SF Giants Press Clips Friday, July 14, 2017

San Francisco Chronicle ’s impact on ‘psyche of club’ John Shea

SAN DIEGO — The ace officially is back in business. Manager announced his newly aligned rotation, and Madison Bumgarner will pitch Saturday, his first Giants start since April 19.

“We missed his voice ... and his BP,” Bochy said as Bumgarner took his hacks in batting practice during Thursday’s workout at .

Johnny Cueto, who started Sunday in the Giants’ final game before the All-Star break, gets the ball for Friday’s opener against the Padres, followed by Bumgarner and .

Matt Moore will start Monday’s homestand opener against Cleveland, and will pitch Tuesday.

Matt Cain, the odd man out, took the high road with his move to the . He has 325 career starts and eight relief appearances, including four in September and one Sunday. As a starter this season, he has a 5.58 ERA.

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“I’m looking forward to it,” Cain said. “I’ve got to go about this like it’s a new challenge. ... There’s no issue with going down there. It’ll be a good thing.”

Bumgarner made just three starts before injuring his shoulder and ribs in his April 20 dirt-bike accident in Colorado, and the Giants showed very little in his absence. They’re 34-56 and 27 games behind the first-place Dodgers, five back of the fourth-place Padres.

“It’s great to have Bum back,” Cain said. “It was definitely odd not having him in the rotation, so we’re excited having him back and having him around the clubhouse more.”

The rotation is set up so that Cueto gets four starts before the trade deadline July 31. Cueto, who can opt out to free agency after the season, would need to pitch better than in the first half (4.51) to improve his trade value. On Sunday, he gave up six runs on six hits with six walks in six-plus innings.

Bumgarner is coming off his best rehab start, Monday’s six-inning, 86-pitch effort for San Jose.

“His intensity, his presence, all that, trust me, I’m hoping things like this are a shot in the arm for the club,” Bochy said. “We just had really a horrible half. Getting guys back hopefully will do a lot for the psyche of the club.”

Nuñez update: Eduardo Nuñez (hamstring) was set back in his rehab assignment with San Jose when drilled in the calf during batting practice Wednesday. The Giants hope to add him to the roster Friday.

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San Francisco Chronicle Giants midseason report Henry Schulman

As resumes Friday night, the player bazaar begins in earnest. Between now and the trade deadline July 31, contenders will try to add productive, established players to make them stronger. Rebuilding teams will seek to restock their systems with high-level prospects and move high-priced players.

The Giants reside in a murky middle.

They enter the second half with the second-worst record in the majors, at 34-56, clearly needing to look beyond 2017. But they also possess a large core of players who are signed well beyond this season in whom the organization still believes.

Team officials do not see a championship window that has closed, but a badly cracked window that needs to be repaired. The Giants hope to win in 2018 and compete for October again, if not next year, then in 2019.

“I don’t want to underestimate the talent we have,” general manager Bobby Evans said this week. “But we also have to be honest about the struggles we’ve had as a team and what we can do to improve upon it, and get more out of our core guys, as well as how we can add to the club in the future so we can play winning baseball and fight for a playoff spot.”

The Giants’ blueprint is not the Cubs or Astros, who succeeded after multiyear rebuilds, but rather the Giants of the recent past, who began to see light in 2008 after they cut ties with , broke a four-year streak of losing records in 2009 and then won a title in 2010.

“We’re not looking to take five steps back to take one step forward,” Evans said. “But we understand there may be steps we have to take short term.”

Those short-term steps will not be easy. Some would be painful for the fans.

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Despite his struggles this year, is a trade chip because of his postseason history, but he also has that pesky opt-out in his contract that complicates trade negotiations.

The Giants have hinted they might not deal Cueto if they are fairly sure he will not opt out after this season. Cueto is not ready to declare those intentions, but he is clear on how he feels about San Francisco.

“I want to stay here,” he said Sunday.

Potential free agent Eduardo Nuñez could help a contender, but given his leg issues, how much could the Giants’ expect in return? An injured rental will not attract a difference-making prospect.

Beyond Cueto and Nuñez, the Giants must be — and are — at least willing to listen on most core players. If , Madison Bumgarner and are untouchable, the Giants have to be open-minded about others who helped them win titles, as painful as their departures would be.

