[Giants]

Assuming Fitzgerald continues to struggle at the plate, I think they will switch Schmitt to 2B (once Chapman returns) and use Fitzgerald as the primary utility IF.  

They may be done adding to the lineup.  And, as we know, the bullpen is solid.  That leads us to….

Starting Pitching.    Posey might be looking for another starter (possibility a high end rental).  With Harrison gone, Verlander a continuing question mark and Birdsong/Roupp closing in on career marks for innings pitched, I think Posey needs to supplement the rotation with an seasoned arm, particularly someone with postseason experience.  

Among the available big name rentals is Chris Sale.  He is signed through this year (with a club option for 2026 and no buyout) with a CBT salary of $19,000,000.  That would add about $6.5M to the Giants payroll this year.  Also, and probably more importantly when looking at potential trade targets, is that Atlanta is floundering.  They are in 8th place in the Wild Card standings, 7.5 games behind #3 San Diego.  And with Philadelphia and New York in their division, they have little chance of winning the NL East title. 

What would ATL want for Sale?  I’ll let Posey figure that out ;)

A post season rotation of Webb, Ray, Sale and Verlander/Birdsong/Roupp would formidable.

It would take a lot. Even with him being a rental. Because they’ll be a bunch of other teams in the mix. One of the positives in the Devers deal was timing.  Not only do they get 30 or so extra games this year – but they also got ahead of the sweepstakes. That would not be the case if Atlanta decides to do a Sale.

Yeah, it would be a heavy lift.  However, after watching Posey move early to secure Devers as well as sign Chapman before he went to market last year, I wouldn’t be surprised with any deals he completes.

Of course, now that he has stunned the baseball world, others will start saying, after you talk to that guy, “make sure you check your pockets to ensure your wallet is still there”.  

Obtaining Sale wouldn’t be easy but it is certainly something fans can dream about…

UPDATE: Well, that didn’t take long. One day after suggesting Chris Sale would be a nice addition to the rotation, I’m taking the off-ramp on the Sale expressway to SF. Today, Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves President of Baseball Ops, stated that Sale will not be traded. Despite their current spot in the standings, they are going to be a buyer rather than seller at the deadline.

UPDATE2:

Sale fractured his rib cage on Wednesday making a defensive play. He was placed on the IL today and is out indefinitely.

[Giants]

Assuming Fitzgerald continues to struggle at the plate, I think they will switch Schmitt to 2B (once Chapman returns) and use Fitzgerald as the primary utility IF.  

They may be done adding to the lineup.  And, as we know, the bullpen is solid.  That leads us to….

Starting Pitching.    Posey might be looking for another starter (possibility a high end rental).  With Harrison gone, Verlander a continuing question mark and Birdsong/Roupp closing in on career marks for innings pitched, I think Posey needs to supplement the rotation with an seasoned arm, particularly someone with postseason experience.  

Among the available big name rentals is Chris Sale.  He is signed through this year (with a club option for 2026 and no buyout) with a CBT salary of $19,000,000.  That would add about $6.5M to the Giants payroll this year.  Also, and probably more importantly when looking at potential trade targets, is that Atlanta is floundering.  They are in 8th place in the Wild Card standings, 7.5 games behind #3 San Diego.  And with Philadelphia and New York in their division, they have little chance of winning the NL East title. 

What would ATL want for Sale?  I’ll let Posey figure that out ;)

A post season rotation of Webb, Ray, Sale and Verlander/Birdsong/Roupp would formidable.

It would take a lot. Even with him being a rental. Because they’ll be a bunch of other teams in the mix. One of the positives in the Devers deal was timing.  Not only do they get 30 or so extra games this year – but they also got ahead of the sweepstakes. That would not be the case if Atlanta decides to do a Sale.

Yeah, it would be a heavy lift.  However, after watching Posey move early to secure Devers as well as sign Chapman before he went to market last year, I wouldn’t be surprised with any deals he completes.

Of course, now that he has stunned the baseball world, others will start saying, after you talk to that guy, “make sure you check your pockets to ensure your wallet is still there”.  

Obtaining Sale wouldn’t be easy but it is certainly something fans can dream about…

UPDATE: Well, that didn’t take long. One day after suggesting Chris Sale would be a nice addition to the rotation, I’m taking the off-ramp on the Sale expressway to SF. Today, Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves President of Baseball Ops, stated that Sale will not be traded. Despite their current spot in the standings, they are going to be a buyer rather than seller at the deadline.

UPDATE2:

Sale fractured his rib cage on Wednesday making a defensive play. He was placed on the IL today and is out indefinitely.