Sunday, July 8, 2018

Trade Season

The Giants have started their trade season by unloading Austin Jackson and Cory Gearrin (along with A-level RHP Jason Bahr) to the Texas Rangers. It seems the Rangers wanted Bahr who has been dominating in the low minors (117-2/3 IP, 95 H, 34 W, 139 K) and had to take a package deal to get him. This frees up a couple of million bucks for the Giants to make--perhaps--a modest addition at the deadline and stay under the cap. Jackson's .604 OPS is the worst of his career and puts him in the bottom twenty of all MLB hitters with at least 150 PA.

The two roster spots will be filled by Steven Duggar who gets his chance to help in the big-league outfield, and Ray Black, he of the 100-mph fastball. We've all felt the team needs to get younger and with Duggar (24) joining Austin Slater (25) maybe that's starting to happen. They were forced to get younger in the starting rotation with all the oldsters getting hurt; seems like Dereck Rodriguez (26) and Andrew Suarez (25) have earned the right to stay. Black is 28 but replaces 32-year old Gearrin who was very effective last season but inconsistent this year. The rest of the 'pen has set a pretty high bar and Gearrin was at the bottom of the heap. Black, just to whet your appetite, has 240 strikeouts in 125-2/3 innings over five seasons. He's also got 87 walks!

Madison Bumgarner gets the ball today. Let's hope the Giants bats come to life and they can get a win behind their big star.

--M.C.

5 comments:

M.C. O'Connor said...

PTBNL! I forgot to mention that the Giants get a PTBNL out of the deal. I view it as a salary dump and a youth movement, but maybe the FNG that comes along will be able to contribute down the road.

Zo said...

The Giants need to get better, not younger. Let's not confuse the two.

M.C. O'Connor said...

I'm not. But two "old" guys who weren't really producing and cost quite a bit more than a replacement player had to be be cut loose. The team is taking a risk that they can get an ML-minimum youngster in there that will do better, but it is a risk I'm happy they are taking.

nomisnala said...

We got rid of 3 chips, that we could have possibly used later for a more important and very specific trade. Guerrin was just starting to pitch better in his last 3 or 4 outings. I looked at him as a Roogy and he was not always used in the best situations for his talent this year. Romo for Tampa started out the season badly, but lately he has been pitch very nicely. Hard to tell what will happen with relievers. We also lost a pitching prospect in the trade and all we got was roster space and some money under the cap. Maybe that will help. We will have to see if Duggar and Black are really ready for the bigs at this point, in the middle of a pennant race. Lets hope so. Also hopefully gorky's little injury will just be day to day.

El said...

Duggar for AJax is a win both on the field and money-wise.

Glad to see Guerrin's 1.53 WHIP and 5 HR in 30 IP gone.

Black was over-throwing. If he can settle down, wouldn't be surprised to see the G's package up Dyson, Osich, and Okert to a team (Clev? LAA? Balt? Philly?) looking to re-make a pen like 2017 Nats did.

I like the moves for future and now.