Could an SF Giants trade with the Royals reunite Bob Melvin with an All-Star pitcher?

The SF Giants will likely need to target starting pitching at the trade deadline. While the market has not crystallized yet, the Giants could upgrade the rotation by trading for Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo.

Could an SF Giants trade with the Royals reunite Bob Melvin with an All-Star pitcher?

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that teams are beginning to monitor Lugo's market if the Royals decide to sell. The veteran hurler is in the second year of a two-year, $30 million deal with a player option for a third season.

Trading players with options attached can be tricky. As Nightengale notes, Lugo will likely decline that player option in favor of free agency. In essence, he would be a rental.

The Giants were among the many teams to check in on Lugo before he signed with Kansas City. He had one of the more robust markets of any pitcher that offseason.

The 35-year-old pitcher had transitioned to the rotation in 2023 with the San Diego Padres. During his lone season with the club, he registered a 3.57 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, and a 3.89 SO/W rate in 146.1 innings. That proved to be a springboard year.

Of course, Giants manager Bob Melvin was the manager of the Padres at that time. He brought over many of the same coaches, but Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla remained with San Diego. Nevertheless, there is a sense of familiarity with Melvin and Lugo that could help facilitate a trade.

When Melvin's team option for 2026 was exercised, Matt Chapman and Logan Webb were vocal about their support of the move. In his brief time with San Francisco, it is pretty clear that he is popular among his players. Of course, you do not manage for more than 20 years without the support of your players.

During Lugo's time with Kansas City, he has posted a 2.89 ERA in 49 starts. Only seven other qualified starters have posted a better ERA in that time.

Lugo was an All-Star last season and finished in second in the AL Cy Young voting, behind Tarik Skubal. He has continued to throw well this season, with a 2.65 ERA in 16 starts. That said, his underlying numbers, such as a 4.16 FIP, are not quite as strong as they were last season.

The Giants could certainly use help in the rotation. Logan Webb and Robbie Ray have anchored that unit. Landen Roupp has also done a nice job, but there is a lot of uncertainty beyond that. Adding a pitcher of Lugo's caliber would give the Giants a formidable trio at the front of the rotation.