Yeah, I know…
I’m not sure that’s the tactic to be honest. Some of this is derived from immovable contracts not solely due to money, but also NTCs, and undesirable declining core pieces. A part of this is management not
wanting to blow the whole thing up deterring fans from coming through those gates. Pats of this involves the Giants being able to print money. Zaidi took this job knowing all those factors were in play.
If he were able to move pieces, I’m sure he probably would have in the offseason. But out of the big contracts it’s hard to make a case that any are sought after pieces or even moveable. This seems to be a situation closer to the one he helped take over in LA without the depth in the upstart farm, which at the time was young, but extensive, and not as talented or deep a team. It’s just seems to make sense he’d hold Bum, because the packages probably don’t match what they believe he’s worth. They will most likely trade their pen pieces, because well they aren’t going to QO any and intriguing arms are vast, plus with their depth can handle it. So Zaidi really did what he should have which was take fliers on older intriguing fringe pieces and hope a couple pan out, hold RPs until their price sky rockets at the TDL, and wait for those immovable contracts to fall off or wait until they are palatable for another team to take on as comp pieces. I’m not sure he cares about waiting, because he was always going to see this rebuild out regardless. It seemed he’s playing the hand the situation and market dealt him.
Acquiring Pillar was a minimal cost. De Paula is almost 22, hasn’t played a game outside of A-ball and isn’t all that great. Hanson was DFA’d, and Derek Law has been bad.
Acquiring a rental (who they could potentially trade next week) for next to nothing doesn’t negate a rebuild. It shows Zaidi has an eye for acquiring talent on the cheap.
I would trade Belt for a bag of potatoes.
Great! They’ll be playing the teams to beat for a wildcard…or if they lose, start trading. Win-win situation.
Rays should sell as well
Rays can send Adames.
Already on a team friendly, controlled deal, and he isn’t part of the future in TB.
Move him and “go for it”
Giants probably aren’t going to make a move yet. If they go 4-1 going into the end of Sunday July 28, being 55-51 makes them buyers. Then they immediately take on Philly where they could surpass them depending on what goes down the rest of this week.
Could see the Giants dragging this decision out as long as possible.
Agree and think they should.
You have to imaging that this hot run they are on also gives them more bargaining power.
A couple of weeks ago, other teams knew the Giants were sellers and were going to lowball them for players like Smith, Dyson, Bum….but now the Giants can say “meh, I think we will keep them” which could make teams up their ante.
Absolutely.
And why not QO Bumgarner? They can use that leverage if a team isn’t upping the offer to their liking. Bumgarner is a no-lose situation now thanks to the recent hot play of the Giants.
The only downfall I see on a QO is the Giants not signing him (doubtful) and then Bum having to sit half a year like Keuchel and Kimbrel, which would probably infuriate him. haha.
But I would believe if the Giants do give him the QO, they’d have every intention to sign him.
Agreed. Bumgarner is still putting up good numbers and will be 30 next year. SF should explore locking him up.
I personally don’t see that happening with Bumgarner. After,a slow start to the season he is proving he is healthy and still has lots left in the tank. Keuchel’s problem was the QO and Krimbrel with his last season struggles prices himself out of the market.
And he’s also made statements recently that imply he might like to stay a Giant for life
I agree. Offer him a 3 yr deal would be ideal. 3yr 60mill + incentives, seems do able
Rays got the pieces to make deals. they are absolutely loaded at Single A Bowling Green with prospects.
Dyson for one of OF’ers, Moises Gomez/Nick Schnell or arm like Joe Ryan./Tanner Dotson.
Giants will have zero interest in players in A ball.
The Giants aren’t trading W. Smith or S. Dyson for Single A prospects.
Only 1 Wild Card in play for the Giants, Todd? A 2 and a half game deficit is insurmountable yet a 2 game deficit is within reach with 61 games remaining, Todd? That extra half game is really that much of an additional stretch, Todd?
The pundits are really having problems with Giants streak aren’t they? They must have prewritten a bunch of articles when they were 10-12 games under .500.
The Giants can’t win both wild card spots, so yes, only one wild card spot is within reach for them.
Would love to have Duffy back. Versatile player and he did well for the Giants. Hopefully, the injuries would be behind him. That being said. If it is Duffy I wouldn’t give more than Watson for him. No Will Smith or Dyson. Don’t know enough about what else the Rays have to offer but Duffy would be good for SF
They can send us Lucius Fox back too, and completely undo the debacle trades that Evans made.
