San Francisco Giants moves to blow it up
As fair warning to San Francisco Giants fans – these trades will hurt. They will not be fun, but as fans from teams like the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, and, most recently, Atlanta Braves can tell you, the pain is worth it in the end when you start to win and see nothing but years of winning to come!
Trade #1: San Francisco Giants send 1B Brandon Belt and $6.6 million to the Los Angeles Angels for 2B Jahmai Jones and RHP Luis Madero
The Angels are a team in need of left-handed power. Heck, they’re in need of left-handed anything in their lineup. With Luis Valbuena a free agent and Shohei Ohtani recovering from Tommy John surgery, the only lefty hitter in the entire lineup is Kole Calhoun. Belt would fill a need, and with Ohtani being out for some time, Belt and Albert Pujols would pair well in the lineup together. As Pujols and Belt both have their bouts with injury issues, having both on board could be a blessing in disguise for the Angels and allow for consistent power in their lineup.
Jones has really taken well to second base and is an elite athlete. He’s hitting well in the AFL right now, and there’s a chance he is up late in 2019 and certainly for a September call-up. Madero is a pitcher that I’m a very big fan of with a loose arm that generates low-90s velocity easily with good movement and has good presence on the mound.
Trade #2: San Francisco Giants trade 2B Joe Panik, LHRP Tony Watson, SP Johnny Cueto, and $11.83 million to the Minnesota Twins for LHP Stephen Gonsalves, IF Jose Miranda, RHP Luke Bard, and OF LaMonte Wade
This would be a lot of moving pieces, but it would allow the Giants to dump a big contract while only covering the buyout of Cueto’s 2022 option and the cash to bring his 2019 salary (while he’s out recovering from Tommy John) to $15 million. Watson is an upper Midwest native who would be desirable to the Twins, and with a hole at 2B, Panik would certainly appeal. Gonsalves and Bard would be able to break camp with the big league club, and Wade would very feasibly be part of the 2019 club at some point as he’s near-ready as well.
Trade #3: San Francisco Giants trade LHP Madison Bumgarner, RHP Jeff Samardzija, and $9.6 million to the Milwaukee Brewers for OF Domingo Santana, RHP Brandon Woodruff, RHP Trey Supak, IF Mauricio Dubon
This is a big deal for the Brewers, but they have the depth to make this move. One change that could happen would possibly be replacing both of the minor league players for one “elite” guy like Keston Hiura or swapping in someone like Hiura for Woodruff or Santana. The money involved makes Samardzija a $15 million/year gamble for the Brewers, but in reward for getting an ace for their 2019 playoff run.
Trade #4: San Francisco Giants trade C Buster Posey and LHP Will Smith to the Atlanta Braves for LHP Kolby Allard, LHP Jesse Biddle, RHP Chad Sobotka, IF Rio Ruiz, and C Alex Jackson
The Braves need a catcher, Posey is a Georgia native, and the Braves have a solid option to allow Posey to ease back into service in 2019 after hip surgery this season. Smith is a very valuable piece and would help bring up the overall package, though likely keeping the package pitching-focused and near-majors focused both squads as all three pitchers and Ruiz should break camp with the Giants.
Trade #5: San Francisco Giants trade SS Brandon Crawford and RHP Sam Dyson to Washington Nationals for RHP Austen Williams, IF Wilmer Difo, IF Yasel Antuna
The Washington Nationals will be likely losing Bryce Harper in 2019, and they will be likely spreading around the $35+ million that he would be paid in 2019 to multiple positions. With Trea Turner coming into his own offensively, moving him to a more comfortable defensive position with an elite shortstop defender would help them, and the Nats would absolutely be looking for bullpen depth. With Howie Kendrick returning, Difo’s role will not be as prominent in Washington, so he may move easier for the Nats. Williams found himself really picking up steam with a move to the bullpen. Antuna is going to be a gem for the Giants as a very talented young infield prospect.
Trade #6: San Francisco Giants trade RHP Mark Melancon and RHP Hunter Strickland to the Boston Red Sox for C Blake Swihart and LHP Jhonathan Diaz
The Red Sox will be looking to bolster their bullpen, and the Giants could move two veteran arms with varying levels of interest for the team in what may seem like a small deal, but getting in Swihart and a lottery ticket in Diaz would be good return for a guy in Strickland that the team was not a fan of in the first place.
With the money saved in these deals, a few short-term deals would be appropriate to fill the roster from the free agent market.
The Giants would need to fill a spot alongside Swihart at catcher, likely bring in a utility infielder or two, a veteran starter, and a bullpen arm or two.
These are the deals made in the free agent market:
Sign Kurt Suzuki to 2-year/$15 million contract to bridge to top draft pick Joey Bart likely taking over during the 2020 season.
Sign Matt Adams to a 1-year/$7 million contract with a $12 million option for 2020.
Sign Jose Iglesias to a 2-year/$16 million contract
Sign Ervin Santana to a 1-year/$9 million contract with incentives based on innings to $15 million
Sign David Robertson to a 2-year/$24 million contract with incentives
Sign Justin Wilson to a 2-year/$15 million contract