As a Gold Glove who can and is still three years from free agency — in other words, inexpensive — stands out as a player who might be worth a good outfield or pitching prospect to a contending team. Year in and year out, teams have asked the Giants about Panik, and they said, “Hands off.” The interest is out there.

Denard Span, who has a year left on his contract, has played well enough to land in trade conversations, but if the Giants dealt him, who would become their center fielder? They have no immediate answer from the system.

Prospects Steven Duggar, who has lost more than half a year of development to injuries, and Bryan Reynolds are not close.

Brandon Belt could be desirable to a contender that plays in a smaller park and does not need him to be a middle-of-the-order hitter. (Hello, Yankees!) The nearly $70 million left on his

4 contract is a hindrance, but if the Giants were willing to eat a chunk of that money and move Belt, they still could gain financial flexibility and a piece or two for the future.

However, if the Giants are serious about a quick turnaround, do they dispatch one of their best defensive players who also ranks first or second on the team in most offensive categories?

The same question applies to improved starter Jeff Samardzija, who might be the most attractive starting (non-Bumgarner division) to a contender. Could the Giants easily replace his power arm and the 200-plus innings per season he could provide over the next three years? No. Do the Giants have to listen? Yes.

Injuries that all but ended the seasons of left fielder Austin Slater and third baseman will cost the Giants several months of valuable evaluation time, complicating their decision-making at the trade deadline and even into the offseason.

“Those are huge hits,” Evans said. “They’re not just prospects, but they’re major-league ready, or close to it. It does put a hurt into your system and your opportunities to evaluate them at a higher level.”

Slater’s injuries could open the door in 2017 for , the Giants’ best power prospect, who is hitting .304 with nine homers in 161 at-bats since his promotion to Triple-A.

The Giants are not convinced Shaw is ready to play left field at the major-league level. Only recently was he moved to the outfield from first base, but Evans said Shaw could force the club’s hand.

“He could be part of the conversation,” Evans said.

Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected]: @hankschulman

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3 hits 1. Buster Posey: The Giants’ lone All-Star elevated his game offensively and behind the plate during what could be a 100-loss season. 2. Prospects: Who knows how many losses the Giants would have without the lift that now- injured Christian Arroyo and Austin Slater provided? 3. Cheap seats: Season-ticket holders might not like it, but the price plunge on the secondary market has made wonderful AT&T Park more accessible for less money. 3 misses 1. : The Giants spent $62 million for a closer who has spent two stints on the disabled list and rarely pitched when healthy because they had so few ninth-inning leads. 2. Off-field despair: The suspension saga, Bruce Bochy’s latest heart scare, Madison Bumgarner’s dirt-bike crash, reports of clubhouse disharmony and several deaths in the Giants’ family — a far more personal and significant matter — have cast a near-continuous pall over the team.

3. Left field: Even Spinal Tap drummers are frightened to stand in a spot where 13 men have played and several, including Austin Slater, Jarrett Parker, and Eduardo Nuñez, incurred significant injuries. Unit reports Rotation: The Giants used only seven starters in the first half, normally a positive sign, but the five who combined for 86 of the 90 starts had ERAs ranging from Johnny Cueto’s 4.51 to ’s league-worst 6.04. The team’s biggest asset on paper became a weakness that could not be explained away by Madison Bumgarner’s dirt-bike crash. Ty Blach’s ascent and Jeff Samardzija channeling Greg ’s control were the biggest positives. Bullpen: The only major offseason acquisition, closer Mark Melancon, had a disastrous half marked by ineffectiveness and an arm injury, which went hand in hand. Fortunately for the Giants, the reclamation project seems like a success. But many of the homegrown relievers who were supposed to elevate the bullpen and their careers (Derek Law, Steven Okert, Josh Osich) have underperformed, and the group has allowed 38 percent of inherited runners to score. Only two major-league have been worse. Lineup: The Giants have scored 354 runs, besting only the Phillies (332) and Padres (312) in the . Buster Posey was the only hitter who showed any consistency. Others,

6 particularly Brandon Crawford and , have regressed since last year. In a homer- happy era, the Giants rank last in the majors in home runs (75) and slugging percentage (.374). The group is getting older and needs an infusion of pop from the system or via trade, or it will languish. Defense: Posey, Crawford and Joe Panik have maintained their Gold Glove standard, and continues to be one of the best first basemen not to win one. But the outfielders have been a hindrance. Their seven assists rank 28th in the majors. The group also ranks dead last with minus-34 defensive runs saved. That said, a healthy is playing his best defense since he joined the club, very frisky for a 33-year-old.

