The minutes were ticking down as the trade deadline approached at noon today. FZ's patience finally paid off as he landed a prime trade target without giving up any top prospects in the process. Kris Bryant IF/OF is having a fine season up to this point in a Cubs uniform with a slash line of .267/.358/.503 with 18 HR's while playing significant innings at both corner IF and all three OF positions. He's even played two innings at SS!
So, the trade obviously gives the Giants a RH middle-of-the-order bat with impressive defensive versatility. Bryant fills several needs. He can immediately take over 3B until Evan Longoria gets back which would have the ripple effect of moving Wilmer Flores IF to RH platoon at 1B and Darin Ruf 1B/OF out to LF. Or Kap can leave the IF as is and give the OF a much needed RH power bat. After Longo gets back, Bryant most likely becomes a daily OF.
The Cubs were rumored to want Joey Bart C as the centerpiece. This is where FZ's patience paid off. As the deadline wound down without other takers for Bryant, the Cubs blinked and gave him up for Alex Canario OF and Caleb Kilian RHP. Canario and Kilian are both nice prospects but neither in the Giants top tier. Canario has a big upside but was already on the 40 man roster and playing in low A ball. Kilian put up nice numbers for high A Eugene and AA Richmond, but all scouting reports have him with limited ceiling.
The other trade I'm not really feelin' is giving up 3 prospects for Tony Watson LHP. The Giants gave up Sam Selman LHP, Jose Marte RHP and Ivan Armstrong RHP. I'm not crying over losing any of the minor leaguers but I'm not seeing what role Watson plays that is not already covered. He's not even having a good season with the Angels with a 4.64 ERA in 33 IP. Giants scouts reportedly noted recent a velocity increase and apparent good health.
Trades that did not happen included one for a dominant Closer and rotation upgrade and/or depth piece. We'll see if the Giants can compete down the stretch without those major pitching upgrades.
I'll give FZ a B+ grade for the trading deadline. The Bryant trade was close to perfect and perfectly executed. An A grade would have required, at minimum, an upgrade at Closer or the Rotation.
Let's remember that the Giants will be getting the following players back in the next few weeks:
ReplyDeleteBrandon Belt
Evan Longoria
Tommy La Stella
All of these, combined with Bryant, gives the Giants a huge boost, offensively. Also, they got Aaron Sanchez back, which will give them a long man in the bullpen.
They seem set as far as closer is concerned. The only starter that concerns me, right now, is Gausman. Hopefully he can get himself straightened out, soon.
The Giants are doing fine offensively.....the first 6 hitters in their line up have a slugging percent of 500+ and OPSs of 800+. Bryant will make the line up longer. Once Evan Longoria comes back he will take over 3B and my money is Bryant taking over almost full time in LF. Ruf, Salano and Wade are all going to be taking a cut in playing time. Looking to next year Belt is gonna be allowed to walk and a Ruf/Wade platoon is a definite possibility at first.
DeleteThis was Farhan’s biggest deadline test yet and he I think he was brilliant. I would love to know how this all played out but it appears that he was patient and offered just enough. It takes fortitude and savvy to play it the way he did after watching what the Dodgers did and knowing the fan base wanted “something” done. The Dodgers have an abundance of young talent so it was much easier for them to deal their top prospects. The Giants aren’t there yet - but they are certainly headed in that direction.
ReplyDeleteFarhan's patience was a perfect parallel to the kind of plate discipline the Giants organization is teaching and valuing. Confidence and patience at the front office and at the plate -- go Giants!
DeleteThe trade deadline showed me that the Giants are being run by a smart FO led by FZ. The Giants having the best record called for acquiring a difference maker like Kris Bryant at a reasonable price who can help by playing the corner infield spots and OF. Didn't get the Watson trade either, gives them 4 lefties in the pen, but Watson has experience pitching in pennant races and will get big outs for them down the stretch.
ReplyDeleteI think you're exactly right that the reason for Watson was his PS pedigree. We'll see how it plays out, but I understand Z's reasoning.
ReplyDeleteBig roster decisions are coming for Giants. Of the three above 2 also need players of the 40-man. I think Dickerson may have to go. Slater may also be expendable, if they feel comfortable with Bryant playing CF, as a RHB, with Ruff in LF.
ReplyDeleteGetting rid of Tauchman was huge. I wouldn't be shocked if Dickerson would also go. Is there any chance that they would go one short in the bullpen in order to allow the team to keep some more great position players? Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteOn the team’s need for a closer: McGee gave up no earned runs in June, and no runs at all since.
ReplyDeleteOn Watson: a LHP with closer and set-up experience replacing another LHP, Long, with no experience as anything. In addition FZ may have wanted to reaffirm the team’s position as a Giants’ achievement—as Watson’s return might do—despite the (justified) brouhaha surrounding the glamorous Bryant, who had been the so-called face of the Chicago Cubs. One can imagine fancy rentals (Carlos Beltran, 2011) who disrupt a team’s esprit de corps; balancing a Bryant with a Watson might help prevent that. (Bryant himself seems to have done a great job of becoming a Giant in more than uniform.)