Rumor: SF Giants among teams "showing more interest" in infielder Brandon Drury

Cincinnati Reds infielder Brandon Drury will be popular in the rumor mill as the trade deadline inches closer. According to a report from Andy Martino of SNY, the SF Giants are rumored to be interested in the right-handed bat.

Rumor: SF Giants among teams "showing more interest" in infielder Brandon Drury

With a name like Brandon, Drury would be a good fit on a team that features players like Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Webb, Brandon Wade Jr., and All-Star pitcher Brandon Rodón. He sounds like a San Francisco Giant already.

The Giants' infielders have been inconsistent or injured for much of the season, so the addition of Drury would add a little more stability and predictability to that area. It would certainly be an improvement, but is this the type of move that truly moves the needle for San Francisco? That remains to be seen.

For, Drury, it has been a career year as he has slashed .279/.336/.532 (130 OPS+) with 18 home runs, 51 RBI, and 55 runs in 330 plate appearances. This includes a seven percent walk rate against a 22.4 percent strikeout rate.

Drury has bounced around the league in recent years. He began his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks and then made stops with the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and the New York Mets before finding his footing in Cincinnati. It felt like he would have been a good buy-low option for the Giants in prior offseasons, but that idea never came to fruition.

In the field, the 29-year-old infielder has seen time at all four infield positions, He has never been above-average with the glove at any infield position, but he'd still represent a modest defensive upgrade at both second base and third base to go along with a strong bat.

The good news is that Drury is a free agent at the end of the season, meaning that he would be a rental. It would not take a lot in terms of prospect capital to acquire the eight-year veteran, especially considering that he does not have a long track record of production.

It would be an easy upgrade for San Francisco. However, for those same reasons, he will be a popular trade target for many teams. Andy Martino lists the Los Angeles Dodgers as another team that has interest in Drury.

Over the next few weeks, the Giants' front office will need to decide what direction they will need to take at the trade deadline. At 45-43, the Giants will likely not be sellers. However, they will need to inspire the front office to be more aggressive buyers at the deadline and that starts with a lot more winning.