San Francisco Giants: Potential Trade Deadline Targets

Aroldis Chapman, Relief Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds

May 30, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman throws against the Washington Nationals in the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park. The Reds won 8-5. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Another pitcher on the Reds makes the list, this time of the relief variety. The Giant’s bullpen hasn’t been overly terrible pitching to a 3.50 ERA, but adding another piece would bolster the pen for a deep playoff run.

Currently the Giant’s bullpen contains Jeremy Affeldt, George Kontos, Javier Lopez, Jean Machi, Sergio Romo, Hunter Strickland, Yusmeiro Petit, and likely All-Star Santiago Casilla. Of those players, only Kontos, Lopez, Strickland, and Casilla have an ERA below 3.00.

Chapman has been primarily a closer in his six-year career. He has made his name as one of the best closers in the game, making three straight All-Star games. He has had at least 36 saves the past three seasons. His career ERA is 2.32. Bringing him to the Giants would give the team one of the most dominant bullpen arms of this generation.

Some may argue that the Giants already have one of the best closers in the game in Casilla, so why bring in Chapman? If the Giants were able to bring in Chapman and use him in an 8th inning role, the Giants would have one of the best 8th-9th inning pitching combos in the league.

That combo would be rivaled by only the Royals combination of Wade Davis–Greg Holland for best in the league.

The Giants competitors in the 2014 World Series were that of the Royals. who made it based on how dominant their bullpen was. While the Giants ultimately won the World Series, the 2015 team has a lot of similarities to the championship team. Adding a top flight bullpen arm would make them a top contender again and can potentially push them over the threshold to become champions once more.

Trading for Chapman would most likely cost the Giants top prospects as he is the top closer in the game, but it would be a great return on investment based off of prior results.

Not many people would see the bullpen as a sense of urgency for the Giants, but having a top of the line bullpen is key in the playoffs, and adding Chapman can help the Giants not only make the playoffs but succeed in them.

Next: Aaron Harang