Injury report LHP Madison Bumgarner: The starter, who separated his left shoulder in a dirt- bike crash, is supposed to rejoin the rotation and make his fourth start of the season Saturday. LHP Will Smith: The setup man is progressing from spring-training surgery but has not yet thrown and will be out at least until April. IF Eduardo Nuñez: The Giants are hoping to activate one of their prime trade chips Friday night after a lingering left hamstring strain. IF Christian Arroyo: The club hopes its top hitting prospect from before the season can return from a fractured hand in time to get valuable September at-bats. OF Austin Slater: After commandeering the left-field job, Slater tore the right adductor in his hip/groin area and could be lost for the season. OF Michael Morse: He has had continuing concussion symptoms since he knocked heads with Jeff Samardzija during the Hunter Strickland- brawl May 29. OF Jarrett Parker: The clavicle he fractured running into the left-field wall April 15 is healed, but his return has been delayed by neck soreness.

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MLB.com Giants open second half on road in San Diego AJ Cassavell

The Padres would like to begin their second half the way they finished the first. The Giants, meanwhile, are ready to put their entire first half behind them.

The rivals will follow the All-Star break with a three-game series in San Diego beginning Friday night. Clayton Richard gets the ball for the Padres, while the Giants will start Johnny Cueto. Full Game Coverage

Richard finished the first half with a six-inning, one-run outing last Friday at Philadelphia. And he might have pitched longer if not for a lengthy rain delay. The Padres finished the first half strong overall, taking series in Cleveland and Philly for their first winning road trip of the year.

Cueto owns an 8-4 record with a 2.93 ERA in 13 career starts against San Diego, including 3-2 with a 3.21 ERA in five Petco Park outings. Things to know about this game

• In 31 career plate appearances against Richard, Giants catcher Buster Posey is batting .407/.452/.704 with a pair of homers.

• The Padres are hopeful Hunter Renfroe will be fully recovered from the stiff neck that forced him out of the lineup in the final game of the first half. He's tied for the team lead with 16 homers.

• The Giants and Padres also opened the second half last season with a three-game set at Petco Park. San Diego -- which lost nine straight to San Francisco to open the season -- recorded a sweep.

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MLB.com Giants peg Bumgarner’s return to rotation Nathan Ruiz

SAN DIEGO -- As Madison Bumgarner thwacked batting-practice into the Western Metal Building on Thursday, Giants manager Bruce Bochy looked on, happy to finally have his ace back.

During the Giants' workout at Petco Park, Bochy officially announced that Bumgarner will rejoin San Francisco's rotation Saturday against the Padres. The left-hander has been out since he suffered bruised ribs and a Grade 2 left shoulder strain in a dirt-bike accident in April.

"We missed his voice -- and his BP," Bochy said. "... It's going to be great to have him back. It was an unfortunate incident he feels terrible about. It's seemed a lot longer than it's been for him, as far as his return. You've got one of your guys back, his intensity, his presence, all that."

Bumgarner, who was unavailable for comment Thursday, made three rehab starts, striking out eight over six two-hit innings in his final tuneup. "[I'm] ready to help contribute, like I should have been doing this whole time," Bumgarner said after the outing.

Before being placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career, Bumgarner, the MVP, went winless in four starts, even though each was a quality outing. He posted a 3.00 ERA, striking out 28 in 27 innings. To make room for Bumgarner, veteran right-hander will move to the bullpen . Cain, the longest tenured Giant, has a 5.56 ERA in 18 games, 17 of which were starts.

Cain expressed no frustration with the move, saying it will provide him an opportunity to learn from the Giants' other relievers. More than anything, he showed excitement for Bumgarner's return.

