SF Giants need to make trade for San Francisco native to transform rotation

The SF Giants find themselves in a decent position at the All-Star break. While they are in the thick of the playoff hunt, if they were to swing a trade with the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Joe Ryan it would transform their rotation.

The Giants are in third place in the NL West, six games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are a half game back of the San Diego Padres for the third spot in the NL Wild Card race so they are right there. Yet, if they really want to show they are serious about winning they need to make a trade to bolster their rotation.

SF Giants need to make trade for Joe Ryan to bolster starting rotation

Ryan is a San Francisco native who was drafted by the Giants in the 2014 MLB Draft but opted to play college ball at Cal State Northridge instead. He is having a phenomenal season for the Twins and was just named to his first All-Star Game.

In 19 games and 18 starts, he has a 9-4 record with a 2.72 ERA in 109 and 1/3 innings pitched. He has 121 strikeouts compared to 23 walks and has a WHIP of 0.91. Last season he put up similar numbers with a 3.60 ERA in 23 starts.

Ryan's name has come up in trade rumors as of late. The Twins sit at 47-49 and are 11.5 games back of the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central and are four games back of the third Wild Card spot, so they could be in a position where they try to sell at the deadline if they come out slow after the All-Star break.

Starting pitching is definitely an area of need for the Giants. ESPN's Jeff Passan identified it as such in a recent column and recommended the Giants go after a starting pitcher within the division. Intra-division trades can be tricky, though, so trading with an AL team like the Twins could be easier.

Ryan is only making $3 million this season so the Giants would not have to take on a large contract. However, the Twins could definitely try to get greedy and nab one of San Francisco's top pitching prospects like Carson Whisenhunt in a trade which Buster Posey and the front office may balk at.

Yet, the Giants need rotation help. Justin Verlander has not been cutting it and Hayden Birdsong has been struggling as well. Logan Webb and Robbie Ray are All-Star workhorses atop the rotation and Landen Roupp has come on strong, but it feels like the Giants need one more legit starter if they want to be legit down the stretch.

Trading for Ryan would solve a big problem for San Francisco and would also bring a guy native to the Bay Area back home. Let's see if Posey can go out and make it happen.