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MLB Trade Deadline: 5 best spots for Michael Pineda

By Parker Hurley

May 10, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda (35) pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda (35) pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 27, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija (29) pitches the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 27, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija (29) pitches the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

1. San Francisco Giants

While the addition of Michael Pineda would not send shock waves, he could be just the addition the Giants need to put their team over the top, and back into the World Series.

The Giants already have a strong start to their pitching staff. This is a team with Johnny Cueto and Madison Bumgarner, arguably the best duo of pitchers in all of baseball. However, when you dig below those two, there can be some touching up done.

Jeff Samardzija has been fine for the most part, but has had some ups and downs. Then there is Jake Peavy, the 35-year-old with an ERA over five, and Matt Cain who cannot seem to stay healthy.

The biggest downfall for Pineda this year has been the home run ball. He is giving up 1.61 per nine innings, and it just killing any momentum that he can string together. In a shift from New York to San Francisco, he would be moving from a ballpark that gives up the second most home runs, only behind Coors Field in Colorado, to the park that gives up the least amount of home runs.

Samardzija and Cain are the only two starters to give up over one home run per nine innings in San Francisco, giving up 1.25 and 1.26 home runs respectively. In comparison, Samardzija is striking out 6.92 batters per nine innings, and Cain is whiffing 6.42 per nine. Cain is walking 2.8 hitters per nine, Samardzija is walking 2.3 and even Peavy is walking 2.7 batters per nine.

Pineda on the other hand is striking out over 10 batters per nine, and is walking 2.4 per nine. A case can be made that had Pineda been pitching in AT&T Park all season, he would have been the Giants third best pitcher statistically.

If the Giants could add Pineda and were able to decrease his home run rate, it would be a major addition that will not be talked about in that light when the trade is initially made. The Giants have the farm system to pull it off and it is a perfect fit for both sides.

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