"I've got to go about this like it's a new challenge," Cain said. "… There's no issue with going down there. It'll be a good thing.

"It's great to have Bum back. We've been excited to have him back since we lost him. It was

9 definitely odd to not have him in the rotation, so we're excited to have him back and have him around the clubhouse more." Johnny Cueto will precede Bumgarner and start Friday's second-half opener. Jeff Samardzija will pitch Sunday's series finale, while left-handers Matt Moore and Ty Blach will complete the rotation. The Giants sit 27 games back in the National League West entering the second half, but Bochy said he hopes Bumgarner's comeback can energize his team.

"Trust me, I'm hoping things like this are a shot in the arm for this club," Bochy said. "Just had a really horrible half. You get one of your guys, that hopefully does a lot for the psyche of the club." Worth noting • Eduardo Nunez , on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, was supposed to play to third base for Class-A Advanced San Jose, but a batted ball hit him in the calf during batting practice. He instead served as the . Bochy said he expects Nunez back as soon as Friday. • Gorkys Hernandez and Kelby Tomlinson will split time as the Giants' left fielder heading into the second half. • Closer Mark Melancon (right pronator strain) threw to a catcher after Thursday's workout.

MLB.com Cain bumped from rotation, will pitch in relief Chris Haft

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants right-hander Matt Cain will be moved to a relief role to accommodate Madison Bumgarner 's return to the starting rotation.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy revealed the club's plans during an interview Wednesday on KNBR-AM's "Murph and Mac" show.

Sufficiently healed from injuries sustained in a dirt-bike accident April 20, Bumgarner is scheduled to start Saturday at San Diego. Somebody had to leave the existing rotation, and the choice was Cain, who is 3-8 with a 5.56 ERA in 18 games (17 starts).

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Cain is the longest-tenured Giant, having ascended from the Minors in Aug. 2005. The right- hander has performed significantly better this season at home (3-2, 2.98 ERA) than on the road (0-6, 8.14).

Bochy said that he discussed the decision with Cain and indicated that the veteran accepted his fate gracefully.

"Matty's such a great team player," Bochy said. "He's all in on anything that can help this club get back on track. ... These are never easy decisions. But I can't say enough about Matt, how he's carried himself." Bochy tried to soften the impact of the announcement by saying that Cain would be used as a "swingman" who could replace Ty Blach or Matt Moore for a start or two if necessary.

Asked about the possibility of employing a six-man rotation that would have preserved Cain's starting status, Bochy said, "I don't think that's gonna work. That leaves us a man short in the bullpen."

Cain, a three-time All-Star, owns a 104-115 career record with a 3.66 ERA. The 32-year-old is in the final season of a six-year, $127.5 million deal that pays him nearly $21 million this year and includes a $7.5 million buyout for 2018.

MLB.com Sellers at deadline, SF has coveted pieces Chris Haft

SAN FRANCISCO -- Unaccustomed to operating in anything but "win now" mode, the Giants likely will downshift into a "win soon" strategy as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches. San Francisco hopes to acquire players who can usher the club back to respectability by 2018 and beyond.

Spectators in baseball's power surge, the Giants will seek a lively bat or two to help them reduce the disparity between themselves and the other 29 Major League clubs. Of course, playing home games at pitcher-friendly AT&T Park may leave the Giants forever at a

11 disadvantage in the pursuit of power -- at least until another Barry Bonds comes along.

