San Francisco Giants: Trade Deadline Targets if Buyers

The week leading up to the July 31 MLB trade deadline has not been pretty for the San Francisco Giants. But if they are still buyers, who is here they could target.

Let me start by saying that I believe the San Francisco Giants are done and should sell. I thought that during last season, I thought that this past offseason, and I’ve thought that for nearly two months of this season.

But, this front office does not give up nearly as easy as I do, and I would not be surprised if they still try to make a run.

The San Francisco Giants would need to get creative money-wise with any move they make as they are up against the luxury tax threshold.

We’re going to put all that aside for the sake of this article and focus on three names the Giants have been linked to recently that could change this team around.

The first of which is Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones. I would love this move as it gives you another veteran bat that is consistent as anyone in the game.

He’s hitting .281 this year, which is just four points off his career average of .278. He’s hit 25 or more home runs in seven straight seasons, but he’s well off that pace with just 11 this year.

The biggest hurdle with Adam is that he’s owed $17.3 million this year, and the Giants would likely be responsible for a third of that. They’d have to give a top prospect and either ask the Orioles to take on a bad contract or ask them to assume most of Jones’ salary for this year.

They’ve also been scouting Texas Rangers closer Keone Kela, but so has every other contender. Kela is just 25 and is owed just $1.2 million this year in arbitration.

The right-handed pitcher has a 3.28 ERA this year in 35.2 innings pitched with 23 saves. He would be a great — and more importantly, cheap — addition to the bullpen, but the Giants are likely to get outbid for his services.

Lastly, Giants scouts have been looking at Brian Dozier. This one doesn’t make much sense to me unless you think Panic is a non-factor the rest of the year.

The 31-year-old Dozier is hitting just .226 this year with 16 home runs. He’s owed $9 million this year, and the Giants would probably have to take on around $4 million of that.

Like Jones, Dozier is a great clubhouse guy that could possibly spark the Giants.

None of these moves are likely, and I still think the Giants are sellers, but if the front office gets frisky between now and Tuesday, those are some names they could be going after.