Call to the pen
Fansided

Trade deadline: NL West for sale, plus Dodgers, Giants, Diamondbacks wish list

By Beau Adams

TORONTO, ON - JULY 18: Juan Soto #22 of the San Diego Padres reacts after a called strike against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 18, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 18: Juan Soto #22 of the San Diego Padres reacts after a called strike against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 18, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
May 16, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Lane Thomas (28) looks on after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Lane Thomas (28) looks on after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /

Buying the NL West: San Francisco Giants

The Giants are 54-43 (.557) in third in the NL West as of Friday. Their first big need is the need for speed. It’s essential, inherent and there is something they can do about it. Next, they need right-handed power and left-handed hitting … so a switch hitter with a .280 average and 20 homers. Lastly, they need to improve their bullpen average against.

First on the Giants’ wish list is National’s third baseman Jeimer Candelario. It is almost a certainty that Candelario will be moved within before August 1, but the sooner, the better for San Francisco. After he was non-tendered by Detroit, he was signed by the Nationals to a $5 million deal. It was a terrific bargain, and the switch-hitting infielder has posted a .259/.334/.819 slash line, 46 RBI, and 15 home runs with solid defensive metrics.

The Nationals’ Lane Thomas is hitting .289/.337/.819 with 15 homers and eight stolen bases. He is 27 years old with two years left of club control; trading for the pair of Nats would be perfect for the Giants and reasonably cheap. Sending Brandon Crawford and his expiring contract with C Patrick Bailey and prospects RHP Keaton Winn and OF Jairo Pomares would work perfectly.

Making a call to the St.Louis Cardinals could help a lot as well. SS Paul De Jong has club options for the next two years at $12.5 million per year and could be a trade steal. The 29-year-old shortstop is hitting .238 with 12 homers and 34 runs this year.

The 29-year-old Ryan Helsley has been very effective in 22 appearances this year. He has a .201 average against, 33 strikeouts, seven saves and three wins. He is a productive seventh- or eighth-inning option, which could drastically help the Giants late in the season.

Rumors are swirling around the Chicago White Sox two-time All-Star Tim Anderson. While slashing .235/.274/.549 with no homers this year, he has been a .318 hitter over the past four seasons. Anderson is struggling through the worst season of his career. The 30-year-old is in desperate need of a change of scenery, and that could help jumpstart his season and he could be a postseason leader for the Giants. In the final year of his contract, he may be a rental, but he could be cheap.

Home/Arizona Diamondbacks