Giants trade Matt Duffy, add lefties Matt Moore and Will Smith
Giants trade Matt Duffy, add lefties Matt Moore and Will Smith
Matt Duffy contributed to the 2014 title run.
[...] business is business, and Duffy got a transfer.
The first-place Giants added left-handed pitchers Matt Moore and Will Smith before Monday’s trade deadline to improve their chances of keeping their distance from the Dodgers and winning the National League West.
In the process, they lost Duffy, their popular third baseman, along with some heralded prospects.
“I still think this is a more of a game than a business,” Giants general manager Bobby Evans said.
[...] today, it feels a lot more like a business.
Evans made three trades in five days, including Thursday’s deal for Minnesota infielder Eduardo Nuñez.
The price in every trade was steep.
After parting with Adalberto Mejia for Nuñez, Evans swapped another highly touted starting pitcher, Phil Bickford (the Giants’ top draft pick in 2015), and catcher Andrew Susac (former backup to Buster Posey), to Milwaukee for Smith.
Shortly before the 1 p.m. deadline, Evans snagged Moore from Tampa Bay for Duffy, Bahamian shortstop Lucius Fox, who received a $6 million bonus from the Giants, and Class A pitcher Michael Santos.
The farm system is significantly weakened, but the Giants beefed up for their bid to win their fourth straight even-year championship.
[...] both Moore and Smith are under team control through 2019, Moore with team options of $7 million, $9 million and $10 million and Smith reaching arbitration eligibility next year.
Moore gives the rotation a second left-hander behind Madison Bumgarner, and he’ll replace either Jake Peavy or Matt Cain.
Cain is coming off five hitless innings.
Peavy has given up 13 runs and six homers in his past three starts.
Smith will set up closer Santiago Casilla and provide depth on the left side with scuffling Josh Osich on the disabled list and Javier Lopez’s ERA more than two runs higher than last year’s.
“This is certainly a curveball for him,” Evans said of Duffy, who has struggled at the plate following his big rookie year and is on the disabled list with an Achilles injury.
Arroyo was drafted as a shortstop but has been playing third base lately for Double-A Richmond.
“We feel very good about his ability to handle the position,” Evans said.
[...] I don’t think he’s that far away, but it’s always a benefit to give it more time.
Evans had made it clear his priority was trading for a closer, but after several top relievers — including Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Mark Melancon — were traded elsewhere, Evans was open to improving in other places.
The Giants were engaged in talks for Cincinnati outfielder Jay Bruce before he went to the Mets, and they kept in touch with the Rays and Brewers on Moore and Smith, among other teams.
By the deadline, Evans had added a hitter, reliever and starter.
“The additions will help us in multiple ways and strengthen us,” he said.
Moore was an All-Star in 2013, going 17-4 with a 3.29 ERA.
Smith, listed at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, has a 3.68 ERA, 22 strikeouts and nine walks in 22 innings.
Smith missed the first 52 games, and his velocity is down a bit.
Though he has a history of effectiveness against both right-handers and left-handers, lefties are hitting .316 in a limited sample size.
Evans said the Giants don’t see Smith’s health as an issue and expects he'll be like Jeremy Affeldt and be dependable against both righties and lefties.
John Shea is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Email: jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnSheaHey
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