San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence is expected to hit the disabled list and his oblique strain will thin out the depth of the team's outfield. As a result, the Giants are looking for another outfielder and the Chicago Cubs recently had one clear revocable waivers.
Dexter Fowler was that player, but trade rumors suggest he isn't a candidate to be dealt before the Aug. 31 deadline. However, could the Giants make an offer that appeals to the Cubs - one that helps them beyond 2015?
While this isn't entirely likely, it's definitely something to keep in mind. The Giants' outfield has been banged up for the entire season due to the prolonged absences of Pence and Nori Aoki, while Angel Pagan recently hit the DL because of a knee issue. As a result, they could be active during the waiver trade period.
"The Giants are keeping their eyes and minds open for outside outfield help, but I've been told they don't want just any outfielder, but one who moves the needle offensively," writes Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. "That kind of guy can be hard to get during August, when teams with inferior records can make blocking claims."
Fowler is the only outfielder in the entire MLB that isn't blocked right now.
"As San Francisco's attention turns to the outfield market, the club will obviously have limited options in the revocable waivers period," writes Jeff Todd of MLBTradeRumors.com. "Among the players who have reportedly cleared waivers, only Dexter Fowler - who seems something of an unlikely trade candidate - plays in the outfield grass."
The Cubs are poised to make the postseason for the first time since 2008. It's unknown if they would trade Fowler because of his contribution to the team and they currently hold the second NL wild-card spot. However, could one of the Giants' pitching prospects sway Chicago? The Cubs' farm system and MLB roster is thin in terms of pitching, and at this point anything can help.
Here are the Giants' pitching prospects that they could part ways with to acquire Fowler if general manger Bobby Evans is seriously considering such an acquisition:
Adalberto Mejia, LHP: 5-2 with a 2.58 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in nine starts (45 1/3 innings) at Double-A Richmond
Sam Coonrod, RHP: 6-4 with a 3.23 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 94 strikeouts in 20 games (19 starts), totaling 94 2/3 innings with Class-A Augusta
Kyle Crick, RHP: 2-4 with a 2.91 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 69 strikeouts in 30 games (11 starts), totaling 58 2/3 innings with Double-A Richmond
Ty Blach, LHP: 11-10 with a 4.21 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 24 starts (147 2/3 innings) with Triple-A Sacramento
Those are among the Giants' top-10 midseason prospects, so it's also unclear if they'd be willing to part ways with any of them. However, they did trade No. 2 prospect Keury Mella to the Cincinnati Reds for Mike Leake prior to the non-waiver deadline and they tried for San Diego Padres outfielder Will Venable before he was dealt to the Texas Rangers yesterday.
And now that Chase Utley - who was previously mentioned as a trade candidate for the Giants - is on his way to the Los Angeles Dodgers, is San Francisco's front office poised to make a move that will match or supersede that of their division rival's?
We'll find out in less than two weeks.
