The San Francisco Giants made a few moves at the trade deadline, but they mostly shipped off talent. The acquisition of Mark Canha didn't appease many. So, why did they hold the line?
Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming joined the Morning Roast to explain how he saw the team handle business. He simultaneously urged a sense of perspective for the young talent that's coming up, and an understanding for a frustration with the team.
He was asked why the Giants' only additive move was of the 35-year-old Mark Canha, who's hitting just .231 this season, and why they didn't go after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Flemming called that purely a "band-aid" move to replace Wilmer Flores.
As for a star acquisition, Flemming said the Giants targeted exactly one player, and the Blue Jays didn't want to move Guerrero Jr..
'There was one position player who fits the bill of what you're talking about, who the Giants did pursue and pretty aggressively, and the other team just, in the end, wasn't willing to to move off," Flemming said. "They're a team kind of in a similar position to the Giants, like, are we in? Are we out? And they just weren't willing to do it. I could see that coming back up in the offseason.
"So to answer your question about, am I surprised? I'm not surprised. I do think it's obvious the Gants are lacking a middle of the order presence. Those are the kind of bats that are really hard to get at the deadline. And Vlad Jr. might have been one of those.
"But I think in the end, the Blue Jay said we are absolutely not trading him. I think they would have traded the other guy, Bichette, with the right offer. I don't know about you, I'm not on Bichette. I mean, he's got a track record this year, he has been literally the worst hitter in the American League."
The other factor in not trading for Guerrero Jr. or another first baseman? Bryce Eldridge.
"Now, the other thing that's complicating this, and this is this is really dangerous to do in baseball, because baseball is just unlike any other sport," Flemming said. "But they do have a kid in A ball right now who's only 19 years old. His position is first base. He's the best prospect the Giants have had in many years. And Will Clark just got back from seeing him saying, 'I'm telling you, this guy's going to be the real deal. He's gonna get better at first. He's got a chance to win a Gold Glove there, and he's got the biggest power we've had in a long time.'"
That's monumental praise for the 19-year-old Eldridge. He's currently batting .265 with 11 home runs, 58 RBIs and 88 strikeouts over 72 games combined between Single-A San Jose and Single-A+ Eugene.
Listen to Flemming's full interview above.