The Mets are struggling, but when I tell you the Giants’ record it might help ease the pain at least a little bit. In a division with three teams over .600 (Rockies, Dodgers, and Diamondbacks), the Giants are in dead last – Yes, behind the Padres – with a 27-46 (.370) record.
The team that knocked the Mets out of the playoffs last season is having an abysmal year, and with July quickly approaching, the trade rumors will probably start to swirl. The Giants will almost surely be sellers at the deadline, and there are a few players on their MLB roster the Mets should be interested in acquiring.
No, this is not a “what-if” article about trading for Buster Posey or Madison Bumgarner. They are young and the Giants will rebuild their team around them. Other than those two men and perhaps Brandon Crawford, however, I doubt anybody on their team is untouchable.
Hunter Pence is an always intriguing name out in right field. While he’s quite the character and the subject of many hilarious signs in the Citi Field stands, he is 34 years old and hitting only .246 on the season. Adding in the Mets crowded outfield situation is enough reason to cross his name off the list, as well as center fielder Denard Span.
First baseman Brandon Belt is interesting because he is on the younger side at 29, but is having a down year. One year removed from an All Star appearance, Belt is slashing .223/.337/.418 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs. His on-base percentage is respectable, but he wouldn’t be much of an upgrade over Lucas Duda this season or next with Dominic Smith waiting in the wings. Brandon Belt.
Now is when things start to get really interesting. The third baseman for the Giants is 30-year-old Eduardo Nunez. San Fransisco acquired the righty from the Minnesota Twins last summer in the midst of an All Star season. In 2016 for the two teams, Nunez slashed .288/.325/.432 with 16 home runs and 40 stolen bases in 141 games.
This was the first season he got an extended look at third base, being a backup infielder for the beginning of his career. Despite a respectable .267 batting average from 2010 to 2015, he averaged only 69 games a season serving as a backup for the Yankees and Twins. This season for the Giants, he is starting every day again and is continuing to perform at a high level.
In 64 games, Nunez is slashing .299/.323/.413 with four home runs and 17 stolen bases. His primary position is third base, but he has extensive experience at second base, shortstop, right field and left field. He shouldn’t come at too steep a price, but would provide the Mets with a speedy leadoff hitter and a solid third baseman for the remainder of this season. He is not under contract for 2018 so if he performs, the Mets could extend his stay for a few more years.
Last week, Nunez had been dealing with a minor hamstring issue that has since completely healed. Playing third base in his stead was young Kelby Tomlinson. The Giants like him and as he is a career .299/.360/.364 hitter with 13 stolen bases in 140 games across the last three seasons, the Giants might be more open to moving Nunez with Tomlinson available to play third.
Moving across the diamond you will find second baseman Joe Panik. The 2015 All Star was a .309/.364/.419 hitter through his first 173 Major League games, but struggled in 2016 managing only a .239/.315/.379 slash line. Opposite his offensive struggles, he was able to bring home the NL Gold Glove award at second base.
In 65 games this season, Panik has performed better than last year hitting .273/.337/.403 with four home runs, 15 doubles, two triples, and three stolen bases. At just 26 years-old, this could be a great time to buy-low on the lefty-hitting second baseman who is making only $600,000 this season and has three more years of arbitration ahead of him. The previously mentioned Kelby Tomlinson is primarily a second baseman and would hold down the keystone in the event Panik is traded.
Giants closer Mark Melancon is struggling bigtime this season after being signed to a four-year, $62 million contract. He has blown four of his 14 save chances so far this season, pitching to a 4.82 ERA, 3.82 FIP, and 1.393 WHIP in 20 appearances. In 18.2 innings he has struck out 16 and walked two.
After being an All Star in three of the four previous seasons (but being worthy in the one he wasn’t on the roster), his 2017 statistics are an aberration. From 2013-2016 Melancon was one of the best relievers in the game, posting a 1.80 ERA, 2.25 FIP, and 0.914 WHIP during that span. In 290.0 innings he struck out 268 batters and allowing only 10 home runs.
He is very expensive and at 32 years-old he isn’t getting any younger, but if the Giants are truly trying to abandon ship and sell everything they’ve got, the Mets should at the very least kick the tires on Melancon. If and only if the Giants are willing to pay a solid chunk of his contract going forward, Melancon would be a great addition to the Mets bullpen. He would allow Reed to return to the 8th inning role where he enjoys the most success, and once Familia returns, they’d be arguably the best back-end of any bullpen in the game, reminiscent of, dare I say, the 2015 Royals.
The last two times these two teams lined up for trades, the Mets sent over Carlos Beltran and Angel Pagan, two deals that worked out well for both sides. It’s been a while, though, as those deals were back in July and December of 2011.
The Mets will be playing the Giants this weekend, Friday through Saturday, at AT&T Park. It will be a great opportunity to scout the Giants’ talent and serves as an opportunity for Sandy Alderson to chat with Giants GM Bobby Evans. Those aforementioned players, as well as manager Bruce Bochy, would be welcomed additions to this Mets team.
