MLB trade rumors: SF Giants division rivals tied to Twins ace

While the SF Giants are one of several contenders leading the chase for starting pitching at this year’s MLB trade deadline, their two biggest rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, are involved in trade discussions surrounding Minnesota Twins ace Jose Berrios, according to a report by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. Berrios could easily be the best starting pitcher moved this summer, and has an additional year of team control via arbitration after this season.

The Giants have made multiple trades with the Twins since Farhan Zaidi was hired to become San Francisco’s president of baseball operations. However, each deal has gone incredibly well for the Giants while falling apart for Minnesota. While that has netted the Giants players like Jaylin Davis and LaMonte Wade Jr. alongside prospects Kai-Wei Teng and Prelander Berroa, the Twins have nobody in their organization tied to any of those moves. Now with one of the biggest trade chips of the summer, Twins general manager Thad Levine might be inclined to avoid making a deal with the Giants unless he’s blown away. It seems, per Morosi’s reporting, that could benefit their biggest rivals.

MLB trade rumors: The SF Giants biggest rivals are pursuing Jose Berrios

Berrios will obviously be in high demand until a deal is made, and any team could easily make a push to acquire the 27-year-old at this point. arbitration-eligible player. Berrios has posted a 3.48 ERA this season across 121.2 innings with 126 strikeouts and 32 walks. Over his six-year career, Berrios has been selected to two All-Star teams and posted an ERA below 4.00 in four of the past five seasons.

Morosi speculated that the Twins could target highly-regarded, but recently injured, young pitchers Dustin May (Dodgers) and Adrian Morejon (Padres) in potential deals for Berrios. May, 23, underwent UCL surgery earlier this season and is out for the year, but has a 2.93 career ERA across 113.2 innings pitched with 111 strikeouts and 32 walks. Morejon, 22, has made just 8 career MLB starts, but was a consensus top-50 prospect in the league entering the season.

The SF Giants may hope to improve their starting rotation before the MLB trade deadline, but according to the latest rumors, two of their biggest rivals may have the early edge to acquire Minnesota Twins ace Jose Berrios. If the Padres or Dodgers bring Berrios to the NL West, we’ll see if that increases the Giants urgency to make a big splash.