San Francisco Giants rumors: Top trade deadline targets after missing out on David Price and Cole Hamels
Jun 28, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija (29) walks off the field against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Starting pitchers: James Shields, Jeff Samardzija, Mike Leake
Update: The Giants officially traded for Leake on Thursday evening.
With James Shields representing the only true ace left on the market, rumors tying him to the Giants have reignited. As noted by Jayson Stark of ESPN, trading to an NL West rival probably isn’t the best look for the Padres, but adding a couple of the Giants’ (or Dodgers’) top prospects would obviously help them compete with the division’s top dogs down the road. Shield’s four-year, $75 million contract is massive, but would actually be a discount from what the Giants were willing to pay for him in the offseason.
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Samardzija and Leake, two guys with sub-$10 million expiring contracts, would also come with lower price tags in terms of prospects. Leake (9-5, 3.56 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) has long been tied to San Francisco, but Samardzija (8-5, 3.94 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) is the sexier name. With the Jays already having acquired Price, don’t be surprised if the Giants emerge as a frontrunner for his services.