The Giants will consider proven hitters and prospects alike -- preferably outfielders. Potential acquisitions don't have to possess the power to clear AT&T Park's walls regularly. They just have to be capable of correcting the club's offensive imbalance. Too often, San Francisco's lineup consisted of two outfielders hitting sixth or lower. That's not how batting orders are supposed to look. The Giants have the commodity that most contending clubs seek: starting pitching. Johnny Cueto , Jeff Samardzija and Matt Moore are likely to draw varying levels of interest. With baseball's fourth-highest payroll, San Francisco can accept a big contract as long as it can jettison one of its own. TRADE SCENARIO Cueto likely would be a rental, given the opt-out clause in his contract that he can exercise after this season. But what a rental he'd be. He has proven that he relishes the spotlight, pitching complete games in his past two postseason appearances. For the Giants, the drawback would lie in not being able to receive equal value in return, due to Cueto's "rental" status. But if a market develops for Cueto, the Giants might be able to fetch one or even two legitimate prospects for him. WHAT ARE THEY PLAYING FOR? As mentioned, the Giants already have their sights set on 2018. The rest of this season is essentially a warmup for as the front office determines which incumbents to keep and which prospects belong on the fast track. THE ROAD AHEAD As many as three National League West rivals -- the Dodgers, D-backs and Rockies -- could be seeking postseason spots. The Giants face these teams 17 times in 20 games between Sept. 4- 27. This stretch could provide an intriguing test for the younger Giants who consider themselves ready for prime time. KEY PLAYER Sam Dyson . The Rangers' castoff has converted his last three opportunities and has gone unscored upon in 10 of his past 12 appearances. He could be the shutdown setup man or even part-time closer the Giants need. PROSPECTS TO WATCH Right-hander might get a Major League look as a starter, despite his erratic performance in Triple-A Sacramento's rotation. Otherwise, you've already seen most of them: Christian Arroyo , Austin Slater , Jae-Gyun Hwang , Orlando Calixte , Ryder Jones , Kyle

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Crick ... and more could be on the way.

Yahoosports.com designated for assignment by Red Sox Liz Roscher

This is a sad day for Panda fans — if there are any left. The have designated third baseman Pablo Sandoval for assignment, effectively ending his time with the team.

If you haven’t heard about Sandoval in awhile, there are several reasons for that. One is that he’s been sidelined with injuries for roughly half the season. He missed all of May with a right knee sprain, and was on the disabled list with an inner ear infection until Friday morning, when he was activated and then designated for assignment.

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You also haven’t been hearing about Sandoval because he hasn’t been hitting well. In 32 games this season, he’s hit just .212/.269/.354 with four home runs, eight walks, and 24 . Looking at the team the Red Sox have assembled, which is overflowing with youthful talent, Sandoval’s bat just isn’t cutting it.

Sandoval’s 2 1/2 year tenure with the Red Sox has been troubled. From the start, he didn’t look like the player he was with the , where he’d been a beloved All-Star and an offensive standout. Sandoval’s first year with the Red Sox was disappointing (he hit .245/292/.366), but it was a pleasure cruise compared to his second year. Sandoval spent almost the entirety of the 2016 season on the disabled list due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.

At the start of the 2017 season, things seemed to be looking up. Sandoval came to Red Sox camp early to start training, and he had slimmed down considerably during the offseason. (He’s also been widely criticized about his weight, criticisms fueled by his injuries and poor performance.) Sandoval hit over .300 in spring training, and it seemed like a Panda renaissance was close at hand. But then the regular season started, and he struggled right out of the gate and just kept right on struggling.

Cutting an underperforming player isn’t necessarily news, even when the Red Sox do it. But it is news because the Red Sox signed Sandoval to a five-year, $95 million contract at the end of 2014. Just halfway through the deal, the Red Sox have decided that it’s better to move on without Sandoval. But even though they’re moving on, the team is still on the hook for the remainder of his contract. They’ll have to pay the rest of his $17.6 million salary for 2017, and the combined $37.2 million he’s owed for 2018 and 2019. There’s also a $5 million buyout for 2020.

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ESPN.com The second half start now: One goal for all 30 teams David Schoenfield

The and the got the trade deadline off with a bang, and with so many teams needing to upgrade and a cluster of teams in the wild-card race, the next two weeks will be full of trade speculation and might even feature another blockbuster or two. As teams pursue deals or a playoff spot, here is the most important thing for each team to achieve in the second half.

