Giants Rumors: San Francisco Interested in Relievers?

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wouldn’t be surprised to see the San Francisco Giants attempt to acquire a reliever as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches. Rosenthal believes the Giants could improve this summer by simply reinforcing one of their strengths.

Rosenthal notes the Giants are without closer Brian Wilson for the season, after he underwent Tommy John surgery in April, and Guillermo Mota, who’s serving a 100-game suspension for using a performance-enhancing drug. Wilson (36 saves) and Mota (1.257 WHIP over 80 1/3 IP) both played key roles in San Francisco’s ‘pen in 2011.

Several members of the Giants ‘pen, including current closer Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo, Clay Hensley, Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez, have been solid this season. Still, Rosenthal thinks the Giants could look to acquire an additional reliever this summer.

While Giants relievers have combined to post the league’s eight best bullpen ERA (3.08), they are currently in the bottom third of the majors in WHIP (1.36) and SO/9 (7.62).