Once the San Francisco Giants designated third baseman Casey McGehee for assignment, trade rumors began popping up in regards to who the team might look to acquire to replace the veteran. They've since filled the void internally and it might stay that way.
Matt Duffy, who has played all over the infield for the Giants this season, has taken over at the hot corner and continues to impress manager Bruce Bochy. Duffy is batting .293/.331/.405 with 10 runs scored, 3 home runs and 22 RBIs in 36 games (126 plate appearances) and has made only one error in 22 games at third.
Is he team's long-term solution at the position?
"He could be," ESPN Insider Buster Olney said on the Baseball Tonight Podcast. "I remember standing around the cage during the postseason last year and Bruce Bochy, pointing at Duffy, said, 'You know what? I think this guy is going to be a good player.'"
Bochy is still confident in Duffy and his abilities.
"He's going to get better at third," Bochy said, via Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. "It's going to be a long process for him with reading hops and positioning, but he has a good arm and he's athletic.
"He's stronger than a lot of people think. He might weigh 160 pounds. But he has a lot of pop."
Duffy played only three games at third base in three minor-league seasons and has never logged a game above Double-A. However, the Giants saw potential last season when he dominated at Double-A Richmond and he remained with team throughout their World Series run. The 24-year-old is batting .329 with two home runs and 15 RBIs this month.
"Recently, it has become difficult to fathom anybody replacing Duffy in the Giants' lineup," writes Chris Haft of MLB.com.
The Giants are more than likely to stand pat on the trade market if Duffy keeps up the production and solid defense. San Francisco was previously linked to New York Mets infielder Daniel Murphy, Oakland Athletics utility man Ben Zobrist and Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez, but senior vice president Brian Sabean looks like he'll be saving himself some assets thanks to Duffy's success.
