Fansided

Buy or sell: Evaluating the NL contenders at the trade deadline

By Joshua Sadlock

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 16: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park on July 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 16: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park on July 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 30: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oracle Park on June 30, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 30: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oracle Park on June 30, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

6. San Francisco Giants: Sell

At 47-49, the Giants are the most intriguing of the sub-.500 teams hanging around the fringes of playoff contention. After a miserable first three months of the season that saw their record hit 34-46 on June 27, the Giants have reeled off 13 wins in 16 games to put themselves on the edge of the playoff conversation. They’ve also done it against teams they’re fighting with in the playoff race, not just division bottom feeders. The hot stretch will make for an interesting trade deadline in the Bay Area.

However good the Giants have looked over the past two-plus weeks of action, the front office cannot get suckered into thinking this is a playoff team. San Francisco must stick to their rebuilding plan and work to acquire prospects at the deadline. Failing to auction off key trade chips like Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith in the hopes of snagging a Wild Card would set the Giants long-term hopes back by another few years.

Despite their recent run, the Giants are not a good team. They have one of the worst offenses in the National League and a miserable starting rotation. Their only saving grace has been a solid bullpen, led by Smith, Sam Dyson and Tony Watson. Dyson and Watson should also be up for grabs if the Giants do the smart thing and sell at the deadline.

Reality will set in again soon for the Giants as they just don’t have the firepower to keep up in this race. Their future is still a few years away, and they have to remain committed to the rebuild.

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