The Giants should be aggressive at the deadline for these players
The Giants are 54-44 (.551) and third in the NL West heading into Saturday night's game against the Nationals. The Aug. 1 trade deadline is approaching, and the Giants' front office has some work to do.
Looking at their performance this year and being three games behind the Dodgers, they have to make some moves to hold on to their wild-card spot.
Their first significant need is the need for speed. It is essential, inherent and there is something they can do about it. Next, they need right-handed power and left-handed hitting. Lastly, they need to improve their bullpen average against.
Nationals 3B Jeimer Candelario and OF Lane Thomas
First on the Giants' wishlist is Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario. It is almost a certainty that Candelario will be moved before Aug. 1, but the sooner, the better for Washington. After he was non-tendered by Detroit, he was signed by the Nationals to a $5M deal. It was a terrific bargain, and the switch-hitting infielder has posted a .257/.333/.814 slash line, 50 runs and 15 HRs with solid defensive metrics.
The Nationals' Lane Thomas is hitting .292/.339/.829 with 16 HRs, 64 runs and eight stolen bases. He is 27 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 magnificently.
Cardinals SP Jordan Montgomery, SS Paul De Jong and RP Ryan Helsley
Making a call to the St. Louis Cardinals could also help a lot. Paul De Jong has club options for the next two years at $12.5M per year and could be a trade steal. The 29-year-old shortstop is hitting .238 with 12 homers and 34 runs this year.
While dealing with the Cardinals, they should try to work in SP Jordan Montgomery. He is 6-7 this season but is only allowed 10 HRs and a .249 average against 19 starts while chalking up 101 strikeouts. The Cardinals are open to moving him and De Jong.
An offer of RHP Ryan Walker, SS Casey Schmitt and two top-30 prospects would be sufficient. At that price, they will want to get RP Ryan Helsley in the deal as well.
The 29-year-old Helsley has been very effective in 22 appearances this year. He has a .205 average against, 33 strikeouts, seven saves and three wins. He is a productive seventh-eighth inning option, which could drastically help the Giants late in the season.
White Sox SS Tim Anderson Jr.
Rumors are swirling around the Chicago White Sox two-time All-Star, Tim Anderson Jr.. While slashing .236/.277/.553 with no HRs 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, it could help jump-start 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.
Mets SP Justin Verlander
The Mets are looking to move some payroll and they are currently $147M over the luxury tax cap and 18 games behind the Braves in the NL East. Picking up some players that can push the Giants deep into the playoffs would be worth the cost.
Justin Verlander is in the first year of a two-year, $86M contract with a no-trade clause. If he were willing to finish his career in S.F., he would be a nice boost to the Giants rotation with a .250 average against.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 4-5 with 70 strikeouts in 83 innings and World Series experience. The Mets will let the 40-year-old go pretty quickly to alleviate the salary, so an offer of prospect RHP Will Bednar, OF Heliot Ramos and the expiring contract of LF Joc Pederson would help the Mets out.
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