The San francisco Giants are winning. Basically. That being said, i am still in the infant stage of the 2013 season. The Giants have sole played 38 games from 162.
The reigning World Series champs enjoyed a relatively quiet offseason and new season training, as general manager Brian Sabean focused predominantly on locking up old players to multi-year promotions. This strategy appears to remain working, as the The big boys currently sit atop that NL West, two video game titles above the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Then again, these early weeks of the 2013 season have revealed the Giants do have parts of need moving forward. Most needs (starting pitching.... dare I say it? ) requires front-office attention as the playoff race begins.
Sabean has a history of shopping for players within the trade deadline. In 2012, he made pivotal movements that ultimately paid dividends on the tune of a Environment Series victory. Right fielder Hunter Pence in addition to second baseman Marco Scutaro were welcome additions on the roster and became immediate leaders with the clubhouse.
Who will become the "blockbuster trade" for this Giants in 2013? Past season, the Giants needed a veteran presence inside the infield and a spark plug within the outfield. Scutaro and Pence given both.
The Giants' starting rotation has underwhelmed in most cases this season. While that core is improving, notching three consecutive winning decisions on their most recent series with Atlanta Braves, they have struggled to enjoy up innings.
Pitcher Madison Bumgarner is actually the team's most consistent man in the mound, posting a 3. 18 ERA in nine starts. Opening Day starter Matt Cain looks back on track after a dismal start to the season, and perpetual anchor Barry Zito has posted respectable numbers thus far.
However, it isn't solely realistic to assume Zito will continue his success. So each pair of Bumgarner and Cain should finish the season strong, there are too many question marks remaining inside the Giants' rotation. Ryan Vogelsong is suffering through a disastrous stretch this began during his very last 10 starts of 2012 and has now carried over into this season.
CSN Bay Area's Toby Baggerly reports—or rather fantasizes—that the Giants might make a play for Phillies star Cliff Lee.
"The Phillies' $165 million payroll could be the third largest in the adventure, after the Dodgers together with Yankees, and they're 15-18 that have an aging roster that doesn't glimpse anywhere near firm enough to take on the Braves and Nationals inside NL East. No, it's unlike they're buried in that division already. But their minus-30 run differential is the third worst in a NL, behind the Marlins in addition to Dodgers. "
Okay, the reasoning behind might be a stretch your muscles, but the possible add-on of another starting pitcher prior to the trade deadline is far less... far-fetched.
Securing a playoff-worthy starter from the trade deadline is not always easy, making Baggerly's reasoning increasingly valid. The Giants should target teams who experience the out of contention from the All-Star break and feel the need to reduce payroll.
On the list of top 10 highest payrolls, the teams who may be on the verge involving unloading upper-tier players have the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Angels with Anaheim and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Red Sox pitching staff is performing well on top of what anyone expected commencing the season—but who knows how long this will be sustained. The Phillies have already got Cliff Lee and Fall in love with Utley trade rumors traveling by air around, and the Angels' decision to spend some money on bats as against pitching is nipping them inside bud.
According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports. com, there are a good amount of starting pitchers who could find themselves on the buying and selling block. Cliff Lee's name is featured over the list, as are previous Cy Young winners David Price and R. A good. Dickey.
"If none of those three former Cy Youthful winners ever reaches your trade market, though, you'll see more quantity than excellent. Without that top-of-the-rotation trio, there should remain a decent-sized number with available arms. A couple slow-starting, big-market teams maintain proven starters (i. o the Cubs, Blue Jays, along with Angels) and that group, a variety of mostly mid-to-back-end guys plus veterans over the downside could be enhanced in case your couple more name newbies (most notably Josh Johnson and Matt Garza) makes it back from health issues to signify they're ready to enroll in the fray by July or July. "
The Giants should progress with caution in considering a trade for examples of the names on this report. Potentially available pitchers like Josh Johnson (0-1 using a 6. 86 ERA) are risky investments to mention the least.
The Chicago Cubs are a unique possible trade partner. A team wanting to rebuild, they could simply prioritize up-and-coming younger ability over more veteran workhorses. Pitcher Travis Wood is an enticing option: this year or so, he's 4-2 with some sort of 2. 03 ERA. Wooden has youth (28) and enough MLB experience (four years) so that you can merit trade deadline account.
Sabean is not scared of trading for proven veterans using a track record (Carlos Beltran within 2011, Pence and Scutaro within 2012, etc) in trading for potential young natural talent. While the Giants have wanted to add a bat in past times, this year Sabean will repeat the pattern—but for the pitcher instead.
Another division of concern for the Giants moving forward comes out of left field... both figuratively along with literally. Gregor Blanco is creating a solid case for himself up to now. He is currently batting a good. 289 in 90 at-bats and has also performed well defensively.
Always, the Giants lack power with a historically powerful position. Sabean did sign outfielder Andres Torres with the offseason, but the new (and former) Giant does little to alleviate the problem. Furthermore, the Giants have more scheduled games at American League ballparks—causing your need for an extra hitter within the DH spot.
An outfielder who not necessarily hit with regard to average but adds power potential for the lineup would be an asset to San francisco bay area.
All this being claimed, the Giants are now playing good baseball. The holes for their lineup are shrinking, especially if first baseman Brandon Belt and also the bottom half of the batting order are able to break out.
Hopefully, the starting rotation works through the kinks. Tim Lincecum dazzled around his May 12th start about the offensively potent Atlanta Braves. If Vogelsong be capable of turning things around, the need for a fifth or sixth starter becomes less urgent.
If the problem wasn't solved, look for Sabean to make a trade before the contract. The Marco Scutaro deal was truly the blockbuster move of 2012. Here's hoping lightning can strike twice with the G-men.
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