The Giants traded recently DFA'd Mason Black RHP to the Royals for Logan Martin RHP. Who is Logan Martin? Glad you asked:
Logan Martin RHP: DOB: 7/17/2001. 6' 1", 185 lbs. Rule 5 Draft Eligible Dec. 2026.
A+: 8-4, 3.45, 91.1 IP, 7.69 K/9, 3.55 BB/9, 1.19 GB/FB.
Scouting reports are sketchy but he seems to throw a mid-90's 4-seam fastball, cutter and slider from a low arm slot. He should start 2026 in AA. The trade gives the Giants a decent prospect with a year of development time before he must be added to the 40-man roster or exposed to the Rule 5 Draft in return for a player who ran out of time in the organization and was DFA'd. That is always a good trade as you basically get something for nothing.
Wonder if Tony Vitello shared his opinion on Martin. He pitched for an SEC school Kentucky, so I'm sure Vitello has seen him pitch. Giants made interesting new hitting coach hire Hunter Mense. He was blue Jay's assistant hitting coach, their team had a high contact low strikeout rate that Buster wants. Dont know about you but seeing the Giants strikeout so much was not fun to watch. I'm happy Bruce Bochy is back with the Giants as an advisor. Logan Webb had a great interview on the podcast Splash hit by FP Santangelo and Susan Slusser. One thing he said that shocked me was that he mentioned Brian Sabean was coming back. Did he miss speak? lol.
ReplyDeleteIt would be indeed interesting if the newly hired field manager was consulted on a trade involving a player that was just DFA'd and a player who pitched in A+ ball last season.
DeleteAgreed. It would be odd for the field manager to be consulted on a trade like this, lol. I'm thinking about the good work he's done on MLB networks draft coverage the past couple of years communicating his thoughts on scouting reports and his impressions on players Hes coached at Tennessee and coached against on other teams.. its ironic that I remember him saying he's looking forward to seeing Giants #1 pick Gavin Kilan play at oracle Park one day. Maybe the Giants could use his opinion also if he's had experience with certain young players they're interested in.
DeleteI agree he seemed unusually invested in the college scouting and draft side of the game. What struck me the most was how closely he continued to follow players he had any connection to long after they were drafted and became professionals. I would think that a trade like this would be handled almost entirely by Zach Minasian and the director of pro scouting.(Minasian was also the previous DPS)
DeleteIs there an implication here that the Giants should trade some prospects "for value" so they don't have to cut loose players on the cusp for little or no return?
ReplyDeleteMason Black might put it together. If that's true, perhaps trading some "more sure" prospects for current value players as in the Devers transaction would make sense.
Or do the Giants "feel" burned by some of the prospects they've traded "for the moment" as in end-of-season rentals and aren't going to let go of players other teams might want?
I have no idea what the question is here but Mason Black was just DFA'd to make room for one of two players picked up on waivers. Black almost certainly would have been claimed by another organization so getting a player back in a trade they can keep means they got something for what would have been nothing.
DeleteI wouldn't read any more into it than that.
DeleteQuestion was supposed to be: should the Giants trade "good" prospects for hitters/pitchers who can help the team now, like the Devers trade was supposed to do?
DeleteTheir Southland competitors both have done that, not saying that should be the reason, just that it is done by them and, for example, the NY teams to improve immediate opportunity.
Mason Black must be considered by the Royals to be an immediate gain as he has already performed at the MLB level. Was he "sacrificed" by the Giants to get space for a more immediate need, or were the Giants ready to give up on him, or none of the above?
None of the above and all of the above. I don't think the Giants have any illusions about Sanmartin or Dean being game-changers but see them as roster upgrades at the margins over Black. That they got decent pitching prospect who is ready for AA in the deal is a nice bonus.
DeleteBuster Posey, Zach Minasian, Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy are the Giants brain trust. That group does not need another voice in the mix such as Brian Sabean. Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth. I have a feeling that this year's hot stove will bring about some major changes. Winter meetings are December 8-11. Probably won't see any action until then at the earliest.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen any indication that Brian Sabean is coming back to the Giants in any role.
DeletePosey spoke in Vegas at the GM meeting that just happened. Interesting that he specifically mentioned outfield defense and base running along with pitching as areas of focus. Tea leaves tell me that means Ramos may be the guy that gets traded for pitching. Also not great to hear they aren’t planning on spending much on offense if anything but understandable.
ReplyDeleteIf Ramos gets traded, Buster better have a bat in mind to make up for the lost offense.
DeleteI don’t think they said that they were not spending much on offense but they did not want to invest in a free agent market in which the money becomes inflexible and the core ages out all at once.
DeleteShort of Buster pulling a rabbit out of the hat, any hat, why will 2026 be any better than 2025?
ReplyDeleteUnless the plethora of near-ready pitchers, SP & RP, graduate to MLB ready, what can make the Giants better than the 7 teams ahead of them in 2015 or AZ and ATL behind them?
What will make this off-season better for SF than for the rest of the NL?
In Buster We Trust, but it's not his fault the cupboard is pretty bare, at least in 2026.
His first amateur draft is not highly rated, but it is his not SI's.
It does take a while to turn a ship...
I don't agree with this take. With a few savvy moves, Buster can field a competitive team next season. They need 2 hitters, 1-2 SP's and a Closer and I don't think they necessarily have to pay top dollar for any of them. Yes, add it all up and you start getting close to the CBT threshold but it's doable.
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