The San Francisco Giants dropped a blockbuster at the deadline, trading a package that includes third baseman Matt Duffy to the Tampa Bay Rays for starter Matt Moore.
#SFGiants acquire LHP Matt Moore in exchange for IF Matt Duffy and minor league IF Lucius Fox and RHP Michael Santos.
— #WeAreSF (@SFGiants) August 1, 2016
San Francisco Giants Acquire Matt Moore
Moore has been looking to return to form since returning from Tommy John Surgery in 2014. The 2013 American League All-Star is 7-7 on the season with a 4.08 ERA on a last place team. The Giants are hoping he can relive his performance in Game One of the 2011 ALDS, this time in orange and black (or grey or crème). Adding Moore to the likes of Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija will make this team beyond dangerous in a short series.
Duffy, on the other hand, is close to coming back from an Achilles injury that resulted in a DL stint. The Long Beach State product burst onto the scene in 2015 and almost came away with the National League Rookie of the Year, finishing second behind Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant. He drove in 77 runs with a slash line of .295/.334/.428. Before being sidelined in 2016, his numbers slowed to the tune of .253/.313/.358.
News of this deadline deal makes the earlier trade for Eduardo Nunez look that much better. Manager Bruce Bochy can plug him in at the hot corner until further notice. Giants GM Bobby Evans told Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle that Nunez wasn’t acquired for this specific purpose, but it’s a happy ending nonetheless.
Evans said #sfgiants did not trade for Nuñez specifically so they could deal Duffy, but that it made it easier.
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) August 1, 2016
As for Duffy and the Rays, some decisions have to be made. With Evan Longoria manning third base in Tampa for the foreseeable future, Duffy will most likely have to find another home on the infield. Good news is that he was a shortstop throughout his minor league career and moved to third base out of necessity with Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik plugging the middle of the infield. Duffy definitely has the ability to secure a spot up the middle for the Rays, maybe even see innings in the outfield.
Also heading to Tampa Bay in the deal are shortstop Lucius Fox and pitcher Michael Santos. Fox was signed by the Giants as an international free agent in 2015 for a $6 million signing bonus and has spent all of 2016 with Low-A Augusta. Fox was ranked as the Giants No. 4 prospect by Baseball America following the 2015 season. Santos is 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 2016, also in Augusta.
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