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Atlanta Braves Rumor update: Giants shopping relievers for an outfielder?

By Alan Carpenter

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Yangervis Solarte #26 of the San Francisco Giants hits an RBI single during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park on April 26, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Yangervis Solarte #26 of the San Francisco Giants hits an RBI single during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park on April 26, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 26: Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the 1st inning against the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 26: Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the 1st inning against the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

The Next Question

What do the Giants want?  The notion of getting an impact-bat-outfielder at this time of the year would be both highly surprising and nearly impossible to achieve.  Then again, if “multiple clubs” are truly involved, then this could be an open question.

As an example, you could think about someone like Nick Castellanos from Detroit, but the Tigers are actually hanging around in the AL Central with a 12-13 record… and they wanted a lot in the off-season to do a trade for him (the Giants don’t have much to offer).

Besides that, Castellanos himself isn’t doing that well to start 2019… and he’s a free agent at year’s end, which wouldn’t fit the Giants at all.

The Giants are in last place at 11-16, and don’t really look like they will be competitive at any point in 2019.  The fact that they’re looking for OF help is probably related to trying to get through the year without looking completely terrible.

As of Saturday morning, they stand 13th in the NL in runs scored, 12th in team fWAR, 14th in team batting average, and dead last in Runs Created.  As noted, their outfield is a big part of that problem.

If they want prospects (and they need prospects), they will have to give up their Blue Chips:  Bumgarner.  Smith.  Watson.  Samardzjia.  Gott.  Dyson.

It’s way early to do so, but sometimes… getting in line early isn’t a terrible idea.

The Braves Angle

Clearly, Atlanta needs bullpen help.  Only Luke Jackson seems to be any semblance of “dependable”.  The “We want Kimbrel” chants are almost a nightly thing as this team continues to lose games that they should be winning.

Right now, starting pitching isn’t their biggest need.

In terms of outfield prospects, Atlanta is not going to give up either Cristian Pache or Drew Waters.  While the Giants have a bullpen that they’d envy, that’s just not going to happen… heck Pache could be in line for a promotion to AAA if a deal is done here.

But there are some possibilities:

  • Adam Duvall.  Remember him?  Well, he’s hitting .309 at AAA with 6 homers and a 1.023 OPS.  Amazing what happens in a different setting with consistent playing time.
  • Travis Demeritte.  Remember him?  He’s been seeing some OF time lately and isn’t doing too badly either:  .274/.838 OPS.

Then there are a couple of other journeyman… if San Fran is just looking for better replacement-level guys:

  • Ryan LaMarre.  He’s 30 now and in the Braves’ system for the 1st time, but hitting .362 (yes, that’s correct) at Gwinnett.  He has 220 major league plate appearances for 4 organizations.
  • Rafael Ortega is another AAAA player with 351 MLB PA’s.  He’s hitting .316 with a 1.038 OPS early on.

No wonder Gwinnett is 13-9 so far (with 6 wins in a row)… they’ve got hitting and pitching.

These are all OF options that the Braves would be willing to part with quickly, but they aren’t nearly sufficient to pry away a reliever (or two) like the Giants have available.

Keep in mind that the Giants – as a group – have the lowest team relief ERA in the majors.  In fact, they’re a half-run better (as of Saturday morning) than any other team.

So with a handful of clubs all in the same boat with regard to their bullpen performances… boats that are taking on water with no ‘relief’ in sight… the Giants are indeed going to get some attention.

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