American League East

Boston Red Sox -- Solving third base, where the Red Sox are hitting .235 with seven home runs, is the obvious need, and maybe top prospect Rafael Devers is the eventual answer. But the most important thing might be getting in the right frame of mind heading into the postseason, where his track record is notoriously poor. After a couple of incidents with the media, he has pitched better of late, with a 2.52 ERA in his final four starts heading into the All-Star break. New York Yankees -- Thanks to first-half MVP Aaron Judge, they're second in the AL in runs scored, but they've done that despite a huge hole at first base. Greg Bird is still battling an ankle injury, and Chris Carter was released. The Yankees rank 29th in the majors in wOBA at first base, hitting a collective .198. They just acquired Garrett Cooper, who is hitting .366 with 17 home runs at Triple-A Colorado Springs for the Brewers, but All-Star Yonder Alonso looks like a perfect trade candidate. -- The Rays are unlikely to make a big deal, so their playoff hopes might rest on the performance of young starters Jacob Faria and Blake Snell. Faria has had a hot start to his career with a 2.11 ERA through six starts, including a sterling 37- to-9 -to-walk ratio in 38⅓ innings. Former top prospect Snell is 0-5 in 10 starts, as he continues to walk too many batters.

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Baltimore Orioles -- The collapse of the starting rotation, a 5.75 ERA and disappointing seasons from Manny Machado, Chris Davisand Mark Trumbo mean that the Orioles are unlikely playoff contenders, which might force Dan Duquette into trading relievers Zach Brittonand Brad Brach as the O's look to add some young talent to a weak farm system. Toronto Blue Jays -- The front office has to decide whether to write off 2017 as a bad year and regroup in the offseason or view this as an aging club in decline. The offense has fallen from first in the AL in runs in 2015 to 14th. If the Blue Jays decide to sell, that could mean shopping , who is eligible for free agency after 2018. The team most in need of a third baseman, however, is the division rival in Boston. Donaldson for Devers? American League Central

Cleveland Indians -- The Indians don't have any major holes, especially with rookie Bradley Zimmer holding his own at the plate and playing a good center field. With Danny Salazar on the DL and Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin scuffling, Mike Clevinger has become the de facto No. 3 starter behind Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco. As such, the Indians need Salazar or Bauer to figure things out or maybe need to consider adding some rotation depth. Minnesota Twins -- They're hanging in there in the playoff race, but a minus-60 run differential suggests that it is unlikely to continue. That means the second half is still about the development of the young players, particularly Byron Buxton, who is trying to find some consistency at the plate so he can become something close to a league-average hitter. -- At this point, they're all-in for one final run before , and Lorenzo Cain hit free agency after the season. The Royals are 29th in the majors in wOBA from left field and 29th from right field, so they need offense from those two spots. They might have to bite the bullet on Alex Gordon, who looks washed up, and see if Jorge Soler is a solution in left field. Rookie Jorge Bonifacio has at least provided league-average production in right since his call-up. -- J.D. Martinez will be a free agent, which means it's pretty much a sure thing he'll be traded. Justin Wilson has another season of team control, but a lot of teams will call about the power lefty with 49 strikeouts in 34.1 innings. It's all about maximizing the return for

15 those two. Chicago White Sox -- They made their big move in trading Jose Quintana to the Cubs and could still deal David Robertson, but it's time to call up , Reynaldo Lopez and Yoan Moncada from Triple-A and give them two-plus months in the majors. None is tearing it up at Charlotte, but at this point, they need to be challenged and learn against the best. American League West

Houston Astros -- They have a couple of questions to address, such as whether to call up Derek Fisher and play him in left field or DH, but the absolute most important thing is getting Dallas Keuchel healthy and back in the rotation. He has been out since June 2 because of a neck injury, and his health might determine whether the Astros go after another , such as Sonny Gray. -- It's 2017, fly balls are leaving the park like Marlins fans in the seventh inning of the All-Star Game, and Angels first basemen are hitting .211/.274/.332, numbers barely acceptable for a middle infielder in 1974. Sure, getting Mike Trout back and slugging .742 the rest of the way will help, but the Angels need something from first base. -- has a .260 OBP, Mike Napoli has a .273 OBP, and has a .303 OBP. That was supposed to be the meat of the Rangers' lineup. They can look to make a trade to add pitching, but unless those three do better at getting on base, the Rangers won't be playing baseball in October. -- The Mariners are kind of stuck, with a poor first half that leaves them looking up in the wild-card race but without a farm system that will allow them to make any significant additions. They can bring this team back for 2018, so a key in the second half is figuring out if young starters such as Andrew Moore and Sam Gaviglio are legitimate rotation options for next season. -- Alonso is a free agent, and Gray is having a comeback season. Billy Beane and David Forst will be making a lot of phone calls the next two weeks. National League East

