San Francisco Giants: Alternatives to the Free Agent Closers

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Sep 7, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Alex Colome (37) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Alternative Closer Option No. 4: Trade for Alex Colome

The deal with the Tampa Bay Rays made me pretty mad this trade deadline. That ended their activity in the trade market, without getting a closer. However, the Giants gave up Susac and Bickford for a slightly above average bullpen arm, at best. They could have EASILY tacked on one of those guys in the Rays deal and asked for Alex Colome along with Moore. The good news is, the Rays are still going to be sellers this offseason! Unfortunately the Giants didn’t allot their farm pieces correctly during the deadline, so now it might be pretty costly to get him.

He’ll cost more because of how young he is. Colome, only 27, and with four years of organizational control left, he would be the Giants closer for potentially the next four or five years. He was 37/40 in his save opportunities this season, and had a 1.024 WHIP. Throw in his 4.73 K/BB ratio, he’s worth whatever price they want to throw at him. We also don’t know if they told him he was off-limits, or if the Giants just genuinely aren’t interested in him. If they aren’t interested, I have no idea what else they’re looking for in a closer.

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Colome will likely cost a young MLB ready player, like Parker or Williamson, plus a top 15 prospect. If the price is less than that, I don’t see why the Giants wouldn’t pull the trigger. By filling the closer role via. trade, the Giants leave their free agency money directly to the left field role, allowing them to go all in for somebody like Desmond or Cespedes.

Any of these trade options would be decent, but just don’t seem the most likely. There is also something about proven closers. Colome has only a year under his belt in the closer role. Granted, it was a fantastic year, but only a year. Most likely, the Giants grab one of the big three, and this article is irrelevant. However, there is always the possibility that they don’t end up with any of the three. If they don’t then these would be the next best options.

Next: Giants In Trade Talks With Tigers

Stay tuned to Around the Foghorn for all your Offseason Rumors and Updates! If you think there is a different option for the Giants to fill the role of closer, that’s not free agency, or the four other ways to do it that were mentioned, feel free to present other options to us in the comment section!