The Spring isn’t normally a trade-active part of the season, but the Giants seem to be interested in both changes and improvements. Despite the trade for Blevins today, could the Atlanta Braves make a deal?
It was just about a week ago when we heard that San Francisco could be shopping 1 or more of their major league relief corps. Certainly, the Atlanta Braves should have some interest if this is so.
But now circumstances have changed a bit. That’s pretty obvious, given the news of the morning. So now the Braves have one additional arm… but as Jake suggested, he’s more of a ‘shore up’ move for this leaky dike than he is an ‘answer’.
In fact, this trade smacks of some desperation.
But in light of that action, there’s this: according to a report from Friday by Ken Rosenthal, the Giants are looking for an outfielder…
#SFGiants in active trade discussions for an outfielder, sources tell The Athletic. Talking to multiple clubs as Tyler Austin continues to deal with inflammation in his right elbow.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 26, 2019
That’s… not even a normal-sounding rumor. This isn’t going to be confirmed or denied by the San Fran brass, but the manner in which Rosenthal phrased this news is about as close to a real thing as you’d see otherwise.
What’s going on by the Bay?
The first question I’d ask, though, is this: why?
For that answer, I’ll start by consulting fangraphs… there have already been 8 players who have logged some outfield innings for the Giants this year.
- Tyler Austin (10 innings; all inning counts are as of Saturday morning, 4/27)
- Yangervis Solarte (15)
- Michael Reed (19)
- Brandon Belt (27)
- Connor Joe (33)
- Kevin Pillar (179)
- Gerardo Parra (188)
- Steven Duggar (222)
7 of these have plate appearances credited as outfielders. Here’s is their combined fWAR production: -0.8. Yeah… that’s a negative number.
But wait, there’s more:
- Michael Reed: designated for assignment during the season’s 1st week
- RF Mac Williamson was likewise outrighted… and he didn’t even get to the outfield
- Connor Joe: DFA’s on the 7th; returned to the Dodgers according to Rule 5 provisions.
- Tyler Austin, according to MLBTR, is nursing an elbow problem.
So it’s Duggar, Parra, and Pillar getting the innings… but of these, only Pillar is above 0.0 (barely) offensively.
Hence the shopping trip. But it’s still not enough information.