Dodgers News: Giants’ GM Says He Likes Team’s Current Roster Ahead of Trade Deadline
The San Francisco Giants enter Sunday trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers by 10 games in the National League West standings. They are only four games back of the third Wild Card spot.
For the Giants to win the West, they need a miracle but the president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is happy with his current roster and doesn’t see a position that needs an immediate upgrade. Perhaps the Giants won’t be buying or selling much ahead of the July 30 trade deadline.
“When I look at our team, we have pretty solid players at every spot in the field,” Zaidi said. “We have a rotation that’s getting healthier and a bullpen that’s done a nice job. So nothing jumps out as a spot where we need an emergency plug-in. … When you’re in it, there’s an expectation and pressure to do something that changes the mix but we have to be careful that whatever we do is a meaningful upgrade.”
While Zaidi wants his team to make the playoffs this year, he also understands that this season’s record will reflect mediocrity and a need to add youth and athleticism for the future. For example, Austin Slater, the longest-tenured Giant at the time, was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, and shortstop Nick Ahmed was designated for assignment to pave a clearer path for infielders Brett Wisely, Tyler Fitzgerald and outfielder Luis Matos.
“You get excited about the momentum of young guys playing well and having a ground swell, but I view them as independent cases,” Zaidi said. “It creates more confidence for guys like Luis and Tyler to see the success that Ramos is having and feel like they can do the same thing.”
The rotation has the biggest hole to fill but the Giants anticipate getting Blake Snell, Alex Cobb, and Robbie Ray back after the All-Star Break.
“Our rotation, which has probably been our biggest issue for us, we’ve got a slew of guys coming back,” Zaidi said. “When you think about having Blake and Robbie Ray and Cobb back, we might not have enough spots for everyone who is pitching well for us. So we might need to figure out how we sort through all of that.
“Right now we’ve made a couple changes — we’re playing well. Like every team that’s in the race, you start thinking about those things, but no specific thoughts about needs or what we might pursue right now.”
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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