MLB Trade Deadline Recap: San Francisco Giants

Now that the non-waiver deadline has passed, we’re taking a look back at what each team was able to accomplish before 4 p.m. ET on July 31. Next up in our recap series, the San Francisco Giants.

San Francisco Giants (45-70), 35.5 GB in NL Central, 20 GB in NL Wild Card

ACQUIRED: RHP Shaun Anderson (from BOS), RHP Gregory Santos (from BOS)

TRADED: INF Eduardo Nunez (to BOS)

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The Giants entered the month of July in a place they hadn’t been in a while: out of contention and looking to sell at the trade deadline. Unfortunately for Brian Sabean and Bobby Evans, that sale was much easier said than done once talks started later in the month.

Almost every potential trade chip for the Giants was tough to trade, for a variety of reasons. Johnny Cueto had his pending opt-out and injury concerns. Jeff Samardzija publicly stated he was unlikely to waive his 21-team no-trade clause. No club needed first base help, so Brandon Belt stayed put. Ditto Denard Span, as the outfield market was dead. Hunter Strickland looked like a trade candidate, but he was lost in the shuffle of the dozens of other available relievers.

These circumstances left the Giants with one good trade chip: infielder Eduardo Nunez, who the club had acquired from the Twins at the deadline in 2016. The Red Sox, who were the most aggressive team pursuing the veteran all month, landed him for two prospects, Shaun Anderson and Gregory Santos.

Nunez has been tearing the cover of the ball so far in Boston, but it was a no-brainer for the Giants to move him to a contender. His versatility and status as a rental player made him especially attractive to a team with a third base need like the Red Sox, and the club was aggressive in making a deal.

Anderson, who was Boston’s third-round pick a year ago, already ranks as the 17th-best prospect in San Francisco’s system. Santos isn’t ranked at this point.

The Giants could look to make another move in a waiver trade, with Nick Hundley being one name that has been speculated about so far. What the club does in the offseason remains to be seen as Sabean and Evans are faced with the choice of either keeping a championship core together or blowing it all up in a rebuild.

For a complete list of our trade deadline recaps, click here.