Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
“I like this team,” Gabe Kapler said Sunday.
That is the team he will continue to manage.
The Giants did not do any major adding or subtracting during Monday’s trade deadline, holding onto pieces such as Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto and Tony Watson, while not finding a deal for a lefty outfielder or righty relief arm.
1 p.m. Monday came and went, the Padres the most active of any team in improving their roster up and down, led by Mike Clevinger. Old friend Kevin Pillar was moved from Boston to Colorado, where the Giants have a two-game set starting Tuesday. The Giants, though, at 17-19 and in the mix for a spot in the expanded playoffs, stood pat apart from a minor deal with the Rays for lefty pitcher Anthony Banda, who had been designated for assignment and was acquired for cash.
Several players in recent days had expressed hope the club would be kept together, Gausman going public with his preference to stay with a team he likes and whose COVID protocols he trusts. The team will get the chance to play out an easier second-half schedule and make a run at the postseason.
The biggest need for the club resides in the outfield, where it hasn’t found a third outfielder to play consistently against righty pitching. Perhaps it will become Mauricio Dubon, who has played better of late. Alex Dickerson’s bat beginning to damage is encouraging.
They also could have used a righty arm out of the bullpen, which is heavily lefty. But Sam Coonrod has come off the IL throwing triple digits and earned his first career save Sunday, perhaps lessening that need.
Cueto said he likes San Francisco, yet would report anywhere he would be dealt. During a season in which fans are not allowed in parks and each team is struggling financially, the market for a starter who will make $21 million next season takes a hit. Trevor Cahill’s hip injury certainly clouds his future and helped ensure he stayed, while that uncertainty may have helped persuade the Giants into holding onto Gausman. With Drew Smyly and Jeff Samardzija making their ways back, they have a theoretical surplus, but that could become a deficit quickly if Cahill is out for a while.
Zaidi expressed optimism about how this club was assembled and looked all the way back in spring training 1.0. He still wants to see more from it.