The San Francisco Giants are reportedly on the verge of trading pitcher Matt Moore and/or right fielder Hunter Pence to clear payroll space. John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle dropped this bit of catnip in our laps on Friday evening, signalling the Giants could have designs on something big.
Per Shea, the “deal is done pending a physical,” so we should hear more about this soon.
Pence is entering the final year of his contract in San Francisco and is set to earn $18.5 million in 2018. Moore is overpriced at $9 million for 2018 after his very poor 2017 campaign.
It’s hard to know what the Giants might have their eyes on right now. The trade rumors surrounding Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado are hot and heavy right now, so perhaps the Giants are interested in investing in his red-hot stock. He’s going to be a free agent in 2018, so clearing up payroll space makes sense if the Giants are hoping to extend him following a potential trade.
Another player who could make some sense is J.D. Martinez, who’s now a free agent, formerly of the Arizona Diamondbacks.