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Washington Nationals -- "Hello, this is Mike Rizzo. I'm looking for some bullpen help. Yes, your entire bullpen." -- Besides determining whether the Freddie Freeman experiment at third base can be a real thing, the development of Dansby Swanson is huge. He's hitting just .221/.296/.324 with 77 strikeouts in 85 games in a poor first half. -- The potential sale of the team by owner Jeffrey Loria looms over the second half. Three bids are reportedly in to Loria, with big names such as , , Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, and rapper Pitbull involved in some of the groups. The favorite, however, might be South Florida billionaire Jorge Mas. -- Don't say it ... don't even go there ... it's a ridiculous idea ... I'm going to say it: WILL TIM TEBOW BE CALLED UP IN SEPTEMBER? -- They might make a minor trade or two, such as and Jeremy Hellickson, but the most important thing is Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco and minor leaguer J.P. Crawford showing improvement after terrible first halves. National League Central

Milwaukee Brewers -- They'll probably add a bullpen arm and maybe a starter, but to on to first place over the Cubs, they'll need Jimmy Nelson and to match their first halves. Nelson went 8-4 with a 3.30 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 109 innings, finally showing the command to match his stuff. Anderson had a 2.89 ERA but is currently on the DL because of an oblique strain. Chicago Cubs -- Acquiring Quintana will help the rotation, but the offense needs to step it up. The Cubs are averaging 4.53 runs per game, just below the NL average of 4.62; in 2016, they averaged 4.99 runs, more than a half-run better than the average of 4.44. St. Louis Cardinals -- The bullpen has borne the brunt of the criticism, and though they've lost only two games they led going into the ninth inning, the relievers are just 8-16 and rank 14th in the majors in win probability added. But some of that blame goes to the offense: The Cards are hitting .202/.285/.351 in late and close situations. They need better late-game clutch performance from the hitters as well as the relievers. -- Andrew McCutchen's OPS+ in 2017: 135. His career OPS+: 138. After

17 posting a 1.193 OPS in June and 1.292 so far in July, McCutchen has re-established his trade value, and for a team looking for a corner outfielder, he suddenly looks like a good fit. Will the Pirates deal the face of their franchise? If they were closer in the playoff race, maybe they keep him and make a run, but they're 42-47. Look for a deal to happen. -- The rotation owns a 5.91 ERA, which would be the worst since the 2005 Royals had a 6.00 mark. The one guy having a good season is Scott Feldman, and he'll probably be traded. The second half should be about giving innings to guys such as Amir Garrett, Luis Castillo and Cody Reed to see if any of them has the potential to fill a spot in the 2018 rotation. National League West

Los Angeles Dodgers -- They have the second-best bullpen ERA in the majors, but they should make a move for a lefty reliever to use with righty Pedro Baez in front of Kenley Jansen. Britton and Wilson would be excellent candidates, as well as San Diego's Brad Hand. If the Dodgers want to work a bigger deal with the Tigers, bringing in Martinez to play left field would add a power right-handed bat to the lineup. -- Speaking of Martinez, the D-backs could use an upgrade in the outfield, where they rank 24th in the majors in wOBA in left field. Yasmany Tomas isn't good, and he's on the DL, which means they're faking left field with bench guys such as Daniel Descalso, , Chris Herrmann and Rey Fuentes (all of whom started in left field last week). -- I keep pounding this home, but the Rockies have only three regulars with an OPS above league average. Carlos Gonzalez has arguably been the worst regular in the majors, and if his shoulder isn't 100 percent healthy, they need to find a solution. Maybe that's Gerardo Parra or Raimel Tapia, or maybe the Rockies should pursue Martinez as well. -- They'll probably trade Hand and maybe Trevor Cahill, but the second half is mostly about the continued development of young guys such as , Hunter Renfroe, Austin Hedges and Carlos Asuaje. San Francisco Giants -- They're 64-98 since last year's All-Star break, so the front office has to take a long look at which veterans will still be here in 2018 and whether this group can regain its mojo next season. Trade options are minimal: maybe Brandon Belt, and maybe Johnny

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Cueto, except his opt-out clause means that his trade value is somewhat limited.

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