Matt Duffy is not good enough to trade for a minor league reliever, much less a successful major league one
Wow, an article about nothing new. Go find us some new material!!!
Loved Duffy,but he’s Broken Glass
Giants are the best story in MLB right now. It’s probably not going to end well, but they can ride all the good karma and keep filling up Oracle. And really, you’re not going to get Top 100 prospects for a rental like Bum or Smith.
Is the “prudent” approach to move those guys? Maybe, maybe not; prospects (especially those they’re likely to get back) are suspects. Why not go for the gusto while you can?
I hope they continue streaking, but in reality if they play slightly above .500 in August they’ll more than likely be right there for second WC. Nats and MAYBE Brewers are the only two that might pull away for first WC
Smith will fetch a top 100. Lol if not Farhan won’t move him, which is fine with me.
Tony Watson and Drew Pomeranz to the Rays for Liberatore and Baz.
I think Liberators will be a stud or at least a solid to very good #2 starter. But I don’t see TB taking Drew or even wanting Drew as a return package. Remember, TB faced Pomeranz qhen he was with Boston.
Fair enough; what about sending Moronta as well as Watson (two controlled BP pieces) for Liberatore and Baz?
Did you just compare Moronta to Pomeranz? Flamethrowing reliever with a ton of control is very different from a rental with an ERA in the sixes.
Would love to pry away Vidal Brujan. He’d fit in great with the Giants young upcoming talent, leading off and playing second. Tampa seems to have enough talent at ss and second to trade him if they got enough in return. Hard for the Giants too make a trade for future with the way there playing. Giants would probably have to include Smith. Dyson wouldn’t be enough. Don’t know if Dyson, Watson, and maybe a highly rated prospect would get it done?
I would that trade as well. I could be wrong, but I think he is part of the future and why Wendle or maybe Adames are available.
Despite the fact they’ve gotten wacked around a bit lately, I doubt Liberatore or Baz is available. They’re both teenagers pitching in full season, a tough task for anyone not named Gore. Brujan isn’t going anywhere. He doesn’t muddle the middle IF because he should be in CF, as just about everybody knows.
I would suspect McClanahan might be available in a big-type deal.
Giants fan since Say Hey Kid days of 1950s. I’m not giving up on them despite the big odds against them, As a great philosopher once said, “It’s never over till it’s over!”.
You are 100% right !!
The bullpen is the best in baseball.
Keeping fingers crossed that Giants close out the month with seven straight wins! That will make it very difficult for Zaidi to sell of his rentals.
Watson for Wendle.
An incarnation of a deal involving those two, I mean.
The Rays needed that relief pitching a month and a half ago. I don’t get how the FO could just sit on their hands & watch this collapse. Dumb.
They’re happy with their prospects and value them more than first round exits?
I could see them interested in Reyes Moronta, cheap, control, power arm, what could the Giants target from their system for him? A like for like OF or middle infield prospect?
I would send both Moronta and Watson for Jesus Sanchez. They would have both refile pitchers for two playoffs runs with Moronta being 4 total. I don’t know if that’s as crazy as it sounds.
Would be great so see Duffy back with the Giants. Even with his injuries I’m not sure the Rays would give him up though
The Rays tried hard moving him last year and during the winter. Nobody wanted him and it should give u an idea to his value.
Reyes Moronta is the Giants future closer. He’s on a cheap contract for awhile. He will cost more than Will Smith and Smith is worth a top 100 prospect. Giants are probably staying pat unless they are blown away with future talent or get mlb ready talent back that fills a need.
SF will never learn that deals with Tampa turn sour for them sooner rather than later
Bochy needs to get Pablo out of the lineup, he is better coming off the bench. Although he hit the game winner last night, he has killed rallies in recent games, including this afternoon. Give Green some at bats until Longo is back, imho.
If I were the Giants, and I ain’t, I would look for a couple of players who you could get for cash and a low rung prospect or two depending on the quality.
Outfield, they need a professional hitter with some power. There’s a guy playing in Texas who may be a good fit, some dude named Pence.
A starter? Got to be a #3 type floating around. If you’re the Giants, playing for a wild card spot, you have Bumgarner, that one game, I’d chance a couple low A types and some cash for that.