San Francisco Giants: 2014 MLB trade deadline review

In the days leading up to this year’s MLB trade deadline, we’ll take a look back at San Francisco Giants deadlines past. Next up, the 2014 trade deadline.

After winning their second World Series in three years during the 2012 season, the San Francisco Giants missed the playoffs entirely in 2013.

Despite the disappointing finish the previous season, they still entered 2014 with legitimate expectations of contention. They backed that up by carrying a 47-36 record into the month of July, which was good enough for a share of the NL West lead with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

With a hole to fill in the starting rotation and a legitimate shot at contention, they swung a major trade days before the deadline.

Here’s a look at their July activity:

July 21, 2014: 2B Dan Uggla signed as a free agent

With a lack of middle infield depth and bench production in general, the Giants hoped to squeeze something out of 34-year-old Dan Uggla.

He was hitting just .162/.241/.231 with two home runs in 145 plate appearances when the Atlanta Braves released him on July 18, and he lasted less than a month on the Giants roster before he was released again on Aug. 7.

He went 0-for-11 with one walk, one run scored and six strikeouts during his brief time with the team.

July 26, 2014: RHP Jake Peavy, cash acquired from Boston Red Sox for LHP Edwin Escobar, RHP Heath Hembree

With Matt Cain injured and Tim Lincecum struggling to the point that he was eventually relegated to the bullpen, the Giants needed starting pitching reinforcements for the stretch run.

Jake Peavy proved to be the perfect addition.

The 33-year-old posted a 2.17 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 78.2 innings over 12 starts down the stretch, before starting four more games in October.

He was re-signed to a two-year, $24 million deal during the offseason that proved ill-advised, but he still made his mark with his impressive finish to the 2014 season.

Edwin Escobar was the No. 2 prospect in the Giants system and the No. 56 prospect in baseball at the start of the 2014 season, according to Baseball America. He never developed as hoped, though.

Heath Hembree was the No. 7 prospect in the Giants system at the time, per Baseball America, and he has developed into a solid middle reliever in Boston.

Summary

The Giants finished the season at 88-74, which left them six games back in the NL West standings, but they claimed a wild-card spot.

They knocked off the Pittsburgh Pirates in the wild-card game, then advanced past the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals before besting the Kansas City Royals in a thrilling seven-game World Series.

Check back here in the days and weeks to come for more San Francisco Giants trade deadline reviews, all culminating in what promises to be a busy 2019 deadline.